Late last week at Dike-New Hartford High School the Union Knights took on a pair of conglomerate wrestling teams composed of schools from the NICL Conference.

Union swept both duals by comfortable margins against two undermanned squads.

In their matchup with Dike-New Hartford/Gladbrook-Reinbeck, the Knights came away with a 46-31 victory.

Starting at the 145-pound class D-NH scored two quick wins with Dillon Sparks losing by fall to Ty Deering and Aidan Felderman also losing by fall to Gabe Skornia at 152.

Union’s fourth-ranked Hunter Worthen defeated Cole Graves by major decision at 160 and Brock Ruzicka followed suit with a pin over Cayden Buskohl in the opening minute of the first period.

Dacoda Marvets dropped a tight 3-0 decision to Zach Adelmund at 220, but Gabe Hanson picked things up in the next match defeating Henry Mussig by fall.

Union got two pins from Jace Hedeman and Brayden Bohnsack at 113 and 120.

At 126 Briar Mast was defeated by D-NH’s Jeryn Spear by major decision (9-0).

The final two matches of the dual were won by Union. Caleb Olson first pinned Antaun Deering at 132 and Keegan Ellsworth pinned Walker Weedman at 138.

The other dual of the night was against the BCLUW/South Hardin Storm.

The Storm entered the night with a short-handed roster and were only able to wrestle seven matches out of the 13 weight classes.

The Knights received wins from Ellsworth, Ruzicka, Marvets, Hanson and Olson who each pinned their opponents.

Preparing for battle

After a brief hiatus over last weekend, the Knights returned to action Thursday for more NICL action.

The team will travel to Columbus Catholic High School to face Wapsie Valley and Columbus Catholic in a triangular.

Columbus comes in the 10th-ranked team in Class 1A with three returning state qualifiers including top-ranked, 1A state champ Maximus Magayna who has wrestled most of the season at 170.

Wapsie Valley slots in a couple notches below but still features a pair of returning state qualifiers at 120 and 126.

Union will return to Waterloo on Friday and Saturday for the annual Battle of Waterloo duals tournament.

The event is aimed to be a premier dual wrestling competition, attracting 32 teams in all class sizes from across the state.

Those in attendance will include all three defending state duals champions from last season.

On Friday Union will open up against last year’s 2A state duals runner-up Crestwood.

The Battle of Waterloo meet begins Friday, Dec. 17 at 9 a.m. at Young Arena in Waterloo.