TCT sports round-up: All three Ballard girls get a win at girls state wrestling meet

All three Ballard wrestlers that competed in the Iowa girls state wrestling tournament last Thursday and Friday came out with a victory at the Xtreme Arena in Coralville and the Bomber boys wrestling team fell one victory shy of making state duals.

Ally Baker, Noel Boettger and Caliegh Rhiner each picked up at least one win for Ballard at girls state wrestling. The Bomber boys edged Raccoon River Conference rival Winterset by a 31-29 score then dropped a close 38-29 dual to Humboldt during Class 2A regional duals Jan. 31 at Humboldt.

The Ballard boys also competed in a double-dual at Boone Feb. 2. The Bombers crushed Gilbert, 66-9, and defeated Ogden by a 48-30 score.

The Collins-Maxwell wrestling team fell to Colfax-Mingo (54-21), Martensdale St. Marys (46-15) and West Central Valley (72-6) in a home quadrangular Jan. 30. The Spartans also competed in the Steve Dieke Duals Saturday, losing to BCLUW (42-6), Charles City (72-0), Forest City (78-6), Hampton-Dumont-CAL (82-0) and Iowa Falls-Alden (54-12).

The Class 4A No. 4 Ballard girls basketball team defeated rival Gilbert, 64-44, at Huxley Jan. 31. The Bombers fell at No. 1 North Polk Friday, 60-52, in dropping to 15-3 overall and 12-3 in the RRC.

The Ballard boys defeated Gilbert by a 66-51 score and lost at North Polk, 57-46. The split put the Bombers at 8-9 overall and 8-7 in the RRC.

The Collins-Maxwell girls basketball team won at Colo-NESCO, 53-19, Jan. 31 in Colo to finish tied with Baxter for the Iowa Star Conference South Division championship with an 11-1 conference record. The Spartans dropped a non-conference game to Gladbrook-Reinbeck at Maxwell Feb. 2, 50-34, to finish the regular season at 15-5.

The Spartan boys basketball team suffered losses to Colo-NESCO (52-48) and Gladbrook-Reinbeck (81-23). Collins-Maxwell finished tied with Colo-NESCO for second in the ISC South at 8-4 and the Spartans dropped to 11-9 overall.

Here is what we learned from this week's Tri-County Times-area high school sports competition.

Ballard trio makes history at girls state wrestling

The senior trio of Boettger, Baker and Rhiner celebrated being able to compete in the first-ever IGHSAU-sanctioned girls state wrestling tournament by each earning at least one victory.

Boettger went 3-2 at 130 pounds to finish with an outstanding 27-4 record on the season.

Boettger pinned Tipton's Becca Hinderaker in 3:31 during the first round and lost by fall to Waverly-Shell Rock's Lilly Stough in the second round. Boettger came back to defeat East Sac County's Olivia Villegas by an 8-2 decision in the consolation second round and pin Treynor's Emerson Gregg in 2:32 during the consolation third round before ending the tournament with a loss by fall to Center Point-Urbana's Lyni Gusick in the consolation fourth round.

Baker finished her senior season at 17-7 after going 2-2 at 120 during the state tournament.

Baker suffered an 11-2 major decision loss to Riverside's Carly Henderson in the first round and came back with a pair of consolation victories. Baker defeated Ankeny's Trudy Haag by fall in 3:27 during the consolation first round and she pinned Davenport's Jadalynn Daily in 2:48 during the consolation second round.

Baker's run came to a close with a loss by fall to Ames' Lexa Rozevink in the consolation fourth round.

Rhiner ended a productive senior season with a 21-7 record at 140 after going 1-2 during the state meet.

Rhiner lost by fall to East Buchanan's Tayla Stiefel in the first round, but she came back to defeat Jules Thomas of CBCSD Co-Op Wrestling in the consolation first round by a 7-2 decision. Rhiner concluded the state tournament with a hard-fought 4-3 loss to Lewis Central's Espie Almazan during the consolation second round.

Ballard boys just miss out on state duals

The Ballard boys wrestling team made a tremendous effort at the 2A regional dual meet in Humboldt Jan. 31.

The Bombers opened with their strong victory over Winterset. They won five matches by decision, one by major decision and two by fall.

Henry Christensen, ranked No. 4 at 220 in 2A, went up to 285 and pinned Winterset's Seth Vanderlinden in 1:20 and Luke Hartsook scored a fall over Winterset's Ty Barringer in 5:18 at 170. Tucker Vitzthum gave Ballard a win by major decision at 132, defeating the Huskies' Nile Benge by a 22-8 score.

Gabe Christensen, ranked No. 7 at 195 in 2A, went up to 220 and edged Winterset's Jaydn Cooper by a 3-2 decision. Brody Sampson, ranked No. 3 at 182, outlasted Winterset's Carter Smuck by a 7-6 decision at 195.

Smuck is ranked ninth at 195 in 2A.

Jackson Wacha defeated Winterset's Carson Bellamy by a 6-4 decision at 182, Tony Horness pulled off a 9-4 win over Liberto Iniesta at 113 and Daniel Hyman earned a 5-3 victory over Zeke Hoven at 152 for Ballard's other victories.

In the loss to Humboldt the Bombers produced two wins by decision, one by fall and one by tech fall. They also received two forfeits.

Gabe Christensen pinned Humboldt's Kyle Caquelin in 1:35 at 220 and Wacha defeated Ethan Kunert by tech fall at 195, 18-3. Henry Christensen downed Tayeton Lohaus by a 5-1 decision at 285 and Vitzthum outlasted Brady Beers by an 8-7 score at 138.

Sampson (182) and Hartsook both received forfeits against Humboldt.

Ballard closed out its regular season competition with its dual victories over Gilbert and Ogden.

In the victory over Gilbert the Bombers received pins from Jacob Harrison (126), Vitzthum (138), Lane Kahler (145), Gabe Christensen (195) and Henry Christensen (220). Jayden Leland (132), Hyman, Rhett Hedrick (160), Hartsook, Sampson and Daniel Campbell (285) all received forfeits.

Ballard picked up six victories by fall and two forfeits against Ogden.

Vitzthum (132), Kahler, Hyman, Hedrick, Hartsook and Gabe Christensen (220) all scored a pin against Ogden. Sampson and Wacha (195) received forfeits.

Spartan wrestlers get two falls at Steve Dieke Duals

The Collins-Maxwell wrestling team picked up two pins during the Steve Dieke Duals.

Zach Haus pinned BCLUW-South Hardin's Maverick Grafke in 1:15 at 106 and Marshall Day stuck Forest City's Hunter Sunkle in 5:38 at 195. Haus and Day each received a forfeit against Iowa Falls-Alden.

During their home dual meet the Spartans received one pin, one victory by decision and two forfeits in the loss to Colfax-Mingo. Day pinned the Tigerhawks' Donavan Baucom at 220, Haus went up to 113 and edged Josue Rodriguez by a 5-4 decision and Austin Boege (132) and Blake Huntrods (138) received the forfeits.

In the loss to Martensdale St. Marys Boege pinned Ben Brenizer in 3:16, Haus defeated Devin Webb by a 6-2 decision at 106 and Day received a forfeit. Haus accounted for Collins-Maxwell's only points against West Central Valley when he won by injury default over Andrew Carl at 113.

Ballard girls fall just short against No. 1 North Polk

The Ballard girls basketball team was unable to overcome a rough stretch in the third quarter during its loss to top-ranked North Polk.

The Bombers led 27-26 at the half, but they were outscored 20-9 in the third quarter. They were only abel to shave the deficit by two points over the final eight minutes as the Comets wrapped up the RRC championship.

Ballard fell despite holding North Polk to 36% shooting from the field. The Bombers were hurt by North Polk advantage at the foul line, with Ballard only making 11 of 21 free throws to the Comets' 20 of 23 showing, as well as a 36-28 rebounding deficit.

Alliyah Thompson had 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and three blocks for Ballard in the loss. Lily Hillebrand added 12 points and two assists, Kiley Calvert 8 points, Paige Noe 7 points and three assists and Lily Beall 4 points, five assists and four rebounds.

Ballard used a big second half to earn its victory over Gilbert. The Bombers outscored the Tigers 35-20 over the final two quarters.

Ballard shot 53.2% from the field and made 7 of 16 3-pointers against Gilbert. The Bombers also forced 17 turnovers on defense.

Thompson went for 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists and steals apiece and four blocks against the Tigers. Beall had 11 points and three assists, Calvert 11 points, Hillebrand 9 points and seven assists, Alise Van Pelt 6 points and Noe 4 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Ballard boys get hot early in win over Gilbert

The Ballard boys basketball team used a big first half to get past Gilbert Jan. 31.

The Bombers put up 31 points in the second quarter and outscored the Tigers 46-22 in the first half. For the game they made nine 3-pointers, held Gilbert to three attempts from the line and had a 17-11 turnover advantage.

The victory was just Ballard's second in nine games since Jan. 5.

"It feels good right now," Ballard point guard Jude Gibson said. "After all those loses it feels good to bounce back and get a win."

Gibson posted a triple-double against the Tigers with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Mason Gorsh hit 4 of 10 3-pointers and finished with 18 points and three assists.

Gorsh credited Gibson and the rest of his teammates for getting him good looks. He said the team chemistry was really strong against Gilbert.

"Sometimes when you're losing games it's easier to focus on yourselves," Ballard senior guard Mason Gorsh said. "We were staying together as a team."

Miles Mudd added 9 points and seven rebounds, Austin Shoen 9 points and two steals and Nolan Cogdill 7 points and five boards.

Ballard struggled in the first half during its loss to North Polk. The Bomber boys were outscored 30-19 in the first half and they only shot 40% from the field and 4 of 15 from 3-point range.

Gibson had 18 points and four assists and Gorsh 11 points and four rebounds against the Comets. Mudd chipped in 6 points and three rebounds and Shoen 5 points and two boards.

Spartan girls earn share of ISC crown

The Collins-Maxwell girls basketball team ended up sharing the ISC South championship with Baxter following its victory over Colo-NESCO.

The Spartans raced out to a 31-10 lead and cruised to victory over the Royals. They held Colo-NESCO to 25% shooting from the field, forced 28 turnovers and posted a 27-16 rebounding advantage.

Chloe Wierson made 9 of 15 field goals and went for 22 points, 15 rebounds and three steals in the victory. Erica Houge added 12 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals and Vivian Kahler 11 points, three rebounds, three assists and four steals.

In the loss to Gladbrook-Reinbeck the Spartans were unable to overcome a poor 21.7% shooting night from the field and 21 turnovers. Houge had 29 points, five rebounds and six steals and Wierson 5 points, 13 rebounds and three steals against the Rebels.

Collins-Maxwell boys drop heartbreaker to Colo-NESCO

The Collins-Maxwell boys basketball team fell behind 12-5 early and never quite managed to make up the deficit during its loss to Colo-NESCO.

The Spartans forced 18 turnovers and hit nine 3-pointers, but they couldn't overcome a poor 34% shooting night from the field.

Ethan Haus had 12 points, five rebounds and three assists and steals apiece and Dane Beattie 12 points, four rebounds and three assists against the Royals. Jace and Luke Huntrods both added 8 points for Collins-Maxwell.

The Spartans were no match for Gladbrook-Reinbeck Feb. 2. They fell behind 47-12 at the half and couldn't overcome a rough 24.4% shooting night and a 36-16 rebounding deficit.

Josef Dvorak had 7 points and five rebounds, Austin Hennick 5 points and Ian Beattie 4 points and two rebounds against the Rebels.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: All three Ballard girls get a victory during girls state wrestling