Eagles And Lady Eagles Wrestlers Win Senior Night Meet

Senior Night celebrations for the Holden wrestling teams ended on a high note as both the Eagles and the Lady Eagles defeated Lexington on Thursday, Jan. 26.

Prior to the action on the mat, Holden Eagle senior wrestlers Tasia Lee, Aubree Castaneda, Jordan Sylvester, Alex VanHooser, Lilly Guinn, Kody Conard, Joseph Powell, and Ruben Wiesmann were recognized on the mat.

“I’m glad that we could honor their commitment to the program, and recognize them for it,” said Holden wrestling head coach Matt Hertzog. “It’s really a great group. They will definitely be missed. I’m really glad that we could get the win tonight to kind of honor them…boys and girls. It’s always good to get a conference win.”

From the group of seniors, Conard and Lee are four-year wrestlers as the longest tenured members on the team.
“Both of them have matured, and developed their techniques so much since their freshman year,” said coach Hertzog in regard to Conard and Lee. “It’s always good to see that progression. They’re outstanding kids.”

Holden girls wrestling coach Ron Franklin noted, “The dual with Lexington was important at the time because we were both undefeated in the conference, and it was Senior Night.”

Eagles Versus Minutemen
The Holden boys wrestling team defeated Lexington by the final score of 50-21 in the Eagles’ Senior Night victory.
For Holden, Graysen Thieman took a win by forfeit in the 113-pound weight class prior to Daylen Greene recording a win by technical fall in the 120-pound match.

Kale Tryon recorded a win by pin in the 132-pound match.

Senior Kody Conard recorded a win by pin over Cooper Himburry in the 144-pound match.

“Their 38-pounder, he bumped to 44, and Kody took care of him,” said coach Hertzog. “We had some guys who showed up big, even with their adjustments in the lineup.”

Conard was pleased to get a win in his senior night match.

“It was a pretty intense match,” said Conard. “He’s a good kid who stepped up from 38, and I had to take care of business because it’s senior night.”

Conner Carver added a win by pin for Holden in the 150-pound match. Trent Stout followed Carver with a win by decision in the 157-pound bout.

Holden senior Joseph Powell captured a win by pin the 190-pound match.

Rounding out Holden’s showing were Jase Kinnaman with a pin in the 215-pound bout, and Andrew Johnston with a pin in the 285-pound match.

Conard reflected on the Senior Night activities.

“It’s crazy,” said Conard. “I’ve been through some of the kids who are wrestling here, their older brother’s senior nights, like Trent Stout and Travis. It’s weird being a senior, and going through that senior night experience. It’s really different because usually I was one of the lesser knowledgeable members of the team. Now I can really coach some kids up, and I know what I’m doing.”

“I’m glad that we could get the wins for Kody, and for Joseph,” added coach Hertzog. “Ruben will have some matches this weekend. That puts us 10-1 in duals.”

Lady Eagles Versus Lady Minutemen

The Holden girls wrestling team defeated Lexington by the final score of 48-24 for a Lady Eagles Senior Night victory.
The win followed the presentation of senior Lady Eagles Tasia Lee, Aubree Castaneda, Jordan Sylvester, Alex VanHooser, and Lilly Guinn on the mat, and an emotional moment when Sylvester, Castaneda, VanHooser, and Lee shared speeches stating their gratitude for Holden girls wrestling coach Ron Franklin.

“The recognizing the seniors makes you realize the growth of each of these girls as wrestlers, athletes, and people,” said coach Franklin. “The girls surprised me with the comments they prepared, and turned me into an emotional mess that I had to shake off to get down to business.

“We needed the underclassmen to handle their matches in order for us to win, so it was another great team effort,” added coach Franklin.

Freshman Haley Brooks recorded a win by forfeit in the 110-pound weight class before freshman Macey Greene recorded a win by pin in the 115-pound match. Greene was followed by freshman Adasyn Yoder recording a win by forfeit at 120 pounds.
Junior MaReya May recorded a win by pin for Holden in the 125-pound match for six points.

Senior Tasia Lee worked to a win by pin over Elizabeth Hager in the 130-pound match.

“MaReya’s match was the key turning point in the dual,” said coach Franklin. “I was able to leave May at 125, and let her take care of business to let Tasia avenge a loss she took at the conference tournament. They both met the challenge by getting falls.”

Lee noted the Senior Night victory for both herself, and the Lady Eagles team. She described the progression of the team and the Lady Eagle wrestling program after Lee was the lone Lady Eagle wrestler her freshman season. This year’s team has grown to 11 wrestlers with five of those being seniors.

“It was definitely a different mindset because I knew that it was my last year, and my mindset was that I had to become my best that I could,” said Lee. “My season got cut short because of knee surgery my junior year. I knew that I had to push myself. I have to have a different mindset because I want to do amazing. I love how fast it’s growing. Hopefully, next year with so many seniors going there will be more to come through the years.”

Following Lee’s win, Charlie Gregg recorded a win by forfeit at 140 pounds for Holden. Senior Jordan Sylvester fell by pin in the 170-pound match before seniors Aubree Castaneda at 190 pounds, and Alex VanHooser at 235 pounds recorded wins by forfeit.

“We matched their moves in the lineup, and capitalized on the effort,” said coach Franklin. “Duals are a team effort, and the Lady Eagles have continually risen to the challenge.”