Express dual team places second

TRURO — The Creston Express wrestling team finished runner-up in the Western Iowa Elementary Duals last weekend at Interstate 35 High School.

The Creston squad finished with a 4-1 record in the event for kindergarten-sixth grades. Champion Indianola finished 5-0. East Union finished in a tie for fifth place in the eight-team event.

Round 1 scores — Creston defeated Urbandale 61-21; Indianola beat East Union 73-6.

Round 2 scores — Creston defeated Urbandale 59-13; Carroll beat East Union 59-21.

Round 3 scores — Creston beat North Polk 71-12; East Union defeated I-35 36-34.

Round 4 scores — Creston defeated Carroll 57-19; East Union defeated Urbandale 51-25.

Round 5 scores — Indianola defeated Creston 45-25; Van Meter defeated East Union 45-41.

Televised dual

College wrestling makes its long-awaited return to Iowa PBS in 2025, featuring five dual meets showcasing top programs from Division II, Division III, and the NAIA. The season kicks off Thursday at 7 p.m., with a marquee matchup between top-ranked NAIA powerhouse Grand View University and fifth-ranked NCAA Division II contender University of Nebraska-Kearney at Sisam Arena in Des Moines.

Jackson Kinsella of Creston is Nebraska-Kearney’s starting 197-pound wrestler and Crew Howard of Clarinda is the Lopers’ heavyweight. However, Kinsella, ranked third in NCAA D-II, suffered an ankle injury in practice on Tuesday and he is being held out of Thursday’s dual.

At last week’s NWCA National Duals at the UNI-Dome on the University of Northern Iowa campus, Grand View won the NAIA championship and UNK placed third in the NCAA D-II division with just one loss.

Grand View holds a 2-1 edge in the all-time series against Nebraska Kearney. Last season, UNK claimed a narrow 18-17 victory at home, but the Vikings delivered a commanding 34-3 win the last time the teams squared off at Sisam Arena. Both programs are consistently ranked among the nation’s best. Each dual meet in the PBS series will begin at 7 p.m., broadcasting live on statewide Iowa PBS and live-streamed on Facebook, YouTube, and iowapbs.org.

Shrine Bowl players

Lineman Brayden Schoon of Creston and quarterback-defensive back Gabe Funk of Lenox are among the players selected for the South team in the 2025 Iowa Shrine Bowl to be played at 4 p.m. July 19 at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

Other selections for the South team that have agreed to play in the game and participate in the Iowa Shrine Bowl events that week include Adam Baier of Red Oak, Reid Woodard of Atlantic, Trenton Warner of Nodaway Valley, Jozef Reisz of Harlan and Cameron Moore of Lewis Central.

The South team head coach is Matt Straight of Logan-Magnolia. Among his assistants are Joe Brummer of Atlantic and Shane Rowlands of Southeast Warren.