It was a busy week for the Belle Plaine wrestling program, as they split in two duals and finished third Saturday at AGWSR. See details in sports.
By Coach Bob Yilek
Coming off of the Benton Tournament we had two duals on Tuesday and Wednesday night. This was a good experience for our kids because we had to weigh in two consecutive days which is what we have to do at the state tournament.
We came away with one dual win and a loss not because of the weight loss but making too many mistakes in matches we are capable of winning. You get to the point in a season when you must wrestle much more consistent and stay to stay in good position for six minutes. This is what we must focus on in the next few weeks as we approach the post season tournaments. We are having some good performances from some of the guys but need the others to follow.
Belle Plaine 42 North Linn 36
Winners included: Zakk Buch – fall, Cody Chekal – fall, Kurtis Osipchack – fall and Reed Petersen – fall
Belle Plaine 31 Sigourney 42
Winners included: Lance Hinschberger – Decision, Jack O’Brien – Major decision, Cody Chekal – fall, Jeremy Ellis – fall, Reece Kimm – Major decision

Ackley Tournment
170 Mason City Newman
167 Dike New Hartford
173 Belle Plaine
162.5 Clarion – Goldfield
122 Rockford
74 Turkey Valley
60 Woodward granger
44.5 AGWSR

We wrestled without three weight classes and had an opportunity to win this tournament. We placed all 11 in the top five, had five in the finals and came home with three champions. We felt for the most part we wrestled pretty well although we have some weight classes where we need to score more points. It is a matter of a little more effort to win the close matches. If we do that, we win this tournament! Zakk, Jack and Jeremy wrestled very well and Cody came from the third seed while Kurtis was the fourth seed and also beat a wrestler who beat him earlier this season. We need to continue to work hard and eliminate some small mistakes and we will win more matches.
Champions: Zakk Buch beats ranked opponent 4 – 0 in the finals; Jack O’Brien – wrestles well with a major decision in the finals; Jeremy Ellis made the most of his opportunity at heavyweight by winning an overtime decision over his Dike opponent who had a 26 – 2 record; Cody Chekal – 2nd – wrestled the defending state champion Thomas from Mason City really tough losing 8-4; Kurtis Osipchack earned the silver medal after defeating the # 1 seed in the semis before falling in the finals.
Other place winners were: Lance Hinschberger 3rd w/ 2 pins. Reed Petersen – 3rd w/ 2 pins, Austin Chekal 4th w/ 2 falls, Devon Parr 4th, Blake Chekal – 5th, Chad Olson – 5th.
Junior varsity compete in the tough Independence Tournament: Scott Wheeler 1st
Trelys Mitchell – 2nd; Reece Kimm – 2nd; Brent Wheeler – 3rd
This week, the Plainsmen host Marshalltown and Grinnell Tuesday night at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the varsity will travel to the Louisa-Muscatine Invitational, while the JV competes at the Mid-Prairie Tourney.