Emrich and Crowley To Lead Tigers On the Mat

Members of the 2016-17 Tipton wrestling team are, front row, Managers Madison O’Leary, Emily Falkers, Finn Jordan and Megan Dierks. Second row: Brenden Leeper, Lucas Barnum, Austin Lenz, Kaleb Mesick, Brendan Nantz, Levi Mohr, Gavin Belitz and Tommy Brown. Third row: Nick Paul, Keith Penningroth, Ben Emrich, John Crowley, Chance Koch, and T.J. Bornsen. Back Row: coach Craig Wiesrock, head coach Matt Nerem, Zach Jones, Justin McAtee, Isak Skeie, Connor Cromer, Parker Jensen, Logan Schroeder, Sabina Halleman, coach Mitch Chapman and coach Darren Lenz. Photo by Darren Miller. 

By Ryan Stonebraker

Sports Editor, Tipton Conservative

TIPTON — Following up 2015 was a daunting task facing the Tipton wrestling team last year.  The 2015 Tigers placed second at the RVC meet with 167.5 points, had a state runner-up in Eric Lenz and had two other individuals qualify for the state meet.  Last season, the Tigers roster was small, and though they didn’t do as well at the River Valley Conference meet, the Tigers had three wrestlers get to the state meet and one place fourth.

“It is exciting to get another season going.  We are going to have some depth at some weights and that is good,” said Tipton wrestling coach Matt Nerem.

“We are not going to fill all of the weights, but we will be able to move kids around and be more competitive in dual meets this year,” said Nerem.

Four wrestlers return for the Tigers from last year’s team.  They are Ben Emrich, John Crowley, Chance Koch and Justin McAtee.  Both Emrich and Crowley are ranked at their respective weight classes to begin the 2016-17 season.

Emrich was the third Tiger to qualify for the state tournament.  Emrich placed 3rd at 113 at the RVC Meet and was a sectional champion at 113 in Lisbon.  At the district meet, Emrich was a district champion to advance to the state meet.  At state, Emrich did not place, but won his first match 7-0 over Nathan Phillips from I-35, Truro.  He finished his season with a record of 36-8.

Crowley and McAtee were sectional runners-up at the Lisbon sectional at 106 and 145 respectively.    Crowley placed third at the district meet and ended his season 36-9.  Koch was 4th at the sectional meet and finished last season 10-19.

Tipton will have 25 wrestlers out this season with their biggest classes their senior and freshmen classes.  Tipton will have 10 seniors, 2 juniors, 4 sophomores and 9 freshmen.

Tipton had four seniors on the roster last year in Jordan Challis, Colton Clark, Spencer Gritton and Cameron Ihrig.

Challis finished second at the 195-pound weight class at the River Valley Conference meet last year.  He was the 195-pound sectional champion at Lisbon and a district champion a week later at Wilton.  He placed 4th at the state meet in Des Moines at 195 and finished the season 44-7.

Ihrig finished third at 220 at the RVC Meet and was the runner-up at the weight class at both the sectional and district meet.  Ihrig wrestled at the state meet and did not place, but pinned Iowa Valley’s Josh Roggentien in the first round and finished the year 38-13.

Gritton finished his season at the sectional meet, placing third and ending his season 27-17.  Many will remember him battling the flu at the 2015 sectional meet at North Cedar and helping put Tipton into the runner-up team spot, sending them to the team dual tournament.

Clark placed 6th at the RVC meet at 132 and was a runner-up at the sectional meet.  At the district meet, he placed 4th and ended his season with a record of 14-26.

Nerem said that he would like to see more kids come along with his two top wrestlers.

“We are going to try to bring everyone along the best we can.  We are confident that Ben and John will have good seasons, it becomes how many others will come along with them to get to that level,” he said.

Tipton will wrestle in many weekend tournament this season.  Tipton will host their annual wrestling tournament on Saturday, December 3.  The Tigers travel to the Aplington-Parkersburg tournament on December 10 and Tipton will wrestle at the Iowa City Regina tournament on December 17.

After Christmas break the Tigers wrestle at the BGM duals on Friday, January 13 and at the Midland tournament on January 21.  The River Valley Conference meet will be Saturday, January 28 at NE Goose Lake.  The Tigers wrestle at the Lisbon Sectional on February 4 and wrestlers that advance will compete at the Wilton district a week later.