Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, February 14, 2013

Mount Ayr Community winter athletes were recognized between the final home basketball games Tuesday, February 5.

Seniors included Jasper ABARR,son of Charles and Rebecca ABARR; Jennifer BLAIR, daughter of James and Suzanne BLAIR; Erin DOLECHECK, daughter of Allan and Naomi DOLECHECK; Dylan DOMAN, son of Tracy and Deanna DOMAN; Hannah FLETCHALL, daughter of Jeff and Becky FLETCHALL; Emily FOX, daughter of Rick and Jody FOX; Caitlin GILES, daugther of Scott and Tracy GILES; Madison HOSFIELD, daughter of Randy and Stephanie HOSFIELD; Maggie JENNETT, daughter of Steve and Chantelle JENNETT; Braydee POORE, son of Clintand Pam POORE; Austin QUICKS, son of Bruce and Kris QUICK; Morgan QUICK, daughter of Jeff and Rhonda QUICK; April SHIELDS, daughter of Dave and Kim SHIELDS; Jacob STILL, son of Ronch and Katie STILL; Taylor STILL, daughter of Doug and Gina STILL; Johnathan TRIGGS, son of Kevin and Kathy TRIGGS; Kylie WILSON, daughter of Lisa and the late Fred WILSON, and Logan WIMER, daughter of Brian and Wendy WIMER.

In addition, three Raider senior wrestlers were honored at a recognition during their final home meet January 24: Zach LEMON is the son of Rob and Ondrea DORY, Zane SICKELS is the son of Jeff and Amy SICKELS and Shane SWANK is the son of Mike and Melinda SWANK.

Erik Freed of Mount Ayr celebrates after winning the 132-pound district wrestling title in Corning Saturday allowing him to advance to the statewrestling tournament this week.

Four Mount Ayr wrestlers with high hopes and high expectations traveled to the district wrestling tournament at Corning on Saturday, Feb. 9. Only one of them came home with his dreams fulfilled.

Erik FREED won the 132-pound district championship and willcompete in the state tournament beginning this week in Des Moines.

A two-time state qualifier, FREED will face sophomore Zach BRUNNER (32-11) from North Fayette in his first-round match Thursday at 9 a.m.

FREED left no doubt who was the best wrestler in his weight class as he won both his matches by pin. His first match was a win over Austin DOLLEN of Griswold.

FREED gave his fans some anxious moments in this match as he got taken down and put on his back. He was able to recover, however, with a reversal before he put DOLLEN on his back.

The mat was slapped close to the end of the first period indicating FREED had gotten the pin.

In his second match FREED also came from behind as he pinned Clay HARRIS of Riverside, Oakland. In this match he got taken down but quickly escaped and scored his own takedown.

In the second period FREED reversed HARRIS and was able to get him on his back to get the pin.

The other three Mount Ayr wrestlers were disappointed in their quest for a trip to the state tournament.

At 113 Dawson KNAPP placed third. He lost hisfirst match to Jacob VOGEL of Riverside, Oakland. VOGEL put the pressure on KNAPP from the very start as he scored a quick take-down. He then repeatedly was able to put KNAPP on his back for near-fall points until he had enough to earn the technical fall midway through the third period.

KNAPP looked like a different wrestler in his wrestle back match as he dominated Troy SCHWARTZ of Guthrie Center. KNAPP had a commanding 15-4 lead over SCHWARTZ before he scored the fall in the third period.

There was no wrestle back for second place as VOGEL was defeated in the finals.

Grant STAATS lost two heart-breakers to end his season. He lost by fall to Zach VANCE of Griswold in his first match. STAATS led 4-2 in this match going into the third period but got caught in a cradle that he could not get out of which resulted in the fall.

His next match against Tucker PATRICK of Guthrie Center ended in an overtime loss. Once again STAATS looked like he was on his way to a win as he led going into the third period. Some questionable officiating in this period allowed PATRICK to pull within two and as time expired he scored a reversal on STAATS to send the match into overtime.

PATRICK got the takedown in the overtime to get the win.

At 160 Shane SWANK won his first match over Trevor HOUGH of Underwood. SWANK got out to a quick five-point lead before HOUGH pulled within one as they headed into the final period. SWANK built up his lead during this period and won the match 10-6. SWANK lost his second match to Wyatt LEWIS of St. Albert. SWANK trailed most of the way in this defensive match and was out-pointed 5-2. This put SWANK in a wrestle back for second against Tyler HEIN of Panorama. SWANK got the take down and was attempting to tilt HEIN when he got caught in a headlock and was pinned.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, March 07, 2013

Two Raiderettes have been named to the Pride of Iowa all-conference teams. Senior Taylor STILL returns as a first team honoree after also appearing as a first-team honoree as a junior. Junior Paige DAUGHTON was a unanimous pick for the second team.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, March 28, 2013

Team awards were presented at the Mount Ayr wrestling team banquet held recently. Shown above (L-R) are Wyatt JACKSON, Most Improved; Trevor ANDERSON, Most Improved and Rookie of the Year; Eric FREED, Most Valuable; Joe RICKER, Fastest Fall (eight seconds) and Shane SWANK, Spark Plug.

FREED was also recognized for having the most takedowns (72), most falls (26), most escapes (26) and most near-fall points (101).

SWANK had the most reversals (22).

Captains were also named for next season: Jacob BEAMGARD, Erik FREED and Dawson KNAPP.

Jacob STILL, Taylor STILL and Braydee POORE were named to the 2013 KAAN All Star Basketball Teams. Area honorees were recognized at an awards banquet in Trenton, MO on March 20.

  Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2013