Mick Pickford Tourney comes to an end

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BY CHUCK VANDENBERG
PCC EDITOR

FORT MADISON - With the 50th year in the books, the once-storied Mick Pickford Freestyle/Greco tournament has come to end.

After Sunday's event with less than 50 wrestlers in attendance, Fort Madison Head Coach Ryan Smith said this will be the last year for the event.

"I don't want this to tarnish his name. It's just heartbreaking," Smith said. "We'll find other ways to keep his legacy going. Maybe they will clamor for it again when it's gone, but right now we just don't have the kids."

Smith said he has tried different tactics to keep the event going, including different awards and prizes but said with other larger events in more central parts of the state, people just aren't willing to make the two- and three-hour drive anymore.

The Pickford tournament, in its heyday had close to 300 wrestlers and was even used as a national qualifier. Residents from Fort Madison would host the wrestlers in what was one of the biggest wrestling events in the country.

Fort Madison's Owen Kruse gets the upper hand on Albia's Brodie Conner Sunday during the Mick Pickford Freestyle Tournament at Fort Madison High School. Photo by Chuck Vandenberg/PCC

On Sunday, Fort Madison's Henry Wiseman took 1st place in the freestyle 16 and under 115 to 128 lbs. Emmett Kruse of the Pickford Wrestling Club took 2nd in that division. Teague Smith of the Pickford Wrestling Club took 1st in the 16 and under 156-169 bracket and Owen Kruse took 1st in the Junior 132-144lb event.

Jakob McGowan of Fort Madison Kids Club took first in the juniors 172-177 division by knocking off Fort Madison's Isaac Thacher. Smith took 2nd and Gavin Wiseman was 3rd in the Juniors 158-169 in the freestyle event

In the Greco competition, Henry Wiseman took 1st place in the 16U 115-124. Owen Kruse captured the title in the junior 132-143 division. Emmett Kruse and Smith earned 2nd place finishes and Thacher had a 3rd place finish.

Complete results

Mick Pickford Freestyle Tourney results
10U - 48lbs
1st Place - Colt Davidson of Sioux Falls
12U - 66 lbs
1st Place - Cadence Christensen of Albia
12U - 79 lbs
1st Place - Wyatt Davidson of Sioux Falls
2nd Place - Branz Manning of New London
12U 95-117
1st Place - Teyshawn Luckett of DC Elite
2nd Place - Owen Pugh of Monster USA Wrestling Club
14U - 111-115
1st Place - Garrett Evans of Agoge wrestling club
2nd Place - Drake Pospisil of Big Game Hunters Wrestling Club
14U - 124-130
1st Place - Cadyn Wild of Dark Knights Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Philip Jacobs of DC Elite
14U -143-151
1st Place - Barrett Mieras of Hard Drive Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Summit Keith of Washington
16U - 115-128
1st Place - Henry Wiseman of Fort Madison
2nd Place - Emmett Kruse of Pickford Wrestling Club
3rd Place - Skyler Beck of Monster USA Wrestling Club
16U - 128-134
1st Place - Nicholas Foreman of Big Game Hunters Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Alex Bumba of DC Elite
3rd Place - Avery White of Big Game Hunters Wrestling Club
16U - 156-169
1st Place - Teague Smith of Pickford Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Darrin Coffman of Van Buren
16U 168-177
1st Place - Kendal Pugh of Monster USA Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Isaac Thacher of Pickford Wrestling Club
16U - 209-285
1st Place - Wyatt Smith of Lisbon
2nd Place - Cesar Smithburg of Fairfield
Junior 132-144
1st Place - Owen Kruse of Pickford Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Brodie Conner of Albia
Junior 158-169
1st Place - Allen Catour of Dark Knights Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Teague Smith of Pickford Wrestling Club
3rd Place - Gavin Wiseman of Fort Madison
Junior 172-177
1st Place - Jakob McGowan of Fort Madison Kids Club
2nd Place - Isaac Thacher of Pickford Wrestling Club
Junior 198-209
1st Place - Tom Culp of Champions Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Nolan Simpson of Burlington Wrestling Club
3rd Place - Cesar Smithburg of Fairfield
Junior 285
1st Place - Wyatt Smith of Lisbon
Open 153
1st Place - Duncan Delzell of Central College
Open 193
1st Place - Josh Culp of Quincy

Mick Pickford Greco Tourney Results
8U - 55
1st Place - Jonathan Kerker of USA Mat Club
14U - 124-130
1st Place - Cadyn Wild of Dark Knights Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Philip Jacobs of DC Elite
14U - 143
1st Place - Barrett Mieras of Hard Drive Wrestling Club
16U - 115-124
1st Place - Henry Wiseman of Pickford Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Skyler Beck of Monster USA Wrestling Club
16U 128-132
1st Place - Nicholas Foreman of Big Game Hunters Wrestling Clu
2nd Place - Emmett Kruse of Pickford Wrestling Club
3rd Place - Alex Bumba of DC Elite
16U - 209-285
1st Place - Wyatt Smith of Lisbon
2nd Place - Cesar Smithburg of Fairfield
Junior 132-143
1st Place - Owen Kruse of Pickford Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Brodie Conner of Albia
Junior 158-177
1st Place - Allen Catour of Dark Knights Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Teague Smith of Pickford Wrestling Club
3rd Place - Isaac Thacher of Pickford Wrestling Club
Junior 198-209
1st Place - Tom Culp of Champions Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Nolan Simpson of Burlington Wrestling Club
3rd Place - Cesar Smithburg of Fairfield
Junior 285
1st Place - Wyatt Smith of Lisbon

Freestyle, Greco, Mick Pickford Tournament, Pen City Current, sports, wrestling

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