Hound wrestlers starting to rack up wins

FORT MADISON – The Fort Madison Bloodhounds are rounding a corner of sorts in the early going of the 2024 season.
The Hounds are coming off a first-place finish at the Jeremy Fulk Classic in New London on Saturday where 16 wrestlers placed as Fort Madison won the event with 171 points, a full 31 points over the second-place host New London.
On Tuesday night, the Hounds swept two dual meets with Lone Tree and Wapello in a quad meet at the Hound Dome.
The Hounds downed Lone Tree 66-18 and then beat Wapello 65-18. Burlington also participated in the event, but the two Southeast Conference members didn’t wrestle a dual at the event. They both wrestled non-conference opponents.
Fort Madison gave up three pins in the Lone Tree dual at 106, 144, and 150 lbs.
Lone Tree earned no other points than the pins and Fort Madison wrapped up four pins and won seven matches by forfeit. Oliver Schelich, Rainer Johnson, Gavin Callahan, and Clifford Stewart all recorded pins in the early dual.
The Hounds then went to work on the Wapello Indians. Wapello had to forfeit five matches. Fort Madison won the first three without opponents but then Wapello got on the board when Sam Boysen pinned the Hounds' Gideon Simmons in 1:19 at 126 lbs.
Senior Logan Pennock then put the hammer down on Cade Lunvall at the :51 mark of the 1^st period. Another forfeit at 132 tied the match at 18. Wapello would take a short-lived lead when Fort Madison’s Tate Green fell by pin to Cohen Wolford in 1:17.
Fort Madison would win the next three matches, highlighted by Eric Cornelis’ late tech fall over Jordan Chamberlain 22-6 for five points. Nicholas Carle scored a pin over Max Dopler at 1:29. Ren Watson scored another pin at 190 and then Clifford Stewart put on a show at 215 coming from five down to get a pin over Grayson Nagle with :13 left in the match, one of the few that went three periods.
Stewart got out to an early lead but then found himself in a scramble with Nagle for about two periods. However, the freshman said he was just waiting for the right moment and for Nagle to get in a little too close.
“I knew I could do it. I’ve done it numerous times. I did it last year in a match when I was behind and I came back this Saturday when I was down, like, eight and headlocked him,” Stewart said after the meet.
“I’ve been drilling it all week and last week. I wait for the perfect moment to go, which is when he’s too deep, basically.”
Head Coach Nic Chiri said that’s Stewart’s game and he needs to start a bit earlier.
“That’s the second time he’s done that. He did it in the semifinal at the Jeremy Fulk (Saturday). He was down by seven and came back. Same scenario. The kid doesn’t give up and that’s fun to watch, fun to coach,” Chiri said.
“We need to get on that a little earlier. It’s still early in the season so he has time to work on it.”
Stewart says he’s happy with the start of the season.
“I’ve won five matches so far and Coach Chiri is teaching us a lot of new weapons, but the basics, too, but a lot of funky stuff.”
The Hounds then got a pin from Aaron Warner at 285 to set the final score.
Chiri said the Hounds are wrestling more aggressive of late but that’s what the coaching staff is wanting, at this point.
“That’s all we preach - that’s it. We’re green, we’re young, and they’re athletic, so score points. That’s really it. Keep it very simple. The ultimate goal is to go out and pin, but whatever style works for them in the room, we’re going to adapt to it and work with it,” he said.
“All of it’s confidence and that’s what we’re trying to promote. Any little bit we can get. Leaders are leading and grinders are grinding and that’s exactly what we’re preaching in there and they’re doing it out here.”
The Hounds travel to Iowa City Liberty Saturday for an Invitational. They travel to Mt. Pleasant next Thursday, Dec. 19, and then host the annual Fort Madison Invitational on December 20 when 22 teams come to the Hound Dome.
Results from the Jeremy Fulk Invitational are below
2024 Jeremy Fulk Classic (New London)

113 lbs - Oliver Schelich (2-1) placed 1st and scored 20.0 team points.
Round 1 - Oliver Schelich (Ft Madison) 2-1 won by fall over Cole Walmsley (Lone Tree) 0-4 (Fall 0:46); Round 2 - Oliver Schelich (Ft Madison) 2-1 won by fall over Cole Walmsley (Lone Tree) 0-4 (Fall 1:11).
120 lbs - Justice Lightfoot (2-2) placed 3rd and scored 14.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Justice Lightfoot (Ft Madison) 2-2 won by major decision over Preston Lyman (Medford) 0-1 (MD 15-6);Semifinal - Sam Brennan (Cedar Rapids Washington) 3-2 won by fall over Justice Lightfoot (Ft Madison) 2-2 (Fall 1:05); 3rd Place Match - Justice Lightfoot (Ft Madison) 2-2 won by fall over Tegan Jones (Iowa City High) 1-2 (Fall 3:25).
126 lbs - Giddon Simons (0-2) placed 5th and scored 5.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Hutch Eldeen (Iowa City High) 2-2 won by fall over Giddon Simons (Ft Madison) 0-2 (Fall 1:33); Semi - Giddon Simons (Ft Madison) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye); 5th Place Match - Giddon Simons (Ft Madison) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye).
132 lbs. - Logan Pennock (3-0) placed 1st and scored 24.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Logan Pennock (Ft Madison) 3-0 received a bye () (Bye); Semifinal - Logan Pennock (Ft Madison) 3-0 won by fall over Ahrlen Lekie (Medford) 0-2 (Fall 0:19); 1st Place Match - Logan Pennock (Ft Madison) 3-0 won by fall over James Fuller (Ft Madison) 2-1 (Fall 2:26).
132 lbs. - James Fuller (2-1) placed 2nd.
Quarterfinal - James Fuller (Ft Madison) 2-1 won by fall over Blake Malichky (Mid-Prairie) 2-5 (Fall 4:42); Semifinal - James Fuller (Ft Madison) 2-1 won by fall over Derek Rominger (Baxter) 1-1 (Fall 3:44); 1st Place Match - Logan Pennock (Ft Madison) 3-0 won by fall over James Fuller (Ft Madison) 2-1 (Fall 2:26).
138 lbs. - Noah Swigart (1-3) placed 4th and scored 11.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Noah Swigart (Ft Madison) 1-3 won by fall over Wyatt Ackerman (Lone Tree) 1-4 (Fall 0:42). Semifinal - Jack Anderson (Baxter) 2-1 won by fall over Noah Swigart (Ft Madison) 1-3 (Fall 1:21). 3rd Place Match - Max Howe (Mid-Prairie) 6-3 won by fall over Noah Swigart (Ft Madison) 1-3 (Fall 0:53).
138 lbs. - Kain Arrowood (1-2) place is unknown.
Champ. Round 1 - Kain Arrowood (Ft Madison) 1-2 won by fall over Brandon Luna (Iowa City High) 2-3 (Fall 2:54). Quarterfinal - Max Howe (Mid-Prairie) 6-3 won by fall over Kain Arrowood (Ft Madison) 1-2 (Fall 1:54). Cons. Round 1 - Corey Mcvicker (Medford) 1-2 won by injury default over Kain Arrowood (Ft Madison) 1-2 (Inj. 0:00).
144 lbs. - Tate Green (1-3) placed 4th and scored 11.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Tate Green (Ft Madison) 1-3 won by fall over Caleb Maurice (Iowa City High) 1-2 (Fall 1:25); Semifinal - Mason Howe (Mid-Prairie) 4-2 won by fall over Tate Green (Ft Madison) 1-3 (Fall 4:29); 3rd Place Match - James Thomas (Cedar Rapids Washington) 3-3 won by major decision over Tate Green (Ft Madison) 1-3 (MD 12-1).
150 lbs. Eric Cornelis (1-1) placed 3rd and scored 9.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Eric Cornelis (Ft Madison) 1-1 received a bye () (Bye); Semifinal - Gavin Menke-Bailey (New London) 3-0 won by fall over Eric Cornelis (Ft Madison) 1-1 (Fall 3:05); 3rd Place Match - Eric Cornelis (Ft Madison) 1-1 won by decision over Ace Swaink (Lone Tree) 2-3 (Dec 7-5).
165 lbs. - Nicholas Carle (2-2) placed 3rd and scored 15.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Nicholas Carle (Ft Madison) 2-2 won by fall over Maddox Jondle (Lone Tree) 0-2 (Fall 1:03); Semifinal - Aaron Butikofer (Cedar Rapids Washington) 4-1 won by tech fall over Nicholas Carle (Ft Madison) 2-2 (TF-1.5 4:54 (23-7)); 3rd Place Match - Nicholas Carle (Ft Madison) 2-2 won by fall over Jake Haessig (Ft Madison) 1-2 (Fall 4:29).
165 lbs. - Jake Haessig (1-2) placed 4th.
Quarterfinal - Jake Haessig (Ft Madison) 1-2 won by fall over Barrett Deutsch (Cedar Rapids Washington) 1-1 (Fall 1:45); Semifinal - Ruger Kincaid (Baxter) 1-1 won by fall over Jake Haessig (Ft Madison) 1-2 (Fall 1:50); 3rd Place Match - Nicholas Carle (Ft Madison) 2-2 won by fall over Jake Haessig (Ft Madison) 1-2 (Fall 4:29).
175 lbs. - Gavin Callahan (2-1) placed 3rd and scored 11.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Gavin Callahan (Ft Madison) 2-1 received a bye () (Bye); Semifinal - Josh Turner (Mid-Prairie) 4-5 won by major decision over Gavin Callahan (Ft Madison) 2-1 (MD 17-9); 3rd Place Match - Gavin Callahan (Ft Madison) 2-1 won by fall over Kobe Sindt (Cedar Rapids Washington) 0-3 (Fall 1:10).
175 lbs. - Jack Benner (3-0) placed 1st.
Quarterfinal - Jack Benner (Ft Madison) 3-0 won by fall over Easton Ronan (Lone Tree) 0-2 (Fall 0:30); Semifinal - Jack Benner (Ft Madison) 3-0 won by fall over Kobe Sindt (Cedar Rapids Washington) 0-3 (Fall 2:45); 1st Place Match - Jack Benner (Ft Madison) 3-0 won by decision over Josh Turner (Mid-Prairie) 4-5 (Dec 9-6).
190 lbs. - Ren Watson (1-2) placed 3rd and scored 11.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Ren Watson (Ft Madison) 1-2 received a bye () (Bye); Semifinal - Juan Martinez (Iowa City High) 4-0 won by decision over Ren Watson (Ft Madison) 1-2 (Dec 7-2); 3rd Place Match - Ren Watson (Ft Madison) 1-2 won by fall over Rowen Shaughnessy (Cedar Rapids Washington) 1-2 (Fall 2:37.
215 lbs. - Clifford Stewart (3-1) placed 2nd and scored 20.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Clifford Stewart (Ft Madison) 3-1 won by fall over Brock Wensel (Cedar Rapids Washington) 2-1 (Fall 0:32); Semifinal - Clifford Stewart (Ft Madison) 3-1 won by fall over Tommy Miller (Mid-Prairie) 7-2 (Fall 2:34); 1st Place Match - Wyatt Young (Cedar Rapids Washington) 5-0 won by fall over Clifford Stewart (Ft Madison) 3-1 (Fall 1:22).
285 lbs. - Aaron Warner (2-2) placed 2nd and scored 20.0 team points.
Quarterfinal - Aaron Warner (Ft Madison) 2-2 won by fall over Dillon Brinton (Cedar Rapids Washington) 1-4 (Fall 1:39); Semifinal - Aaron Warner (Ft Madison) 2-2 won by fall over Preston Mensah (Iowa City High) 3-1 (Fall 4:46); 1st Place Match - Burke Berry (Mid-Prairie) 6-0 won by fall over Aaron Warner (Ft Madison) 2-2 (Fall 1:21)
285 lbs. Wyatt Day (1-2) placed 4th.
Quarterfinal - Wyatt Day (Ft Madison) 1-2 won by fall over Zander Amburn (New London) 0-2 (Fall 2:27); Semifinal - Burke Berry (Mid-Prairie) 6-0 won by fall over Wyatt Day (Ft Madison) 1-2 (Fall 0:55); 3rd Place Match - Preston Mensah (Iowa City High) 3-1 won by decision over Wyatt Day (Ft Madison) 1-2 (Dec 1-0)