In Luke Hageman and Class 3A No. 11 at 182 pounds Nick Rebik, the Bobcats are going to be losing two successful wrestlers who made a big impact during the first two years of Cross’s tenure — and who he said have been leaders this season.

“I remember those weird emotions you have, and some kids want to win in a very particular way,” Cross said. “I’m proud of those guys, and we’re going to miss them dearly in the years to come…. [Luke’s] fire is contagious, and when the other kids see that, they rally behind it. That’s something we’re going to miss with him.

“Nick does everything possible, he stays busy. It’s sad to just think that this was his last home dual in wrestling.”

In Kunian Kuany, a first-year wrestler at heavyweight, Cross said the Bobcats have an energetic and impressive newcomer who came at things the right away — and was rewarded with a pin over James Johnson of Waterloo East in 2 minutes, 48 seconds during the dual. Cross gave credit to assistant Pedro Gomez for his individual work with Kuany.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING - Alena Arana of Marshalltown, right, tries to gain the upper hand against Armani Jones of Waterloo East during Thursday’s wrestling meet at the Roundhouse. Arana won the match by fall in 1 minute, 13 seconds.

“He’s getting some of the best tutorials you could ask for,” Cross said. “He also has the right mindset. He’s an athlete at heart. He’s going to play football in college, and he’s doing this to better himself for football and it’s going to pay off.”

Marshalltown’s victory began on a high note at 126 pounds with Nick Wise pinning Landen Foote in 1:47. The next win was Xavyion Anderson, who pinned Georvon Tyler in 1:56 at 138 pounds. Class 3A No. 8 at 152 pounds, Hageman didn’t get the pin he wanted but defeated Ryan Strong 8-2 at 145 pounds in convincing fashion.

At 160 pounds, Dalton Zednichek was trailing for most of his match with Gianni Speller. But in the last 30 seconds he turned the match on its head and picked up a pin after 5:45, much to the delight of the home crowd.

A string of four East forfeits followed, including one at 170 that meant Rebik (who is playing baseball at Central in college) missed a chance to wrestle in his last regular-season home meet.

The girls’ dual was short on matches with the Bobcats having more wrestlers available than the Trojans, but in the first match of the night Alena Arana got a strong pin over Armani Jones in 1:13 to put the Bobcats on the board.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING - Marshalltown senior Luke Hageman, top, tries to turn Waterloo East’s Ryan Strong during their 145-pound match on Thursday at the Roundhouse. Hageman won by decision, 8-2.

Cross said it was cool for Arana to get that moment and to put together a good match in front of the home crowd.

“It’s good to get a little fire, just for the crowd to see that our girls are learning the sport and getting better at it,” Cross said. “That was good for them to experience one last home event, one last competition before, for some of them, what’s going to be the last day of wrestling this season tomorrow.”

Emily Andrade Zepada was pinned after lasting 2:17 against No. 4 in the state at 115 Libby Stocks and Rhayne Morales was pinned in 19 seconds by Farah Labbe at 155, but the Bobcats still came out with the win.

It’s a quick turnaround for the girls’ team as they head to the Iowa Events Center on Friday for regionals and the chance to make it to state. Area teams that will join the Bobcats in Des Moines include North Tama, South Tama and West Marshall. Matches get started at 11 a.m.

The boys team heads to Des Moines North on Saturday for the Iowa Alliance Conference meet, beginning at 10 a.m.

GIRLS: Marshalltown 42, Waterloo East 18

100–no match; 105–Alena Arana (MHS) pinned Armani Jones, 1:13; 110–Kaitlyn Yepez (MHS) won by forfeit; 115–Libby Stocks (WE) pinned Emily Andrade Zepeda, 2:17; 120–Deanna Mancillaz (MHS) won by forfeit; 125–Ar’Riyanna Bass (WE) won by forfeit; 130–no match; 135–Morgan Million (MHS) won by forfeit; 140–no match; 145–no match; 155–Farah Labbe (WE) pinned Rhayne Morales, :19; 170–Genevieve Lantigua (MHS) won by forfeit; 190–Meya Roberts (MHS) won by forfeit; 235–Melissa Hernandez (MHS) won by forfeit.

BOYS: Marshalltown 63, Waterloo East 14

126–Nicholas Wise (MHS) pinned Landen Foote, 1:47; 132–Isaac Lomas (WE) pinned Ivan Pantoja, 5:25; 138–Xayvion Anderson (MHS) pinned Georvon Tyler, 1:56; 145–Luke Hageman (MHS) dec. Ryan Strong, 8-2; 152–William Clark (WE) major dec. Colton Ricken, 9-0; 160–Dalton Zednichek (MHS) pinned Gianni Speller, 5:45; 170–Nick Rebik (MHS) won by forfeit; 182–Ignacio Macias (MHS) won by forfeit; 195–Johan Gomez (MHS) won by forfeit; 220–Michael Narvaez Correa (MHS) won by forfeit; 285–Kunian Kuany (MHS) pinned James Johnson, 2:48; 106–Mariyon Norton (WE) major dec. Angel Chavez Ordaz, 10-1; 113–Lucas Bantz (MHS) won by forfeit; 120–Mochanad Pramana (MHS) won by forfeit.