DCG girls wrestling sends seven to state, hoops notches big wins

Entering the home stretch, the Mustangs are zeroing in on the path to some championships. (Note: Events covered Jan. 23-29.)

Girls Basketball (14-3)

The Mustangs improved to 10-0 in league play this season after adding two dominant wins to their resume this past week.

First, DCG knocked down Newton (3-12) on Jan. 24 by a score of 54-21. Three days later, Oskaloosa (8-9) was also left in the Mustangs’ wake in a 57-22 drumming. That combined 67-point spread is the most for Dallas Center this season over the course of two games. But in the same two games last year, the Mustangs won by a combined 81 points.

In the first game this week, Emma Miner was a walking basket with 22 points after making 9-of-17 shots. Emma Miner and Vanessa Bickford were the team’s biggest aides, each logging four assists.

Friday’s game against Oskie put Finley Fitzgerald back into the spotlight, scoring 15 points as she made 3-of-4 three-pointers and also led the squad with six total rebounds.

Boys Basketball (9-6)

DCG’s lead against Newton (8-4) in the first game of the week was short-lived, as the Cardinals won the Jan. 24 game 58-52 after initially trailing the Mustangs in the opening quarter.

The Mustangs reversed course, though, on Friday with a 76-35 win over Oskaloosa (1-14). There, Tate Perrin had one of his biggest nights of the season, posting 17 points while making every shot possible. He was a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor including three deep balls and made both his free throw tries as well. Jaden Jones was responsible for many open looks for the night, totaling six assists. Calix Cahill had another four assists.

​​Girls Wrestling

DCG will be one of the most-represented teams at the state tournament on Thursday after seven Mustangs punched a ticket to Coralville. Only five other schools have more qualifiers this year. Qualifiers needed to place fourth or better at the regional round this past week.

Breezing through all three of her matchups, Halley Beaudet (190) makes a return trip to the (revamped) state tournament with a first place ticket in hand.

Ava Gannon (105) has only wrestled in a third of what most of her teammates have this season, but her previous experience helped guide her to a second place finish on Friday. Asia Jahangir (130) and Bella Mulder (135) also earned the silver treatment after going 2-1 for the day.

Maya Fritz (170) wound up in third place after bouncing back in the consolation bracket, while Mackenzie Sizemore (155) and Josephine Bond (115) each won on their last chance and grabbed fourth.

Boys Wrestling

While the girls team was fighting for state slots, the Mustang boys were focused on their conference rank.

At Saturday’s Little Hawkeye tournament, Dallas Center placed second with 233 points. Defending champ Indianola got the narrow edge with 234 points. The gap was at least narrowed a bit, as DCG took third place last year.

In 2022, DCG had a residency in third place, with 10 bronze finishers. This year saw more rise to the top, giving Indianola a real run for the top. There were five first place winners for DCG this season: Ayden Beck (113 pounds), Logan Gard (132), Jacob Fistler (170), Ben Brushaber (182) and Lane Nelsen (195). Indianola had one fewer first place winner.

Also getting to the championship round, Brendan Smith (160) lost a 5-0 decision but still grabbed silver. And rounding up the medals, Blake Forrester (120), Luke Benson (145) and Ethan Riesselman (152) each placed third.

This article originally appeared on Dallas County News: DCG girls wrestling sends seven to state, hoops notches big wins