Southeast Valley High School

Wrestling

Jag Wrestlers Open the 22-23 Season

The new look 2022-2023 Southeast Valley wrestling squad opened their 2022 campaign Thursday night at Coon Rapids. After graduating ten Senior starters from last year's squad, the young Jags are looking to keep improving each meet or tournament. Returning state placewinner Caelan Oakes and District Qualifier Kaden Holder are the two returners in the lineup with significant Varsity time. The rest of the squad got their feet wet in their Varsity debut. The next obstacle to overcome is filling all weight classes as the Jags are open in five weights which puts them behind the eight ball before the dual starts. The nine wrestlers in the lineup have to be almost perfect in the dual to pull out the victory; a tough task for a young inexperienced squad, therefore, the team is focused on improving each time out. 

The Jags opened with a 53-24 win over another young team, Coon Rapids-Bayard. In the next dual Panora handed the Jags a 54-18 loss, and in the final dual the Jags lost a close battle 39-34 to the Cougars of Manson. The Jags led by one going into the last match at 182, unfortunately, the Jags had to forfeit to the Manson wrestler giving them six points to pull out the victory. In the opener against the Crusaders, the Jags came out wrestling aggressively, winning the battle on their feet, securing pins gaining some confidence for their next dual against the Panthers of Panorama. Against the Panthers, the Jags showed their inexperience, losing some close matches in the positioning battle which ended up with some Jags on their backs.

Oakes(126) and Nate Graves(220) finished the night 3-0, Colin Johnson(113), Kyle Johnson(145), Grant Smith(170), and Ryan Wicklein(285), finished 2-1. Kaden Holder(132), Caleb Will(138), Xander Dorman(160), completed the night 1-2. In JV action, Oliver Riehl(132) had a nice night going 2-0 with two falls. 


Gilbert Duals-December 3rd

In a quick turn around the Jags were back in action on Saturday, December 3rd at the Gilbert duals. Gilbert hosted the Jags, newcomer to the duals Eagle Grove, Iowa Falls/Alden, BCLUW/South Hardin, and Southeast Polk JV. Open weights and inexperience hurt the Jags again as they finished 0-5 for the day. The wrestlers took some steps forward but didn't have the manpower to pull out a victory. In the opener the Jags lost to eventual dual champs, Eagle Grove 54-24. The second round pitted the Jags against Iowa Falls, losing 42-30; in the third round the Jags lost to BCLUW/South Hardin 45-27; after lunch break Gilbert beat the Jags 51-28, and in the final dual Southeast Polk won 63-10. 126 lbs. Caelan Oakes and 132 lbs Kaden Holder both had nice days going 5-0. 160 lbs. Xander Dorman and 220 lbs. Nate Graves finished 3-2; 138 lbs. Caleb Will and 170 lbs. Grant Smith finished 2-3; 113 lbs. Colin Johnson and Hwt. Ryan Wicklein finished 1-4, and 145 lbs. Kyle Johnson had a tough day finishing 0-5. 132 lbs. Oliver Riehl went 1-1 in JV action. 

Once again, our guys took some baby steps forward but really struggled on the bottom giving up too many falls. Head to head the guys competed pretty hard. The wrestlers have to get back in the room to focus on better positioning and aggressiveness in controlling ties in the neutral position.