The Indianola wrestling team takes on Norwalk in a Little Hawkeye Conference dual tonight, facing off against the #10 team in class 3A Warriors according to The Predicament. The Indians and Warriors will face off with several ranked matchups coming tonight, including Indianola’s #3 Ryder Downey vs #6 Norwalk’s Grant Harbour at 132lbs, #7 Sean Cunningham vs #8 Tristan Duncan at 170lbs, and #5 Walker Whalen vs #10 Jason Kritzler at 195lbs. Indianola head coach Clint Manny tells KNIA Sports the Indians faced a gauntlet of tough teams early on in the season to help prepare them for moments like this against a quality Norwalk squad.
The Norwalk wrestling team hit the road for another Saturday Tournament, this time to the Ed Winger Classic in Urbandale. The Warriors placed 5th in a 20-team field with a team score of 123. Waukee was the champion with 217.5.
The Warriors had nine wrestlers place in the top eight in their respective weight classes. Among the highlights were Grant Harbour placing 2nd at 132, Cade Schmidt 3rd at 160, Nick Marker 3rd at 182, and Maddux Borcherding-Johnson at heavyweight.
Norwalk returns to action Thursday at home for a Little Hawkeye Conference dual against Indianola.
The Norwalk bowling teams hosted Sigourney Saturday, and came away with two wins on the day. The girls defeated the Savages 1799-1723. Macie Slvestor had the high game for the Warriors with 169. The Norwalk boys placed first with a score of 2438. Kyan Tomkins had the high game with 176.
A pair of close clashes on Eagle Lane went separate ways as the second half of the Little Hawkeye Conference rotation started with Pella Christian and Norwalk splitting a varsity basketball doubleheader heard on 92.1 KRLS Friday.
Norwalk finished the season sweep of the Eagles girls 41-34, while the Eagles boys mounted a massive second half charge to come back and knock off the Warriors 55-51.
The nightcap was a tale of two halves Norwalk was in control after the home team Eagles jumped to an 8-2 lead through the first few minutes. Balance was evident in the Warriors lineup, as seven different players scored the 34 first-half points for the defending conference champions. However, Pella Christian started the 3rd quarter on an 11-0 run over the first 3:22 in the period, and held Norwalk to five points to close the quarter with a two point lead. Norwalk Head Coach Chris Larson says a series of bad events in that third quarter ultimately cost them the game.
The second round of the Little Hawkeye Conference basketball season begins tonight on Eagle Lane as Pella Christian welcomes Norwalk.
The Warriors’ swept the Eagles on December 4th with a 52-50 4th quarter comeback in the girls game for Norwalk and 79-56 domination over Pella Christian.
Warriors Head Coach Jill Martin says her team is playing well, and the focus needs to be on what they’re doing, as opposed to focusing on the opponent.
“All of our conference games are tough. You’ve got to be prepared and do your job. We had a great, competitive game, only won by two last time, and we need to make some adjustments. ‘Be us’ is the big part.”
The Indianola wrestling team blanked Oskaloosa in a Little Hawkeye Conference dual 75-0 Thursday evening, completing their last home dual of the season. The Indians got wins by fall from Cael Meacham at 120lbs, Malachi Thomsen at 126lbs, Clayton Gibson at 152lbs, Trey Kellow at 160lbs, Sean Cunningham at 170lbs, Jacob Darr at 182lbs, Walker Whalen at 195lbs, and Cael Crawford at heavyweight. The Indians also saw wins from Ryder Downey at 132lbs by Technical Fall, Camden Lloyd at 145lbs by Decision, and Cael Meyer at 113lbs in Sudden Victory. Head coach Clint Manny tells KNIA News what you learn against those top-level guys is what may work against some lower competition doesn’t necessarily translate to guys who have a state championship on the brain.