By Becky Walz,
The intensity will be up a notch this season for the Decorah wrestling team.
With three state qualifiers back and several 20-win grapplers, the sky is the limit for the Vikes.
Leading the way is Head Coach Lee Fullhart for his third season.
A look back
For the 2020-21 season, the Vikings had 11 letter winners, heralded by senior Jackson Rolfs and juniors Austin Wilkins and Keenan Tyler.
The Vikes put together a 15-11 dual record while filling out the line-up. At the conference meet, Decorah finished fourth in the team standings. Overall, senior Jackson Rolfs won a conference crown.
A week later at the sectional meet, the Vikes finished second in the team standings. Six grapplers punched a ticket to the next round — Kollin Henry (106), Lane Rolfs (126), Brady Stille (132), Austin Wilkins (138), Jackson Rolfs (145) and Keenan Tyler (182).
Four grapplers earned a spot at state, with J. Rolfs and Tyler taking the district titles, while Stille and Wilkins were both runners-up.
At Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines for state, two Vikings climbed the podium, earning medals. J. Rolfs capped off his career in fourth place, while Tyler concluded his junior campaign in seventh place.
The girls’ squad grew during its third season as well, led by a quartet of letter winners — Jane Murphy, Isabel Ihde, Dahlyn Headington and Anya Lovstuen.
Freshman Naomi Simon made a lot of noise in her first season on the high school mats, going 26-1 as she pinned her way to the top of the 145-pound podium at the girls’ state wrestling meet at the Xtreme Arena in Coralville in January.
In all, Decorah had five place winners at the state meet, including Anya Lovstuen (113 lbs., 6th place), Mia Foster (195 lbs., 7th place), Jane Murphy (170 lbs., 8th place) and Riley Wilson (195 lbs., 8th place).
At the conclusion of the season, the Vikings graduated a host of contributors — Kody Bodensteiner, Thomas Foster, Brandon Gulrud, Cael Gulrud, Dawson Headington, Edwin Holyoake, Knute Hovden, Isabel Ihde, Garrett Lovstuen, Jane Murphy, Lauren Myli, Jackson Rolfs and Nate Rolfs.
Loaded with talent
Despite the experience lost to graduation, Coach Fullhart has a loaded roster to turn to for the upcoming season.
At the top of the list are the 2021 state qualifiers. Back at 132 pounds is junior Stille. As a sophomore, he went 21-13 with 12 falls. Also with state experience is 138-pounder Wilkins. The senior went 23-14 with six falls last year. For his career, he’s put together a 67-49 mark with 27 falls.
Senior Keenan Tyler is looking to put the exclamation on his high school career. At 182 pounds, Tyler went 26-7 with nine falls.
Other letter winners include Kollin Henry (106 lbs., 22-14 varsity record last year), Daniel See (120 lbs., 6-22), Ben Wymer (138 lbs., 12-21), Lane Rolfs (145 lbs., 18-16) and Corbyn Palmer (160 lbs., 11-11)
Also looking for a spot in the varsity line-up are Braden Darling, D’mitry Lesser, Aaron Busta, Will Hahn, Holten Palmer, Justin Fortman, Nathan Wymer, Brody Hanson, Landon Kuennen, Landan Folkedahl, Camren Darling, Erik Hjelle, Garrick Smith, Oskar Paulson, Kieren Sensor, Gavin Stortz and Kaiden Youngblood.
Big girls’ team
The girls’ squad will be led by a host of veterans as well including Simon who looks to repeat at a state champion after going 26-1 last season as a freshman. Joining her as a letter winner are Anya Lovstuen (113 lbs., 9-7), Maia Foster (195 lbs., 6-7) and Riley Wilson (195 lbs., 6-11).
Newcomers to the girls’ wrestling team include Rorie Wiedow (113 lbs., 7-7 last year), Corinna Timm (120 lbs., 5-13), Madison Heim (132 lbs., 4-7), Camielle Wiedow (195 lbs., 4-7), McKenzie Tollefson, Kamryn Steines, Chloe Sheffield, Amelia Wadsworth, April Kruse, Miranda Miller, Ashley Bjork, Mairi Sessions, Skyla Jevne, Alexandra Stammeyer and Kate Ludeking.
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