The Union boys wrestling team is well on its way to accomplishing big things. They recently won the battle of Waterloo, which puts them one step closer to the Keith Young Invitational. They dominated the mats with a 3-0 run in the championship bracket.

They are ranked 41st in the nation by Intermat and are ranked number 2 in the 2A division by the Iowa Coaches Association. Sectionals are now nearing, and will occur in approximately four weeks. The team has a lot of hard work to put in, but based on the efforts they have shown so far this season they are determined and ready to put in their everything.

Union showed their strength during the battle at Waterloo by winning eighty percent of the matches by either fall or technical fall. They scored 44 or more points in five of their six duals that day. Union competed against two other teams which are placed in the top 4 of the 2A division: Assumption of Davenport and Independence.

After winning against both Assumption and Independence, Union was faced with the Prairie Hawks of Cedar Rapids. Union got off to a great start getting pins from Teal Lademann at 152, Trevor McLaughlin at 160 and Jacob Holschlag at 170 to have a 18-0 score. The Knights were up 27-7 as the lower weight wrestler’s began their matches.

The Prairie Hawks started to make a comeback with 5 pins. This gave Prairie the lead over the Knights for the first time that day at 37-33. Despite the comeback the Knights had the advantage of three time state champion Max Thomsen left for the final match. Thomsen delivered, and did so quickly with a 1 minute 1 second pin of Chase St. John which lifted the Knights to its victory. Thomsen showed his courage by stating he doesn’t mind when the win comes down to his final match because he trusts himself to deliver. He went on to say It was definitely a big day for the Union Knights, they had a lot of hype coming in and showed everybody that Union is the real deal.

Great job to the entire Union Knights wrestling team and staff for showing such determination and skill! Continue the hard work and let’s see what great things can be accomplished at Sectionals!