Newman wrestling wins Riverdale Regional title

PORT BYRON — A talented mix of youth and experience helped Newman Central Catholic win the Class 1A Riverdale Regional wrestling title on Saturday.

Landon Near (106 pounds), Javen Reyes (113), Zhyler Hansen (126) and Daniel Kelly (165) all won individual titles as the Comets tallied 197 points to win the 11-team regional.

Kewanee (169.5) was runner-up, and the hosting Rams (146) took third. Morrison (123) was fourth, Erie-Prophetstown (115.5) took fifth, Fulton (103) was seventh and Rock Falls (94.5) tied Orion for eighth among area competitors.

There were 22 Sauk-area wrestlers who placed in the top three, including seven champions, to advance to next Friday’s Oregon Sectional. The Comets also advance to the Oregon Team Dual Sectional on Feb. 25.

Near, a freshman, had a 55-second pin in the semifinals before a 17-1 technical fall over Morrison’s Cael Wright in the title match at 106.

“We work hard in the room, and it shows,” said Near, who improved to 39-3. “Especially out [here] in regionals.”

Another freshman, Reyes – who was seeded third – took down the top two seeds via pin to take the 113-pound title.

Hansen, a junior, won a 7-1 decision over Rock Falls' Adan Oquendoo in the 126-pound title match as the No. 1 seed.

“I think most of our team’s goals this year were to make it to the sectional, make it to team state,” Hansen said. “I think it’s pretty important to us to earn that [regional title]. We worked hard for it in the wrestling room and all around.”

Kelly defeated Morrison’s Brady Anderson in a 9-6 decision to win at 165 and improve to 37-2.

Other top three finishers for Newman were Landon Blanton (second place) at 132; Briar Ivey (second) at 157 after falling to Riverdale’s undefeated Blake Smith by fall; and Jacob Newberry (second) at 190 after falling by tech fall to Orion’s Maddux Anderson.

Hansen noted the importance of having a balanced lineup in order win a regional title. The Comets were second at last year’s regional.

“We’ve got some good guys in the light weights,” he said. “We’ve got Briar Ivey, Daniel Kelly in the middle weights just dominating.”

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The Newman wrestling team is pictured after winning the Class 1A Riverdale Regional title on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Drake Lansman)

Hansen said Newman’s upper weights also work hard, and the team hopes to continue the momentum of a regional title.

For Fulton, second-seeded Skylier Crooks beat Morrison’s top-seeded Noah Stout to win at 175 by a 20-5 tech fall, and Mason Kuebel took third at 190.

Second-seeded Daniel Holman closed the evening with an 8-5 decision for the Steamers over E-P’s top-seeded heavyweight Caleb Reymer.

Holman came into the match at 37-12 and Reymer was 33-4.

The senior was just looking to make it to the sectional. He left with a regional title.

“I was a little nervous,” he said. “I thought, ‘I’m going to sectionals, that’s out of the way, leave it all on the mat.‘ ”

Holman said he feels some extra motivation after finishing the regional on a high note.

“This is the first time I’ve made it this far,” he said, “so we’ll see how it goes.”

For Rock Falls, Logan Thome took third at 132, and Logan Williamson was runner-up at 138.

Morrison’s Caleb Modglin beat E-P’s Aidan Jepson in the 144-pound final.

E-P’s Tristan Hovey took third at 150, Wyatt Goosens was third at 157, and Jordae Crow was third at 175.