SOLON — Down 24-20, the Solon Spartan wrestling team looked upon Lucas Feuerbach to grab the lead back in the 215-pound match against rival Mount Vernon. Feuerbach entered the circle ranked third in class 2A in Iowa. He stepped into the circle, and a new energy took over the gym at Solon High School.
Feuerbach took the Mustangs’ Kael Riniker down to the mat 20 seconds into the bout. As they hit the floor, Feuerbach was ready to deliver the finishing blow. The crowd intensified as Riniker’s back shoulder was forced closer and closer to the ground by Feuerbach. Centimeters before the fall was completed, Riniker wormed his way out of Feuerbach’s grasp.
Moments later the bout flipped. The formerly-defeated Mustang bench was now howling, Riniker had snagged the reversal. Mere seconds ticked off the clock and Feuerbach was back up on his two feet for the easy escape. Just as quickly as Feuerbach escaped, he grabbed Riniker’s right leg and drove him to the ground, rotating on top of him and forcing Riniker onto his back for a fall and brought the Solon faithful to their feet.
“You don’t take those things for granted, but that’s the kind of thing you expect from a kid like Lucas,” said Solon head coach Aaron Hadenfeldt, “He doesn’t force anything, just goes out and wrestles his match. And if he does that, he’s going to win a heck of a lot of his matches.”
Despite the big win at 215, the Spartans fell to the Mustangs 38-32. Jake Haugse, ranked eighth in 2A, made quick work of Solon’s Joshua Vazquez-Neri in the final bout to clinch the Mustang victory. The Spartans had four falls, including Feuerbach’s electric battle. Jayden Steapp led off for the Spartans in the first match of the night taking down Jake Shady in 58 seconds to put Solon on the board first. Jackson Feuerbach notched his fall in a long battle, but finishing the job with 32 seconds left in the final period. Anderson Osgood achieved his fall 11 seconds into the second period at the 106-weight class.
“No matter what the situation is, we’re telling our guys go out and give it your best effort. That’s what this work is all about,” said Hadenfeldt.
Grant Wilson had a tough battle against the number two wrestler at heavyweight in 2A, Ethan Wood. Wilson lost 12-3 but stuck in the battle through all three periods. The 144 weight class featured a top ten matchup between Solon’s Jordan Schmidt and Mount Vernon’s Jace Jasper. Schmidt lost but avoided the pin as well. Evan Gleason also outlasted what looked like a potential pin early on as he battled multiple bloody noses throughout the bout. While taking the loss, these Spartans saved a team point each match, helping Solon stay within reach until the very end.
“If you’re able to put maximum effort onto a wrestling mat you’ll be fine most of the time,” said Hadenfeldt.
The senior night battle did not go the Spartans way, but the festivities pregame still held strong meaning for a big senior class. Hadenfeldt thanked the senior group and left them with a message before the meet.
“It’s a big deal, so go out and have some fun,” recalled Hadenfeldt, “Whatever happens, happens, but go give your best effort and we can live with that.”