Harsh environment prepares Roadrunners for next step

LOGAN – Interstate 35 made a two-and-a-half hour bus ride west, falling to eventual dual winner Logan-Magnolia 63-12 at the Class 1A Regional, ending the Roadrunners’ dual season Tuesday.

I-35 head coach Cody Swim said the main takeaway from the Regional dual was wrestling to the Roadrunners’ style rather than conforming to the opponent’s.

“We’ve got to show more fight out there and get to our attacks, wrestle our match,” said Swim. “We’re not playing into other guys’ matches and just do what we do best, getting after it and just be ready to go.”

With the long bus ride and the I-35 wrestlers being forced into buckling into one spot on the cramped bus, Swim said the Roadrunners “were a little stiff” starting out.

“We looked a little flat,” Swim said. “But, I’d rather be flat today than next weekend. Hopefully we got it out of our system.”

Things kicked off at 126, and Logan-Magnolia jumped on I-35 from the start.

Tryston Palmer fell to Logan-Magnolia’s Wyatt Reisz at 3:01 to begin. Nick Steinlage (132) followed things up with an 11-6 decision loss.

Chase Baker (138) was next for the Roadrunners, trailing 4-1 early before eventually falling to pin at 2:57. Logan-Magnolia recorded forfeit wins at 145 and 152. Chase Darst (160), and Curtis Jacobe (170) and T.J. Duff (182) fell in three consecutive first-period pins.

Brock Thompson (195) recorded the lone win through the middleweight and heavyweights, with a pin at 3:01 to account for six Roadrunner points.

Sam Vonnahme (220) fell to a pin with 20 seconds remaining in the first period.

Class 1A 285 No. 2 Ryley Snell dropped a 3-1 decision to Class 1A 285 No. 5 Barrett Pitt, giving Logan-Magnolia a 54-6 lead.

Isaiah Smith recorded a pin at 3:46, recovering from a poor position where he was almost pinned to take the final six points for the Roadrunners.

Ryan Steinlage (113) and Reuben Smith (120) dropped the final two matches for I-35 to a 12-3 major decision and 20-4 technical fall at 5:22, respectively.

As the team struggled against No. 4 Logan-Magnolia, Swim said the intensity and feel of the Logan-Magnolia crowd played a factor on the youth and inexperience of the Roadrunners.

“I think it was the nerves that got to them, but, it was a good experience because now they know what to expect.” said Swim. “We talked and it was, ‘finish on a high note.’ It was good we got exposed on some things we need to work on, and we’ll keep working on them and make some more changes.”

Swim noted the distance from home played a factor not only in the stiffness of the wrestlers, but in the technique as well, becoming a key focus before heading into Districts.

“There were a lot of under hooks and a lot of tie controls, different set ups,” said Swim. “The big thing is the under hooks. We haven’t really wrestled a lot of teams that really work the under hooks. That’s one thing we definitely got exposed on.”

With the dual season coming to a close, Swim is enthusiastic about the progress his team has made throughout the year.

“I’m actually pretty proud with where we’re at right now. We’ve made a lot of progress since the first day of practice, even since Christmas break. These guys have really stepped up, and they’re turning it on at the right time.”

106 – Isaiah Smith (I-35) pinned Jacob Downey (Lo-Ma), 3:46. 113 – Sean Thompson (Lo-Ma) maj. dec. Ryan Steinlage (I-35), 12-3. 120 – Hagen Heistand (Lo-Ma) tech. fall Reuben Smith (I-35), 20-4. 126 – Wyatt Reisz (Lo-Ma) pinned Tryston Palmer (I-35), 3:01. 132 – Brady Thompson (Lo-Ma) dec. Nick Steinlage (I-35), 11-6. 138 – Gavin Maguire (Lo-Ma) pinned Chase Baker (I-35), 2:57. 145 – Bryce Hudnut (Lo-Ma) by forfeit. 152 – Briar Reisz (Lo-Ma) by forfeit. 160 – Tanner Mace (Lo-Ma)pinned Chase Darst (I-35), 0:35. 170 – Dylan Oviatt (Lo-Ma) pinned Curtis Jacobe (I-35), 1:28. 182 – Colben Chase (Lo-Ma) pinned T.J. Duff (I-35), 1:11. 195 – Brock Thompson (I-35) pinned Joe Hedger (Lo-Ma), 3:01. 220 – Rex Johnsen (Lo-Ma) pinned Sam Vonnahme (I-35), 0:20. 285 – Barrett Pitt (Lo-Ma) dec. Ryley Snell (I-35), 3-1.