Time to lock in: D-NH, A-P/GC wrestlers battle

DIKE – With postseason wrestling only three weekends away, the competition is ratcheting up on mats across high schools in Iowa.
 
Dike-New Hartford, Aplington-Parkersburg/Grundy Center and West Marshall brought plenty of intensity to a NICL triangular at D-NH High School in Dike last Thursday.
 
The Wolverines won the night with a 42-36 victory over West Marshall and a 55-21 triumph against the Falcons. West Marshall won the other meet on Thursday by a 48-31 margin against A-P/GC.
 
A-P/GC and Dike-New Hartford will be part of the six-team field at the sectional tournament in Parkersburg on Feb. 2.
 
"You can definitely tell something's different," D-NH senior Daniel Graves said of the mood in the wrestling room. "We know it's time to start buckle down, even if it's still a light-hearted environment to be in."
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For a young A-P/GC team that was going to have to grow as the season went on, head coach Brian Benning feels the Falcons are in the right spot with the postseason looming.
 
"We started the year with a vision, and the kids are starting to buy into that vision, that we weren't necessarily going to be winning on day one but rather looking to win that first match at sectionals," Benning said. "We've told them from day one that effort will win matches and God, what great effort tonight, and it was an electric crowd here."
 
For the full story, see this week's Grundy Register. Subscribe by calling (319) 824-6958 or clicking here. 
 

PHOTOS: A-P/GC wrestling at Dike-New Hartford