Regular Season Wrestling Recap

The Heyworth Wrestling team is back in action after being co-op with Olyimpa since 2020, and their season was off to a good start with much room for improvement. With each match, the team showcased determination, hard work, and passion for the sport, leaving a mark on the mat.

Starting off on November 25th the team had their first tournament of the season where the boys traveled to Illini Bluffs, where three of our wrestlers showed their skills by making it to the final eighth of their brackets, Landon Nieslawski (106), Jack Rutledge (120), and Jarrod Fulcher (190). Notably, Jarrod Fulcher managed to place in 4th. Meanwhile, Haley Richter (100) embarked on her wrestling journey by participating in her first girls’ tournament. On November 29th, The Heyworth wrestling team continued their season with a meet in Lincoln, although they did not come on top they still had shown improvement from day 1.

Then, On December 2nd, they hit the road again, this time they headed to Seneca, where we had some impressive wrestling. Among the impressive wrestling they had, five Heyworth wrestlers demonstrated their determination by making it to the final eight of their bracket. Notably, Jack Rutledge (120) placed 5th in his. Rutledge also secured “the fastest pin of the tournament” award, showcasing his speed and technique on the mat. On December 7th, they returned to Lincoln for the Manahan Duals, showcasing their skills in team competition. On December 9th Haley Richter (100) continued her individual journey by practicing in her second girl's tournament of the season in Pontiac, Although she didn't come out on top she showed significant improvement. On December 10th the whole team traveled to Porta, where they faced tough competition and demonstrated remarkable improvement in their performance. Logan Stout (150)  emerged as the consolation runner-up, and Jarrod Fulcher (190) secured 7th place in his bracket. December 13th, the team faced off against Leroy, GCMS, and R-L, with a notable victory over R-L in a dual meet. Their journey continued on December 16th in Clinton, where they wrestled impressively resulting in three placers: Jarrod Fulcher (190) 4th place, Haley Richter (106) 5th place, and Logan Stout (150) 6th place. On December 29th and 30th, the team embarked on their first two-day tournament at Lincoln. Despite facing tough opponents, including several 2A and 3A teams, the Heyworth wrestlers displayed resilience, determination, and notable improvement, giving them plenty to be proud of as they progressed throughout the tournament.

On January 10th, the team traveled to Deemack for matches against Deemack and Tremont, where they wrestled impressively and achieved notable results. On January 13th the team traveled to Urbana and had seven wrestlers earn places in their brackets. Landon Nieslawski (106) 2nd Place, Haley Richter (106) 4th place, Jack Rutledge (120) 4th place, Wade Williamson (126) 5th place, Trevor Soice (144) 3rd Place, Logan Stout (150) 2nd Place, Jarrod Fulcher (190) 5th place, showcasing the team's depth and talent. The team continued to perform well on January 20th during their matches in Leroy. Notable mention to Hunter Bockleman (138) who wrestled impressively. January 24th was a special day as the team celebrated their seniors Jack Rutledge (120) and Chris Gould (215), while also having their first and only home meet of the season against EPG and Eureka. On January 27the the boys participated in the HOIC conference at Colfax, where Landon Nieslawski (106) placed 1st in his bracket and Trevor Soice (144) placed 3rd in his bracket. Additionally, on the same day, Haley Richter participated in her first IHSA Girls Regionals at Mt.Zion, although she didn't get the results we wanted, the future for girls wrestling at Heyworth is looking bright. 

As the season winds down, all eyes are on regionals for Heyworth wrestling. It’s been a rollercoaster of a season, with highs, lows, and everything in between, but one thing for sure, we have grown as a team. Regionals is where it all comes together. It's our chance to prove ourselves, to show just how much we’ve improved since day one. Every match is crucial, every point counts. We’re putting in extra work this week, fine-tuning our techniques, and mentally preparing ourselves for the challenging practice and matches at the end of the week. For the seniors, it might feel a bit bittersweet. This is their last shot at regionals, their final chance to leave it all on the mat and make their mark. They’re determined to go out with a bang, to leave a legacy, But it's not just about the seniors. It's about the entire team, from the freshman stepping onto the varsity mat for the first time, to the juniors who have been doing this for years. We’re in this together, pushing each other to be the best we can be. So as we head to regionals, we are filled with excitement, nerves, and determination. We know it won't be easy, we are ready to give it all we got. Win or Lose, we will walk away knowing we left it all out there. The Heyworth wrestling team is ready to earn back their respect. With that I would like to say im proud of every single one of the wrestlers it takes a great amount of skills and confidence to wrestle and each one of them showed it. Congratulations on a great season Landon Nieslawski (106), Haley Richter (100)(106), Jack Rutledge (120), Wade Williamson (126), Hunter Samuelson (126), Lucas Backlund (126), Micheal Vacca (132), Braden Klez (132), Hunter Bockelman (138), Carter Brooks (138), Trevor Soice (144), Logan Stout (150), Briar Criegaert (165), Burden Mosier (175), Jarrod Fulcher (190), Chris Gould (215), Loni Bektososki (285). Special Thank you to Coach Sims, Coach Levi, and Coach Jarrod for leading us through this amazing season.