The West Branch Youth Wrestling Club hosted a successful tournament on January 24, 2010.


The stats from our tournament are as follows: First-place finishers – Quinn Hayden, Kaleb Sexton, Drew Finnegan, Tyler Donovan and Casey Pence. Second-place finishers – Dominic Culver, Morgan Hartz, Chloe Pence, Tony Rocha, and Ben Tisinger. Third-place finishers – Trenton Schutte, Trey Schutte, Dylan Olson, Jeff Bowie, Dylan Butler, Gabe Harpole, Kristian Nalan, Brandon Rodrick, Kurtis Dowell, Levi Kleinmeyer, Evan O’Neil, Cade Aspelmeier, Cale Donovan, Nick Madsen, Matt McIlrath and Joe Tatman. Fourth-place finishers – Cole Bailey, Andrew Ransford, Josh Heilmann, Barrett Walsh, and Atlas Kolpin.

Other youth club wrestlers who did not attend tournament were Jason Sass, Joe Seydel, Brady Edge, Dan Beuter, Cole Tisinger and Garrett Tucker.

The West Branch Youth Wrestling Club is directed by Brian Donovan, Club Advisor Marc Juergens, Head Coach Casey Hesseltine, and assistant coaches Lyle Seydel, Steve O’Neil, Brian Donovan, Joel Edge, Chuck Pence, Jeff Madsen and a volunteer, Brady Verlo.

Committee members also include Joan Donovan, Diana Pence, Jan O’Neil, Michele Rocha and Liz Seydel.

Some 40 wrestlers in K-8 participate in the club. Eighth-grade leaders this year were Tyler Donovan – Past State Finisher, Casey Pence – Past State Finisher and Joe Tatman – first-year member.

At the end of the regular season the K-2 wrestlers can travel to Waterloo Young Arena and participate in the Super Pee Wee State Tournament to be held March 6-7. Third- through eighth-grade wrestlers must qualify at an area AAU District. Districts are March 13 at Bettendorf High School; Johnson County wrestlers will qualify at Cedar Rapids Prairie.

Wrestlers must finish in the top four to advance to the AAU State tournament held in Des Moines at the “Barn” Vets Auditorium March 27-28.

The club ended the season with a potluck banquet and recognized all of our wrestlers with participation trophies or accomplishment award trophies.

This year’s winners in the K-2 grade were Quinn Hayden – Most Wins, Morgan Hartz – Most Pins, Dylan Olson – Most Improved, Kaleb Sexton – Mr. Hustle, and Trey Schutte – Bear Award. Third- through eighth-grade award winners were Tyler Donovan – Most Wins, Casey Pence and Drew Finnegan – Most Pins, Kurtis Dowell – Mr. Hustle, Atlas Kolpin – Most Improved, and Cale Donovan – Bear Award.

Coach Hesseltine concluded our banquet congratulating and recognizing our high school state medalists Rilen Carew, Jayson Madsen, Jake Slocum and Matt Smith.