First time for everything:
Osage wins TIC conference title
By Kristi Nixon
ST. ANSGAR — Firsts abounded at the 2022 Top of Iowa Conference Wrestling meet on Saturday, Jan. 29.
It was the first time in the history of the Top of Iowa Conference that St. Ansgar was the host site for the meet.
Two four-time TIC champions were crowned for the first time (Central Springs’ Clayton McDonough and North Butler’s Chet Buss).
And area school Osage claimed first with a resounding 254.5 points, 25.5 ahead of runner-up Nashua-Plainfield.
“I think our kids wrestled well all meet,” coach Brent Jennings said. “There are a few matches I’d like to have back, obviously, but we wrestled well overall. We’ve got some things to work on this week. I think the kids wrestled tough, showed we’re in shape and we’re healthy and that’s big going into the post-season.”
With eight wrestlers in the final, the Green Devils claimed four individual titles, including three-time TIC champion Nick Fox at 170.
“It’s been fun,” Fox said. “I’m up a weight, so I went up for a kind of a challenge, but it was fun.”
Fox won by 11-5 decision against previously undefeated Drake Tiedemann of Northwood-Kensett (39-1). He said he plans to go back to 160 for this Saturday’s sectional meet at home.
“Right now I’m a full 170,” Fox said, “but I will be going back down to 160. It shouldn’t be too bad.”
Coach Brent Jennings, who was named Northeast District Coach of the Year, said that it shouldn’t be an issue.
“He’ll be back at 160 next week,” Jennings said. “He went up to ‘70 to wrestle a little better competition, some different kids today and we have the ability to do that with our lineup, but he’s looking to wrestle post-season at 160. Oh yeah, he’s probably only three or four (pounds) over (160) right now.”
Fox was seen looking at the clock in both his quarterfinal and semifinal matches, but he said his aim was to check on how many points he was accumulating.
“I was just looking at the score, seeing how many points I scored,” Fox said. “I just like to score a lot of points to keep my shape up, but I eventually want to get the fall.”
He’s aiming for a state title after finishing state runner-up the last two seasons. His only two losses this year are to top-ranked wrestlers in Class 3A and Minnesota.
“I’ve worked hard this summer,” Fox said, “and I think it’s my year to win it.”
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The host school Saints finished 12th out of 16 schools with 75 points with their top finish coming from 170-pounder Lorne Isler, who was fourth. Nathan Brumm placed fifth at 126 while Regan Witt finished seventh and eighth-place finishes included Mariah Michels (106), Emma Hall (113), Caleb Levan (132), Aslan Wills (145) and Christian Hermanson (160).
“Our young wrestlers placed seventh or eighth,” coach Kittleson said. “It’s not a tournament for the faint of heart. Isler, fourth; Brumm, fifth. They were in a couple of close matches. We’re getting better every week, every day.”
The complete story is available in the Feb. 2 print edition of the Enterprise Journal.
