The Ipswich Area (Ipswich/Leola/Bowdle) varsity wrestling season started out on a real positive note last Saturday in Ft. Pierre, as six of the nine Ipswich Area wrestlers in attendance there placed at the Stanley County Invitational, including one Champion.

Carter Heinz indeed led the team with his first-place finish at 195. The other five placing wrestlers all placed higher than their seeding position in the tournament. Denver Wolff placed third, Tanner Frickson fourth and Parker Gill fifth, while Marc Hofer and Darrel Yost brought home sixth-place metals. The team placed eighth out of 13 teams with 74 team points, just behind Potter County, 79. Heinz scored 26 of the team points, capped by his championship 1:36 pin-win over Bennett County's Titan Soderlin.

The next highest finisher was at 138, where Wolff helped procure 18 team points, thanks to his third-place pin in 2:56 over Will Keller of Mobridge-Pollock.

Coach Naasz was very happy with the team's overall performance: "I felt the kids all had huge gains from last season. Carter and Denver both had a very good tournament. Tanner wrestled a very good second match. It was nice seeing momentum of the team, when one person got a win the next athlete got a big win. The team finish was nice and seeing the athletes compete like they did is exciting for the coaches."

Burke/Gregory won the tourney with 209 team points, well ahead of Pierre Riggs' runners-up 163.5 team-point total.

The wrestlers will be back in action on December 14 in Faulkton.

Individual Ipswich Area results:

113- Parker Gill lost 10-4; was pinned, 4:02 in the consolation semifinal and received a fall for fifth place.

126- Tanner Frickson was pinned, 1:37; won in sudden victory in the consolation semi-final; was pinned in third-place match in 2:26 for fourth-place and double-figures 10 team points.

138- Denver Wolff was pinned, 4:20; won by pin in :58; won by pin in 2:13; won by pin in 2:56 for third-place and 18 team points.

145- Darrel Yost was pinned, :32; won by pin in 2:16; was pinned, 1:54; was pinned in 2:16 for sixth-place.

160- Grant Weisser was pinned, 2:49; won by pin in 2:58; was pinned, :51.

195- Carter Heinz won by pin in 3:58; won by pin in 1:36 for first-place and 26 team points.

220-Marcus Hofer was pinned, 3:13; won by pin in :59; won by pin in 1:51; was pinned in 4:33; was pinned, 1:37, for sixth-place.

220- Alex Schmitz was pinned, 1:48; won by pin in 2:11; was pinned, 3:50.

285- Lucas Rowland was pinned, 3:25; lost by major decision.