Wildcats Have Three Returning Wrestlers

Members of the 2016-17 Durant wrestling team are front row, l-r: Jaeven Schofield, Jared Goethals, D.J. Stewart and Gage Finke. Middle row: Jacob Prunchak, Mason Bird, Christian Gottsche. Back row: Coach Jake Keppy, head coach Casey Strub. Not pictured: Andrew Chaplin, Jordan Craig. Contributed Photo. 

By Ryan Stonebraker

Sports Editor, Tipton Conservative

DURANT — The Durant Wildcats had a tough year last season with eight wrestlers out.  This year, the Wildcats have nine guys out and working hard.  Out for wrestling this season are Jaeven Schofield, Jared Goethals, D.J. Stewart, Gage Finke, Jacob Prunchak, Mason Bird, Christian Gottsche, Andrew Chaplin and Jordan Craig.  New wrestlers are Schofield, Goethals, Stewart, Finke, Gottsche and Chaplin.  Back this season are three guys is Prunchak, Bird and Craig.  Head coach Casey Strub and assistant coach Jake Keppy also return.  

Gone from last year are Noah Cawiezell, Tanne Kleppe, Jacob Mangels, Jared Custer, Brandon Dykes, Alan Hammell and Drake Miller.  Last season, then senior Brandon Dykes was the leader of the team.  He was the hammer wrestler and led the way both record wise and in the room.  He helped lead by example to show the young guys what to expect.

Durant had 11 open weight classes at the River Valley Conference meet last year.  The Wildcats hosted the annual event.  There, Tanner Kleppe placed 5th at 170, Jacob Prunchak did not place at the 182-pound weight class.  Brandon Dykes placed 3rd at the 195-pound weight class.

Four Wildcats wrestled at the sectional meet in Lisbon a week later.  Tanner Kleppe placed 3rd and finished his season 14-11 at the 170-pound weight class.  Jacob Prunchak placed 5th and finished the season 7-24 at the 182-pound weight class.  Brandon Dykes placed as the runner-up at the 195-pound weight class.  Mason Bird placed 3rd and finished his season 10-21 at the 220-pound weight class.

Brandon Dykes qualified for the 2016 state individual wrestling meet.  Dykes pinned Tler Mettler from North Linn in the semifinals and lost to Tipton’s Jordan Challis in the finals to finish as the runner-up at the 195-pound weight class.

At state, Dykes finished 8th, giving Cedar County two placewinners at the 195-pound class as Tipton’s Brandon Dykes placed 4th at the weight class.  Dykes ended the season with a record of 36-13 and won two matches at the state meet.  Dykes beat Spencer Bruess from Don Bosco by pin and Chaz Clark from Pleasantville by pin in the consolation round of the tournament.

The Wildcats took a step back in the team race at last year’s River Valley Conference meet.  The Wildcats placed 9th in 2015 with 75 points and finished 13th last year with 34 points.

This year, Straub and Keppy will have a good group of guys in the room.  The preseason has shown a lot of hard work early in the season.  That said, the Wildcats will not likely compete for many dual titles this year with a small roster and not being able to fill all of the weight classes, however, that is where individual improvement will happen.  The Wildcats will look to weekend tournaments to win weight classes and finish high in brackets as a measuring stick.

Durant opens the season at Northeast Goose Lake on Thursday, December 1 in a dual with the Rebels.  The Wildcats wrestle at dual meets at Cascade, and one at home before Christmas.

The Wildcats will wrestle in weekend tournaments at Wapello on Saturday, December 3; at North Cedar on Saturday December 10; at Starmont on Saturday, December 17; at Mt. Ayr on Friday, January 13 and Saturday, January 14; and at Midland on Saturday, January 21.

The River Valley Conference wrestling meet is scheduled for Saturday, January 28 at Northeast Goose Lake.  The Wildcats will wrestle in the Lisbon sectional on Saturday, February 4.  The district meet will be a week later at Wilton on February 11.

The Wildcats will host three dual meets.  Thursday, December 15, Durant will host West Liberty and Wilton.  On Thursday, January 12, Durant will host Monticello and West Branch.  On Thursday, January 19, Durant will host North Cedar and Bellevue.