The #19 (2A) Hampton-Dumont-CAL boys wrestling team split a North Central Conference triangular at Clear Lake Thursday, as aired on 99 The Wave. The Bulldogs fell to #2 (2A) Algona 51-19 and defeated Clear Lake 50-26.
The Bulldogs won just four matches against Algona. Luke Showalter earned a 6-5 decision at 120, Charlie Showalter got a pin at 132, Brody Strother won a 17-7 major decision at 138 and Colin Bird got a pin at 165. Head Coach Patrick Hansen says Algona’s lineup is historically strong.
“Every time I see them, I just remember how important the weight room is,” Hansen says. “We’ve won like 70 percent of all JV matches, and I don’t know if we won a match against Algona. That’s how deep they are. And it’s not our kids doing anything wrong. It’s just, man, that’s impressive. That might be the best team I’ve probably ever seen in the North Central Conference. I’m 33-years-old. I’ve been following it since I was probably like six. And I even had to go up and ask my dad, and I go, ‘Is that the best team you’ve probably ever seen around here?’ And Dad’s like, ‘Oh my God, that’s impressive.’ Because I mean, we’re good, and they took care of business. We beat them a year ago. They weren’t gonna let that happen again. And hats off to them. They’ve got a great team, got a great program. They built their program right. They’re all homegrown kids. And hats off to them.”
Against Clear Lake, the Bulldogs won four contested matches and Clear Lake won five. But the Lions had five open weight classes, handing Hampton-Dumont-CAL 30 free points. Brody Strother got a pin at 138, Bird won a 17-1 technical fall at 165, Brody Robertson won a 5-2 decision at 190 and Maddon Evans won by fall at 215. Hansen says the team did what it needed to against Clear Lake.
“It’s hard to wrestle teams like that because they are used to it. Every time they go into the gym, they know they got all these forfeits. They know they’ve got all this stuff. It’s hard. We feed off each other so much, we’re an emotional team. It’s hard when it’s like forfeit, forfeit, forfeit, forfeit, forfeit. And then like, oh, shoot, we’re already at 157 or 165. And then it’s just hard to get ready and know what’s coming. You can prepare them as much as you want. But when you get out there and then they’re standing around, you know, it’s just one of those deals that you’ve got to be ready to go fast. They’re used to it, we’re not, but we came out still, and took care of business.”
The results move the Bulldogs to 12-6 in duals.
They’ll return to action Saturday at a dual tournament at #6 (1A) Osage.
Patrick Hansen interview:
