(Harlan) Despite sending only eight wrestlers, Harlan has a goal of finishing in the top four at Saturday’s Hawkeye Ten Conference wrestling tournament.
It’ll be the final Hawkeye Ten Conference Tournament for coach John Murtaugh who has led the Cyclones for 20 years. He was recognized during the team’s final home dual on Thursday. “It was really special. We had a full house there and I was certainly appreciative of everybody coming out and supporting not just me, but the seniors. I wanted it to be more about the seniors than me, but it was beyond my control. A lot of ex-wrestlers there. There had to be 40-50 ex-wrestlers. I had some guys drive over from Nebraska. There were six or seven wrestlers from my 1991 state runner-up team in Nebraska. It was really a special night.”
Coach Murtaugh is retiring after 39 years in education and coaching including 37 as a head coach. “It was a little surreal last night to be honest with you. It was like ‘Wow is this really it?'”
The squad went 2-1 with wins over Red Oak and Kuemper Catholic along with a loss to AHSTW. Now the attention turns to the Hawkeye Ten tourney in Clarinda. “I don’t think there is any question that Creston is the overall favorite. Atlantic and Glenwood are probably in the running for second. We just hope to get in the top four somewhere.”
After Saturday the team will have two weeks until the District Tournament. Harlan will compete at Glenwood on February 11th in the district tourney.
Harlan coach John Murtaugh:
