The Knights wrestling coaching staff including NICL Conference Coach of the Year, Head Coach Bart Mehlert (right) are pictured last Saturday in Sumner during the North Iowa Cedar League Conference Tournament where the Knights took first place. Photo courtesy of Krystal Schmitz

Wrestling season may be winding down, but the mats continue to catch fire for the Union Knights with the team not only capturing the North Iowa Cedar League (NICL) Conference Champion title this past Saturday in Sumner but also Conference Coach of the Year designation for head coach Bart Mehlert.

“It’s always good to win our conference tourney,” Coach Mehlert said by text message following the weekend’s events. “We were missing [Brock Ruzicka – 170 pounds] so I told the guys we have to step up and everyone has to score points.”

Union took first place in the NICL Conference tournament with 191.5 points beating out 12 other teams including runner-up Wapsie Valley (152.5 points) and third place Hudson (148 points).

Propelling the Knights to their first place finish, Union’s roster for the conference tournament included Jace Hedeman (106), Brayden Bohnsack (113), Briar Mast (120), Joren Fisher (126), Caleb Olson (132), Keegan Ellsworth (138), Dillon Sparks (145), Hunter Worthen (152), Stone Schmitz (160), Conner Prestemon (182), Dacoda Marvets (195), and Gabe Hanson (285).

Hedeman, Bohnsack, Olson, and Worthen took first in their respective weight classes for the tournament, while Ellsworth, Schmitz, and Hanson were runners-up.

The Union Knights boys’ wrestling team assembles as a group following their NICL Conference Championship win last Saturday in Sumner including first place winners in their respective weight brackets (front row, left to right) Jace Hedeman (106), Brayden Bohnsack (113), Caleb Olson (132), and Hunter Worthen (152). Photo courtesy of Krystal Schmitz

Second ranked Hedeman received a bye in both his first and second round matches before winning by technical fall (22-7) over Wapsie Valley in the quarterfinal. Hedeman took the champion match by fall over East Marshall/GMG for the 106 pounds title.

Bohnsack received a bye in his first round match, won both his seminfinal and quarterfinal matches by fall before securing the championship match over Sumner-Fredericksburg by technical fall (19-4) for the 113 pounds title.

After taking a first round bye, Olson pinned his first two opponents in the quarterfinal and seminfinal matches before taking the 132 pounds title with a win by fall over Denver’s Joe Ebaugh. Olson had the most team points of any wrestler during the tournament with 28 points.

Rounding out the conference parade of champions for the Knights was third ranked in Class 2A, senior Worthen. After receiving byes in the first and second rounds, Worthen won by technical fall (18-3) over Wapsie Valley’s Drew Langsing in the seminfinal round. Worthen then beat Tim Benson of East Marshall/GMG by decision (8-4) for the 152 pounds title.

During Saturday’s tournament, Coach Mehlert was named Conference Coach of the Year for the North Iowa Cedar League for the second time.

Class 2A second ranked, freshman Jace Hedeman of Union readies himself ahead of a match on Saturday, Jan. 29, in Sumner during the NICL Conference Tournament. Hedmean went on to win the NICL Conference Champion title in the 106 pounds weight class. Photo courtesy of Krystal Schmitz

It’s most assuredly been a season of success for Mehlert who just the weekend prior coached the Union girls’ wrestling team to an individual state title (Jillian Worthen) down in Coralville – and an officially sanctioned sport.

Union boys will next travel to Independence on Saturday, February 5 to begin post-season action in the Class 2A, Sectional 10 Tournament. Other schools scheduled to be in attendance for the Sectional 10 Tournament include BCLUW/SH, Independence, New Hampton, North Fayette Valley, and Oelwein.

Wrestling action begins at noon.

First and second place sectional winners in each weight class will advance to the Class 2A, District 5 Tournament in New Hampton on Saturday, February 12.

Union senior Hunter Worthen, 152 pounds NICL Conference Champion. Photo courtesy of Krystal Schmitz

Union freshman Jace Hedeman, 106 pounds NICL Conference Champion. Photo courtesy of Krystal Schmitz

Union freshman Brayden Bohnsack, 1113 pounds NICL Conference Champion. Photo courtesy of Krystal Schmitz

Union sophomore Caleb Olson, 132 pounds NICL Conference Champion. Photo courtesy of Krystal Schmitz