The third biggest story for Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk athletics from 2020-21 takes us to the wrestling mat where the Golden Hawk boys and girls both found success on the big stage. The Golden Hawk wrestling team put together a 14 win dual campaign, finishing one victory shy of the school record. In tournament action, Mid-Prairie was the winner at their home tournament December 12th, beating the competition at the Colton Allen Invitational, edging Alburnett in the team battle by one half point.

Individually, two Golden Hawks won the 100th matches of their careers with Josh Wallington accomplishing the feat fittingly on Senior Night at Tim Grady Gymnasium in Wellman with a pin of Wilton’s Tyrrell Hughes. Cael Garvey would get the job done January 28th in the regular season finale at Clear Creek Amana by pinning Mitchell Howard of Central DeWitt. Five Golden Hawks won at least 25 matches this year, led by Wallington’s 36-3 record. Other’s include Ben Meader 33-9, Garvey 32-3, Gannon Callahan 32-4 and Mose Yoder 26-13.

In the postseason, Mid-Prairie set a new school record finishing as sectional runners-up with 185 points. Their five sectional champions Vinnie Bowlin, Meader, Garvey, Wallington and Callahan was also a school record. Along with those five champs, Mose Yoder advanced to districts with a runner-up finish in his bracket, helping the Hawks tie a school record with six district qualifiers. At the district meet in Mt. Pleasant, Meader and Wallington made it to the top of the podium with Garvey also advancing to state in Des Moines with a runner-up finish. Garvey was a state place winner as a junior finishing eighth at 195lbs.

The Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Girls State Wrestling Tournament was held at the XStream Arena in Coralville in January. The Golden Hawks sent 10 grapplers to compete including Abigail Grout, Emily Harmston, Ellie Brenneman, Bronwyn Brenneman, Caitlyn Busch, Marissa Cline, Madison Kelly, Mia Garvey, Brittney Pfeiffer and Sarah Meader. Entering the tournament Garvey was ranked sixth in the state at 138lbs and Meader fifth at 152lbs according to iawrestle.com. Two Golden Hawks ended up on the podium with Bronwyn Brenneman fourth at 126lbs and Meader fifth at 152lbs. The Golden Hawk girls were 12th in the team race of more than 300 participating schools with 71.5 points.