GRISWOLD — For Southwest Valley’s wrestling team, success hasn’t been easy to come by in recent seasons.
The Timberwolves put together a strong team effort throughout all five duals at Saturday’s Griswold Tournament.
Southwest Valley won all five duals to win the tournament.
The Timberwolves had four wrestlers on the all-tournament team.
Southwest Valley coach Jason Wetzel noted it was the first time in several years the team won a tournament.
The Timberwolves’ spirits were boosted by the win Saturday.
“A win like this goes a long ways in building confidence of the team and individuals,” Wetzel said. “These kids know they can compete with quality kids and get the wins.”
For the Timberwolves, winning Saturday is a sign of how much they have improved since Christmas.
The Timberwolves carried over the momentum from the Atlantic Tournament the week before.
“I have been very pleased with the way the guys are wrestling after the break,” Wetzel said. “We wrestled in the Atlantic Tournament last weekend and had some guys who placed fairly high. That was the starting point a great week.”
Southwest Valley went 7-4 in duals on the week, improving their dual meet record to 13-7.
The dual tournament format accentuates the whole team.
“Dual tournaments are a great way for the entire team to get recognition,” Wetzel said. “Often times, people look at wrestling as an individual sport, but it can be both team and individual.”
UP NEXT – Southwest Valley has its stiffest test of the regular season Friday and Saturday when it hosts the 62nd annual John J. Harris Tournament Friday and Saturday.
Among the teams coming are Class 2A top-ranked New Hampton, Class 2A third-ranked Creston/Orient-Macksburg, Class 2A fourth-ranked Atlantic, Class 1A second-ranked Missouri Valley and Class 1A sixth-ranked Missouri Valley.
According to the most recent rankings released by The Predicament, 40 state-ranked wrestlers will be in the field.
“We will be tested,” Wetzel said.
GRISWOLD TOURNAMENT
1. Southwest Valley (5-0). 2. East Mills (3-2). 3. Exira/Elk-Horn-Kimbalton (2-3). 4. Clarinda Academy (1-4). 5. Griswold (1-4).
Southwest Valley 51, Exira/Elk-Horn Kimbalton 18; Southwest Valley 60, Griswold 6; Southwest Valley 54, East Mills 17; Southwest Valley 58, Clarinda Academy 12; Southwest Valley 48, Tri-Center 24.