HOUND WRESTLING

Hounds give Smith one more conference title

Special moment at Clark Field House for three-decade FMHS coach

Retiring Fort Madison coach Ryan Smith acknowledges the crowd during Fort Madison's wrestling meet against Burlington High School, Thursday February 1, 2024 at Burlington's Clark Field House. After 26 years leading the program to 17 Southeast Conference champions, Smith decided this will be his last season with the team.

Photo by John Lovretta/Special to Pen City Current

Dan Booten, a Fort Madison wrestling fan, wears a t-shirt with Fort Madison High School's wrestling coaches from left Mick Bickford, Mike Riley, and Ryan Smith during Fort Madison's wrestling meet against Burlington High School, Thursday February 1, 2024 at Burlington's Clark Field House. After 26 years leading the program to 17 Southeast Conference championships, Smith decided this will be his last season with the team. Booten wrestled for Fort Madison under coach Bickford.

Photo by John Lovretta/Special to Pen City Current

Fort Madison High School's Joe Hartman wrestles Burlington High School's Tanner Burchett during their 165 lb. match, Thursday February 1, 2024 at Burlington's Clark Field House. Fort Madison won 51-24.

Photo by John Lovretta/Special to Pen City Current

Burlington High School's Adrien Perez-Hall wrestles Fort Madison's Rainer Johnson during their 150 lb. match, Thursday February 1, 2024 at Burlington's Clark Field House. Fort Madison won 51-24.

Photo by John Lovretta/Special to Pen City Current

Posted Saturday, February 3, 2024 10:00 am

PCC Staff

BURLINGTON – The Fort Madison Bloodhounds gave boys' wrestling coach Ryan Smith a final dual meet to be remembered with a 51-24 win over the Grayhounds at Clark Field House Thursday night.
Smith captured his 16^th conference championship and 267th overall win in front of a crowd of Burlington and Fort Madison fans who gave the coach of almost three decades a standing ovation.
Smith will usher the Bloodhounds now through the district state qualifier at Bettendorf High School on Saturday starting at 10 a.m. Competing with the Hounds at the qualifier will be Bettendorf, Burlington, Clear-Creek Amana, Davenport Central, Davenport West, Iowa City High, and Muscatine.
The IHSAA State Wrestling tournament starts Valentine’s Day Feb. 14 with Class 3A wrestling at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday with all classes starting at 9 a.m. on the Saturday’s championship sessions.
On Thursday, the Hounds won six matches in a row in the middle of the dual meet to ice the win. The string was highlighted by four straight pins from Gavin Callahan (175), Ike Thacher (190), Aaron Warner (215), and Cory Arnett to give the Bloodhounds some breathing room at 45-9.
Burlington responded with a couple of pins at 106 and 113 to make it 45-21. Luke Vanderpool recorded a pin over Joe Ebert at 120 lbs in just :27 to get Fort Madison back on the board. Burlington’s Buxton Carlson scored a 9-6 decision over Noah Swigart in the final match to set the final.
Thacher, who’s currently ranked 7^th in the state at 190 lbs. according to Iowa Wrestle scored a fall over Burlington’s Salomon Gordero in 1:12. Nolan Riddle, who’s also ranked at No. 9 at 157 lbs scored a first period fall over the Hounds Owen Difederico.

Complete results from the match are below
132: Tate Green (FOMA) over (BURL) (For.) 138: Jacob Widmer (BURL) over Tateum Schelich (FOMA) (Fall 5:21) 144: Cade Goodrich (FOMA) over Mateo Weir (BURL) (Fall 4:49) 150: Adrian Perez-Hall (BURL) over Rainer Johnson (FOMA) (Dec 16-9) 157: Nolan Riddle (FOMA) over Owen Difederico (BURL) (Fall 1:59) 165: Joe Hartman (FOMA) over Tanner Burchett (BURL) (Dec 7-2) 175: Gavin Callahan (FOMA) over Micah Zaugg (BURL) (Fall 4:23) 190: Isaac Thacher (FOMA) over Salomon Cordero (BURL) (Fall 1:12) 215: Aaron Warner (FOMA) over Caden Huff (BURL) (Fall 2:54) 285: Cory Arnett (FOMA) over Preston Thornton (BURL) (Fall 0:58) 106: Braxton Hutchinson (BURL) over Cole Quittem (FOMA) (Fall 1:29) 113: Lathan Hand (BURL) over Brody Bolander (FOMA) (Fall 1:25) 120: Luke Vanderpool (FOMA) over Joe Ebert (BURL) (Fall 0:27) 126: Buxton Carlson (BURL) over Noah Swigart (FOMA) (Dec 9-6)