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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday,
March 2, 2006 |
Midland wrestling on the map
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
DES MOINES — For the second straight season, a Midland High School wrestler was on the podium championship Saturday night in Des Moines.
This time it wasn’t at the venerable old Veteran’s Memorial, where Midland’s Cody Goble stood as an eighth-place finisher last winter. This time, it was Eagle junior Adam Gudenkauf taking the stand after also placing eighth at 215 pounds.
“Adam wrestled as well as I have seen him in the last two weeks,” said Midland wrestling coach Erik Wagler. “He just got better and better every time he stepped out onto the mat. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do next season with this experience under his belt.”
Midland’s Spencer Bowen also turned in a sensational performance reaching the second day of the tournament at 112 pounds.
“Spencer gained some valuable experience for his junior and senior seasons,” said Wagler.
“After being down 7-2 in the third period of his first-round match, he didn’t give up and pinned his opponent. He lost his next two matches to the third and seventh place finishers.”
Gudenkauf received a very tough opening draw facing No. 1 ranked Darren Kriener, of South Winneshiek Thursday, February 23, the first day of the 2006 state tournament for class 1A wrestlers. |
Twist and turn
Midland junior Adam Gudenkauf twists and turns Guthrie Center’s Austin Willms to his back during first-round consolation action from the class 1A state wrestling tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines Thursday, February 23. Gudenkauf posted a huge 3:44 pin triumph starting his trek to the podium Saturday, February 25, closing his meet winning two matches in three days placing eighth in the state overall at 215 pounds. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski)
Quick win at state
Midland sophomore Spencer Bowen got his first-ever state tournament match off to a sensational start posting a big 5:07 pin triumph over Nodaway Valley’s Jeff Ohnemus at 112 pounds Thursday, February 23, at the new Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
Gudenkauf (30-9) who didn’t appear the least bit intimidated against the 34-1 senior who finished as the state runner-up in 2005, hung tough all match long against the state’s top-ranked 215-pounder forcing Kriener into the second period before suffering a 2:12 pin setback.
“Well, I’ll be honest, I was a little intimidated coming into that match,” said Gudenkauf who wrestled most of the 2005-2006 season with MCL damage in his right knee forcing the Eagle junior to have surgery Monday, February 27. “I tried everything I could think of against him but he defended so well, I couldn’t get a whole lot going. I just tried as hard as a could. At least it went into the second period anyway.”
Kriener went on to defeat Aplington-Parkersburg’s Evan Capper 3-2 in the 1A quarter-finals before pinning Pocahantas’ Ben Winkler in the semi-finals in a 7:06 overtime thriller. In the finals Kriener edged past Bondurant-Farrar’s Jason Courtney 3-2 to claim the 215-pound championship.
Gudenkauf, needing a win to keep his state berth alive in the first-round consolation Thursday morning, came through with a big 3:44 pin triumph over Guthrie Center’s Austin Willms (32-11), who was a 2005 state qualifier.
“I felt even more pressure in that second match than I did the first,” said Gudenkauf. “I didn’t really have any pre-set goals coming in to the state meet, but I sure didn’t want to have it end so quickly with a two-and-out. I worked too hard to get to this point.”
The win kept Gudenkauf alive to wrestle again Friday, February 24, where he posted a big 6-5 decision over Griswold’s No. 6 ranked Colton Peebles (46-2).
“That was probably the best match I have ever wrestled,” he said. “I felt I had been wrestling better than I ever have all the way up to the state meet, but I wanted to keep that going at state and in this match, against a guy who only had two losses all season long, that felt pretty good.”
Gudenkauf advanced to the consolation quarter-finals where he was handed a 2:15 pin setback at the hands of No. 8 ranked Dillon Heesch (42-2), of Southeast Webster.
“That kid was tough,” said Gudenkauf. “Really tough. But when you reach that level of wrestling, I guess that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
In the seventh-place match Saturday, February 25, Gudenkauf had his state meet ended with a 15-0 technical fall setback against No. 4 ranked Capper (Aplington-Parkersburg), who was 35-0 entering the state meet.
“Another very tough match,” said Gudenkauf of the No. 4 ranked wrestler. “At least I made the most of my opportunity at state though. I wanted to wrestle as long as I could and I got all three days in.”
Gudenkauf stood on the podium championship Saturday night in Des Moines with Kriener (champion), Courtney (runner-up), Central City’s Nick Bitner (3rd), Winkler (4th), Heesch (5th), Louisa-Muscatine’s Jeremy Norwood (6th) and Capper (7th).
“That was the greatest feeling ever standing up there with all the top wrestlers in Iowa,” said Gudenkauf. “I was just glad to make it to state and then to get to stand on the podium Saturday night was something I will never forget. Having the whole state watching, it was great.”
Bowen (28-10) got his state experience off to a sensational start posting a first-round 4:35 pin win over Nodaway Valley’s Jeff Ohnemus (32-12) at 112 pounds Thursday.
“I came into the state meet with the goal of placing and I knew I needed a good start for that to happen,” said Bowen. “I didn’t get off to a very good start in that first match but I sure finished it strong. The best part was getting the pin. That felt great getting a pin at state.”
Bowen was trailing 7-2 in the match but quickly turned things around in the third period to advance to the second day.
Friday, Bowen was handed a 10-0 setback against I-35 Truro’s No. 10 ranked James Houchins (37-3) in the 112-pound quarter-finals.
“That guy was so quick, I could hardly get my hands on him,” said Bowen of battle with Houchins. “He was one of the better wrestlers I’ve seen.”
In the 2nd-round wrestle-back, Bowen had his season ended after a 4:50 pin loss at the hands of Logan Magnolia’s No. 7 ranked Kody Kersten (38-5), a 2004 state qualifier.
“I wasn’t ready for this match for some reason,” said Bowen. “That guy just out-muscled me the whole time. I couldn’t get anything going.”
Houchins went on to place fourth while Kersten was seventh at 112 pounds.
“I was disappointed my state tournament was over after that second match on Friday,” said Bowen. “But I did the best I could.”
After recovering from surgery, Gudenkauf plans a rigorous off-season training regimen in hopes of making another trip back to Wells Fargo Arena.
“I’m going to work with my coaches on my technique and work with Casey Houston on conditioning,” said Gudenkauf. “Hopefully I’ll come back next year even stronger.”
Bowen agrees.
“I’m going to hit the weights hard,” he said. “I’m going to do a lot more running too and try to be in the best shape I can to make it back here next year.” |
 Giving the Saints a serious scare
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
CEDAR RAPIDS — From the opening moments of the class 3A district semi-final contest Monday, February 27, Cedar Rapids Xavier knew they were in for a fight against an up-start, scrappy and talented Anamosa boys basketball team.
The Saints got all they could ask for and more from the Raiders who had their solid 2005-2006 campaign ended after a 61-53 setback at the hands of the host Saints.
“I’m really disappointed I don’t get to go to practice tomorrow,” said Anamosa boys basketball coach Kevin Barnes after the hard-fought nine-point defeat closed the Raiders’ campaign with an 8-12 record overall. “I love these kids and how hard they worked this season and it is an absolute joy every day in practice because they were so coachable and worked so hard to get better. I’m just really sad I don’t get to go to practice anymore with this group.”
Anamosa almost kept their season alive pulling off what would have been the shocker of the season pushing the talented Saints to the brink as a Colten Kelly basket with with just 3:07 remaining on the fourth quarter clock knotted the score at 48-48.
Kelly was also fouled on the play but had his free throw attempt rim out which would have given the Raiders their first lead since the opening moments of the contest.
Xavier’s 6’ 7’’ 350-pound giant Jay Teply answered Kelly’s basket 30 seconds later giving the Saints a lead they would not lose the rest of the way.
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Post moves
Anamosa senior Derek Hart posts up Saints 6’7’’ big man Jay Teply in 3A district semi-final action. Hart scored 13 points in the season-ending defeat at Cedar Rapids Xavier. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
Joe Bedard added a free throw at the 2:28 mark of the final frame and then converted a three-point play 17 seconds later hitting the field goal and the free throw to put the hosts out in front with a 53-48 lead.
Bedard scored yet again for Xavier with 1:14 remaining as the Raiders began to struggle finding open looks at the rim and the Anamosa deficit grew to eight points at 56-48.
Kelly attacked the interior of the Xavier defense with 1:05 remaining and was fouled. After swishing home both charity stripe shots, the Raiders were back to within two possessions of the Saints at 56-50, but that would be as close as they would come.
Mike St. Andrews hit a free throw with one minute remaining and then T.J. Sayre brought Xavier fans to their feet with a thunderous dunk giving the Saints a 59-50 lead with 42-seconds remaining. |
Board games
Raider senior Miles Weber grabs a pass between Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Jay Teply (52) and Kevin Andrews (40) during first half action from Anamosa’s class 3A district semi-final 61-52 loss Monday, February 27. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
St. Andrews scored again for the hosts with 15.8 left on the clock and Xavier had their largest lead of the entire night with a 61-50 advantage.
Tony Lueken, who played a sensational game running the point for the Raiders, scored the final Anamosa points of the season with a driving lay-up with 8.3 seconds left ending the scoring with the nine-point loss.
“All week in practice we asked our kids to work hard to control tempo and play our best game,” said Barnes. “We did both. It is just a credit to our kids the way we got better every time out this season and it worked the way it should work. We played our best game at the end of the season.”
After Lueken scored the first points of the contest just seconds after the opening tip giving Anamosa a 2-0 lead, Xavier ran off eight straight points and appeared to take control of the game.
But every time the Saints would score a flurry of points, the Raiders always had an answer.
Xavier led 12-5 late in the first quarter but a barrage of 3-pointers by both clubs closed the frame with scintillating basketball as Anamosa went on a 13-7 run to close to within a point at the first horn, 19-18.
Kelly, Lueken, Derek Hart and Andrew Peters all connected from beyond the arc in the opening eight minutes as the Raiders answered the Saints’ hot shooting with blistering marksmanship of their own.
While Anamosa could never re-gain the lead, they also never allowed the Saints out of their sights trailing just 30-25 at the half and 41-36 after three quarters of play.
“I told our kids after the game to remember back to the first game of the season when we scored 24 points against a decent Benton Community team,” said Barnes. “Now, three short months later, we are toe-to-toe for 30 minutes with Xavier. It was just great effort!”
The Saints took an eight-point, 44-36 fourth quarter lead but Ben Yanda sparked another Anamosa rally scoring a field goal while adding two free throws. Lueken also converted a pair of free throws in the run before a pair of Kelly baskets knotted the score at 48-48.
“Our two guards were sensational all night long,” said Barnes. “Andrew, Miles and Tommy gave us good minutes defensively and Ben played the best game of his career. Derek after a rough start to the game, played like a senior who didn’t want his career to end. He showed some real guts tonight and stepped up his game. I know you have heard this before, but I am just so proud of these kids.”
Kelly led the Raiders with a sensational 17-point effort while Lueken added 13 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Hart chipped in with 13 points and six boards. |
Olin responds under pressure
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
Out in front
Olin’s Dan Inglis, here scoring a basket during the Lions’ fourth quarter rally, hit the go-ahead free throw as well with 41 seconds remaining against Central City Wednesday, February 22. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski)
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WHEATLAND — With their 2005-2006 season on life support in Wheatland Wednesday, February 22, in a class 1A district quarter-final contest, the Olin boys basketball team needed a miracle to somehow pull out a win against Central City and keep their playoff run alive.
A miracle is exactly what the Lions produced pulling out an improbable 43-42 victory over the Wildcats.
“Things looked pretty bleak there in the fourth quarter,” said Lion boys basketball coach Bruce Miell. “I was worried we weren’t going to have enough time to come back from the deficit we had built, but these kids just do not quit and they battled back and pulled out a game we probably had no business winning.”
Olin trailed Central City 32-27 mid way through the final frame and after Justin Rix was whistled for a foul, one of many called on the Lions in the second half of play, Miell was handed a technical foul for arguing the call.
“I didn’t really do much to get that technical, but I had been pretty vocal up to that point so maybe it was a combination of things that led to it,” he said. “But it sure wasn’t the right time or the right situation to get it. I really thought I cost our team a shot at winning the game.” |
Instant messaging
Olin boys basketball coach Bruce Miell fires up his team during a fourth quarter time-out when it appeared the Lions were well on their way to a season-ending class 1A district quarter-final defeat at the hands of Central City in Wheatland Wednesday, February 22. The Olin boys responded with an amazing comeback to post a wild 43-42 triumph and keep their season alive. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski)
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Central City’s Curt Steckel stepped to the charity stripe and drilled all four free throws giving his club a huge 36-27 advantage with 5:51 remaining against a Lion team who had been struggling mightily putting the basketball into the hoop since the first quarter.
“I don’t know what it was, and I’m not going to complain about the officiating, but it seemed after I got that technical, we seemed to get a good portion of the calls the rest of the way,” said Miell. “It seemed to that point we couldn’t get a call to save our lives, but the rest of the way, things just went our way.”
With Olin’s season in critical condition trailing by nine points, Dan Inglis started the thrilling comeback drilling a field goal with 5:40 remaining. |
The Lions also got a lot of help from shaky Central City free throw shooting inside the game’s final moments to complete the amazing recovery.
The Wildcats were 2-of-11 from the charity stripe after Steckel’s four made free throws earlier in the fourth quarter, and each missed just seemed to give the Lions more and more confidence a comeback was possible.
“If Central City hits their free throws, they probably win this game by double-digits,” said Miell.
“But they gave us a chance and we didn’t miss out on the opportunity.”
Justin Rix hit a pair of free throws with 4:39 left and Brock Rouse added two more with 3:12 remaining as the Lions trimmed the deficit to five points at 38-33.
All the while, Central City’s Cody Schmitz was struggling mightily hitting 2-of-6 free throws and with each miss, more and more pressure mounted.
“We knew who we wanted to send to the free throw line and it worked out for us,” said Miell.
“That kid had been struggling and we just hoped he would continue to struggle.”
He did.
Justin Smith hit a shot with 2:35 remaining and after Schmitz missed two more free throws on the other end, Smith hit another field goal cutting the Wildcat lead to a point at 38-37 with 2:11 left on the clock.
Central City’s Sean Brandhorst ended a 10-2 Olin run, scoring the Wildcats’ first field goal in more than four minutes to put his team up 40-37, but Kasey Bean responded with a huge basket to close Lions to within one point yet again.
Brandhorst found his way to the rim with 1:38 remaining giving Central City a 42-39 lead, but it wound wind up being the Wildcats’ final points of the season.
Smith hit another huge shot for the Lions and was fouled, but missed the free throw that would have tied the game.
Central City’s Eli Hunnerdosse then missed two charity stripe shots with 1:01 remaining and the Lions had the basketball with under a minute remaining for a chance at the lead.
Bean was sent to the free throw line where he hit 1-of-2 to knot the score and after the Wildcats missed on a chance to take the lead, Inglis hit 1-of-2 from the stripe with 41-seconds left to clinch the win for Olin.
“We finally had the lead, but it was still wild down the stretch,” said Miell. “A little too wild for me.”
After Rouse blocked a Wildcat attempt to win, the ball went out of bounds off Central City seemingly handing the win to the Lions with just four seconds left on the clock.
Olin attempted to in-bounds the ball but threw it directly out-of-bounds giving the Wildcats one last chance with four seconds still on the clock.
Steckel put up the final shot at the buzzer that rimmed out and Olin escaped with the amazing one-point triumph.
Rouse and Smith led Lion scorers with 13 points each.
The win advanced the Lions to the 1A district semi-final back in Wheatland Monday, February 27, against Preston who handed the Lions a rough 79-47 season-ending setback.
The Trojans used a 25-14 run in the second quarter to take a 37-22 halftime lead and added a 26-14 spurt over the final eight minutes to blow things wide open.
Olin closes the 2005-2006 season with an 12-12 record overall. |
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