Bulldog Wrestling Hunts for State Duals Bid at Algona Regional on Tuesday
The #10(2A) Hampton-Dumont-CAL boys wrestling team will contend for first ever ticket to state duals at Class 2A regional against #21(2A) New Hampton-Turkey Valley and #7(2A) Algona on Tuesday.
The Bulldogs are 18-1 in duals after they went 5-0 at the Norsemen dual tournament at Roland-Story on Saturday. The Bulldogs leading the way are Jayson Stevens, who’s 24-2 at 113, Taylor Mahler who’s 24-6 at 157, and Carter Heilskov, who’s 25-2 at 285. Head Coach Patrick Hansen says they're looking forward to the chance to wrestle Algona again and that it is time to make a statement.
"We were pretty excited to get Algona for a draw, it just kind of stinks that we got to go up there, as we were hoping to host our first regional here in a long time," says Hansen. "I told our wrestlers to get used to it, that's what life is, nobody's gonna come give you a cakewalk to things you want, your gonna have to work for it. It's time to go show these other people that we're better than them. We work harder than them. Nothing comes easy for us and that's the way we like it. Go 2-0 and then we'll be down to state duals."
New Hampton-Turkey Valley is 13-11 in duals. NH-TV is led by Karson Kolbet, who’s 34-7 at 175, Braden McShane, who’s 35-1 at 215, and Gatlin McCumber, who’s 30-12 at 285.
Algona is 18-2 in duals. The Algona Bulldogs top performers are Isaac Wilson, who’s 32-4 at 126 and Tate Slage, who’s 33-1 at 150. HD-CAL won their earlier season meeting in comeback fashion 39-37, to clinch a share of the North Central Conference title.
The regional will air on 104.9 KLMJ, with pre-dual coverage at 5:50 p.m. followed by HD-CAL vs NH-TV regional semifinal at 6:00 p.m, with a win the Bulldogs will advance to regional final to face Algona at 7:30 p.m.
