Dragons place fifth at state tournament

Sterling Brunk scrambles, grabbing his opponent’s leg. Brunk was wrestling with a swollen knee.

Rachel Vaughan, Staff Writer

The Johnston wrestling team competed in both Dual Team State and Traditional State from Feb 14 to Feb 17.  After a 31-37 loss to Southeast Polk and a 37-28 win against Dubuque Hempstead, the team placed fifth overall in the tournament.  During the Dual against Dubuque Hempstead, Collin Hushagen ’18, Jake Ryan ’18, Rheiner Stahlbaum ’21, and Elliot Pohlmeyer ’18 all won by fall.

Rheiner Stahlbaum ’21, Caleb Helgeson ’21, Thomas Edwards ’20, James Edwards ’20, Zach Price ’18, Sterling Brunk ’18, Elliot Pohlmeyer ’18, Cade Moss ’19, Collin Hushagen ’18, and Jake Ryan ’18 all competed in the Traditional State tournament.  Johnston placed 9th as a team and set a school record with seven wrestlers placing in the top eighteen their brackets.  Price took third, becoming the school’s first four-time state place-winner.  Ryan took fourth, along with Hushagen, who now holds the school record for most pins in one season with 32 pins.  The previous record was 28, held by Joe Scanlan.  Thomas Edwards placed 6th in the 120 lb bracket.  Moss and Helgeson both placed 8th.