(Harlan) The Harlan Cyclone wrestling squad turns their attention to the Hawkeye Ten Conference wrestling tournament this weekend. The Tourney will be held in Red Oak, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Updates throughout the tournament will air on KS95.7 FM and stream at westerniowatoday.com.
It’s a very balanced field this year, coach John Murtaugh shares his take, “I don’t know what to expect. It’s going to be a five team race, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.” He identifies Atlantic/CAM, Red Oak, Lewis Central, Creston/O-M, and his own squad as the contenders. “Anyone of those five could win it. There’s more parody than I can remember and I’ve been here for 16 years. It makes for an interesting little set up.”
The semifinal round will be critical for Harlan’s chances in the team scoring. “Our nemesis this year in tournaments has been the semifinal round. We have to do better there. We did a little bit better at Plattsmouth and I think three got through. That’s better than what we’ve been doing, but realistically we need to get more than three into the finals and if we do we’ll be in the hunt.”
Ethan Lemon is striving for a 3rd Hawkeye Ten Conference title, something only one other Cyclone has ever done. Dave Muell, who was a two-time state champion, won the Hawkeye Ten Tournament in 1973, 1974, and 1975. “He would be in elite company if he gets that done. He’s just tougher than an old boot. He’s wrestled a lot. He has heavy hips, he’s tough tough to score on, he’s tough on top, and he’ll just keep coming after you. He’ll keep coming at you and hopefully the other guy breaks.”
Ethan Lemon has had a terrific year, but he’s not alone in that category in the Cyclone lineup. Jesse Schwery is 25-4, Carter Bendorf 23-6, Ethan Lemon 29-6, Nathan Henry 27-7, and Luke Musich 26-9.
Harlan shared the Hawkeye Ten Conference dual championship with Atlantic/CAM and Creston/O-M. It’s their first wrestling conference championship since the 1980’s. “Well it’s historic for us. I told the kids you have a chance to make school history and you don’t get those chances very often to do something that hasn’t happened in many many decades so I’m proud of our kids for that.”
Atlantic/CAM has won two of the last three conference tournaments. Prior to that, Creston/O-M won six of seven. Harlan has won the conference wrestling tournament six times in their history and they all came in consecutive seasons from 1973 through 1978.
Harlan coach John Murtaugh:
