The North Tama senior recorded his 150th win, pinning his opponent in a dual with Oelwein as part of a triangular at North Tama High School.

Knaack pinned Oelwein’s Seth Latham in 43 seconds as the Redhawks defeated Oelwein, 48-30. AGWSR defeated North Tama, 48-30, in the final dual of the night — the Cougars were 2-0 on the night with a 59-18 win over Oelwein.

Knaack is a two-time state medalist for the Redhawks and University of Wisconsin-La Crosse commit — he was one of two North Tama seniors honored for the team’s Senior Night on Tuesday along with Gavin Rausch.

“This and hitting 150 just makes me think about how time has been flying by,” Knaack said.

T-R PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER - North Tama wrestling fans celebrate Kolt Knaack’s 150th career win during Tuesday’s dual.

Andrew Knaack, North Tama head coach and Kolt’s father, said it was another item off the checklist for Kolt.

“One hundred and fifty is a lot more than I ever had, and he lets me know it, too,” Andrew said with a laugh. “But it’s a huge milestone, there’s a lot of kids that don’t even reach 100. This is just going to lead him where he needs to go. He wants to be on that podium again at the end of the year and this is a step in that direction. It’s a big push from here on out.”

After a fifth-place medal as a sophomore and sixth as a junior, Kolt Knaack is dreaming bigger for his final go-round as a Redhawk.

“I want to wrestle on Saturday night [in the finals] and win,” Kolt said. “I’m just working on everything I can to get better and make it happen. … I don’t want this season to go to waste.”

Andrew said Kolt’s working on that extra level that will make him a threat at the state tournament.

“He’s had that goal [of Saturday night] since he was a little guy,” Andrew said. “He’s putting in extra workouts, extra time on the bike, just getting every chance he can to get on the mat. He knows it’s his last goal in high school.”

Rausch was the other head-to-head winner in the Redhawks’ dual victory over Oelwein, winning by fall in 1:54. The Redhawks also received six forfeits.

North Tama surrendered five open weights to AGWSR, and the two teams split their head-to-head matchups with wins for Maxon Monat at 113 pounds, Drayke Dvorak at 126 and Berkley Dvorak at 132.

“We finished up before Christmas break wrestling really well,” Andrew Knaack said. “Our younger guys have seen the success that Kolt, Gavin and Max have had going to the state tournament and they want to be there, too. It’s a fun part of the season.”

Top-ranked Blake keeps it rolling

Briar Blake, the top-ranked girls wrestler at 170 pounds in Class 1A, improved to 15-0 this season with two pins as North Tama girls wrestling swept through Oelwein and AGWSR on Tuesday at North Tama High School.

The Redhawks blanked AGWSR, 34-0, and defeated Oelwein, 24-12.

Blake finished third at the state meet last year.

“You can see the confidence she has on the mat where she knows she’s going to be the strongest girl out there,” Andrew Knaack said. “Last year she knew she could do it, but whether she believed it or not, I don’t think so. Now she’s out there, knowing everybody’s gunning for her, you can’t hide anymore, and she’s been awesome.”

Only two of Blake’s first 15 matches have gone past the first period.

“She was talking back in volleyball season about being on top of that podium this year,” Knaack said. “She’s only been wrestling for a year and a half, two years. Just awesome.”

North Tama only lost one head-to-head match, receiving six forfeits across the two duals. Adding head-to-head wins against AGWSR were Grace Dvorak at 110 pounds by fall and Ava Monat with a 9-0 major decision at 130 pounds.

Addy Hochstetler, the Redhawks’ other state qualifier last season, did not wrestle on Tuesday, receiving one victory by forfeit.

“Addy’s got that burning desire after going to state last year, too,” Knaack said. “We’re all trying to fine tune and get where we need to be with only a month and a half left in the season.”

AGWSR 48, North Tama 30

106–Kealain Urban (A) pinned Chase Morris, 1:01; 113–Maxon Monat (NT) pinned Sam Mausser, 1:07; 120–Brady Abbas (A) pinned Maddox Rausch, 3:23; 126–Drayke Dvorak (NT) pinned Wyatt Engelkes, 1:03; 132–Berkley Dvorak (NT) pinned Kade Urban, 2:36; 138–Nick Buchholz (A) won by forfeit; 144–Jariyah Bowles (A) pinned Roman Bradley, 4:31; 150–Gavin Rausch (NT) won by forfeit; 157–Kolt Knaack (NT) won by forfeit; 165–Karder Brekunitch (A) won by forfeit; 175–Kael Dodd (A) won by forfeit; 190–Clayton VanLoh (A) won by forfeit; 215–no match; 285–Gage Van Loh (A) won by forfeit.

North Tama 48, Oelwein 30

106–Chase Morris (NT) won by forfeit; 113–Maxon Monat (NT) won by forfeit; 120–Maddox Rausch (NT) won by forfeit; 126–Drayke Dvorak (NT) won by forfeit; 132–Daylen Sphinks (NT) won by forfeit; 138–Berkley Dvorak (NT) won by forfeit; 144–Gavin Rausch (NT) pinned Kameron Barat Klimesh, 1:54; 150–Kolt Knaack (NT) pinned Seth Latham, :43; 157–no match; 165–Cooper Reisner (O) won by forfeit; 175–Landon Rechkemmer (O) won by forfeit; 190–Hunter Johnson (O) won by forfeit; 215–Joseph Ohl (O) won by forfeit; 285–Spencer Michels (O) won by forfeit.