Carman, Slifka earn titles

CHAMP AT 215 - Kyle Slifka, right, tries to pin Ben Lehman of Independence during their semifinal match at 215 pounds on Saturday at the Class 2A District Tournament in Oelwein. Slifka won an 8-4 decision over Lehman, and he pinned Brian Rodas of MFL-Mar-Mac in the finals to win the district title and advance to the State Tournament in Des Moines. Photo by Nate Troy.

Six Cadets heading to State

By Nate Troy, Sports Editor

Six out of seven is not too shabby.

Competing at the Class 2A District Wrestling Tournament on Saturday in Oelwein, six Cadets earned a trip to the State Tournament in Des Moines by placing either first or second. Crestwood's seventh wrestler, Adam Lueschow, narrowly missed making it a clean sweep as he lost in double overtime in the second place match at 275 pounds.

Crestwood senior Evan Carman captured first place at 189 pounds with a 9-3 win over Steven Schilling of New Hampton in the finals, and sophomore Kyle Slifka earned a district title at 215 pounds when he pinned Brian Rodas of MFL-Mar-Mac in the finals.

Cadets who earned a trip to state by placing second at the District Tournament included: Brady Schmauss, 119; Brad Klobassa, 125; Nick Lepa, 135; and Justin Sovereign, 145. Wrestling at 275, Lueschow lost a heartbreaking 2-1 double overtime decision to Mitch Kellogg of New Hampton to place third.

Crestwood placed second in the team standings with 93 points. Waterloo Columbus, which qualified six wrestlers for state, won the team title with 112.5 points. New Hampton finished third with 85 points and four state qualifiers. Independence placed fourth with 80 points, and it qualified five wrestlers for state.

MFL-Mar-Mac finished with 78.5 points and three state qualifiers. Waukon posted 27.5 points, Charles City finished with 24, Denver-Tripoli had 17 points and Dyersville Beckman scored 16 points. Maquoketa Valley had 12 points, and Oelwein finished with 10 points.

The Class 2A State Tournament matches will begin at 6:30 p.m. tonight (Wednesday). First round matches for the Crestwood wrestlers are listed as follows: 119 - Brady Schmauss (32-7) vs. Drew Langel, Glenwood (35-10); 125 - Brad Klobassa (31-8) vs. Kody Blazek, Marion (38-2); 135 - Nick Lepa (31-10) vs. Justin Hanson, Humboldt (35-1); 145 - Justin Sovereign (34-5) vs. Chris Dunkin, Knoxville (27-9); 189 - Evan Carman (34-1) vs. Shane Krafka, Union (34-6); 215 - Kyle Slifka (27-11) vs. Dan Knipfel, Hampton-Dumont (26-11).

Crestwood wrestling results from the District Tournament on Saturday are listed below.

119 - Schmauss won an 11-5 dec. over Blake Hilmar (DT); lost a 4-0 dec. to J.J. Krutsinger (WC).

125 - Klobassa lost a 6-1 dec. to Matt Heims (DB); won by fall over Mitch Jones (WC) 1:35; won by fall over Paul Schuchhardt (NH) 4:35.

135 - Lepa won a 9-0 dec. over Dustin Glew (MV); lost a 5-0 dec. to Nate Alber (Ind); won a 14-8 dec. over Adam Herrick (CC).

145 - Sovereign won a 2-0 dec. over Sean O'Brien (Ind); lost a 3-2 dec. to Pete Kloberdanz (CC).

189 - Carman won a 5-4 dec. over Austin Hayes (WC); won a 9-3 dec. over Steven Schilling (NH).

215 - Slifka won an 8-4 dec. over Ben Lehman (Ind); won by fall over Brian Rodas (MFL), 3:10.

275 - Lueschow lost by fall to Mike Zimmerly (Ind); won a 7-5 dec. over Corey McAvoy (DT); lost a 2-1 double OT dec. to Mitch Kellogg (NH).