Nine members of the Belle Plaine wrestling squad punched their tickets to Saturday’s district meet at Eddyville-Blakesburg with strong showings last week at the sectional at BGM.
Belle Plaine claimed the team title with 212.5 points and will join BGM Tuesday night at the regional duals tourney at Pekin. The other two teams in that tournament to determine a berth in the state duals tourney are Louisa-Muscatine and New London/WMU.
At the sectional meet, the Plainsmen crowned four champs and had five runners-up. Jack O’Brien at 125 pounds, Cody Chekal at 130, Kurtis Osipchack at 140 and Reed Petersen at 215 pounds took titles. Second place finishes went to Zakk Buch at 103 pounds, Lance Hinschberger at 119 pounds, Austin Chekal at 152, Scott Wheeler at 189 and Jeremy Ellis at 285.
Eddyville-Blakesburg qualified 11 wrestlers for the district meet, including Dimitri Boyer, who claimed the 145 pound state title last year and has moved up to 152 pounds this season. BGM has six district qualifiers and Martensdale-St. Mary’s also has six advancing to Saturday’s district.
“We felt we really wrestled pretty well as a team Saturday,” Coach Bob Yilek said. “We lost some matches we could have won but we won some big matches when it counted.
“The bonus points were huge for us on Saturday. Of the 17 matches we won, 14 were by fall, one by technical fall and one major decision. That was just awesome and made the difference in the final score. The team race was close but we came away with some huge semi-final wins and pushed 10 wrestlers into the finals which really helped with the team points. When it was all settled we had 4 champions, 5 second place finishers, a third, one fourth and a fifth. It just goes to show that if you keep working hard good things will happen. As a team we are exited to be in the Regionals Duals again. Being one of the 16 teams to win Sectionals and 1 of the 32 in the duals is great for these kids.
“As for the nine that qualified to the Districts this week at Eddyville, it is one step closer to the State Wrestling Tournament which is what most wrestlers dream of. It is a matter of wrestling your best and giving 100 percent in the most important matches of the season. We are excited and I am sure the guys will pick it up and give it their best on Saturday!
“Jack O’Brien wins his 4th Sectional title with 2 falls
Cody Chekal – Champion – with a fall and major decision in the finals.
Kurtis Osipchack – Champion – with a fall and a tech. fall in the finals
Reed Petersen – Champion – had 3 falls
“Runners-up:
Zakk Buch, Lance Hinschberger, Austin Chekal, Scott Wheeler and Jeremy Ellis.
Chad Olson placed 3rd
Andrew O’Brien placed 4th
Tyler Williams -5th”
Team Scores:
Belle Plaine 212.5
BGM 201
Pekin 176
Tri/County/ Montezuma 100.5
Cardinal 96
Van Buren 63.5
English valleys 39
The following is a list of weight classes involving Belle Plaine district qualifiers, with entrants advancing to the Eddyville district, their grades and records:
103 – Zakk Buch Belle Plaine sr 27-3
Phillip Laux Pekin so 34-0
Jason Crosby EB fr 33-8
Andy Isabell Wayne fr 2-2
119 - Lance Hinschberger Belle Plaine fr 24-11
Gavin Kolars BGM sr 36-7
Tanner Scott EB so 38-5
Michael Romanco Pleasantville sr 25-11
125 – Jack O’Brien Belle Plaine sr 36-3
Austyn Vogel Pekin fr 18-15
Travis Terrell Wayne sr 19-7
David DeLong M-St. Mary’s so 22-15
130 – Cody Chekal Belle Plaine so 29-14
Travis Foster BGM jr 15-8
David Walker M-St. Mary’s so 40-3
Nathan Van Zante EB jr 32-9
140 – Kurtis Osipchack Belle Plaine jr 27-11
Jake Steffen BGM sr 22-16
Robert Walker M-St. Mary’s so 35-4
Brett Roberts EB so 35-8
152 – Austin Chekal Belle Plaine sr 17-26
Matt Plants BGM jr 28-15
Dimitri Boyer EB sr 42-1
Allen Brown M-St. Mary’s sr 17-23
189 – Scott Wheeler Belle Plaine sr 28-12
Connor Johnston TC-Monte so 30-13
Kyle Soderblom Lynn-Sully jr 36-1
Jesse Demon EB sr 31-12
215 – Reed Petersen Belle Plaine jr 28-12
Zach Moseby Pekin sr 29-12
Trevor Simpson M-St. Mary’s sr 32-9
Levi Ratliff EB sr 32-12
285 – Jeremy Ellis Belle Plaine sr 13-7
Darin Adam Pekin sr 16-2
Phil Lumley Pleasantville jr 27-5
Keiffer Greigo EB sr 25-14
