With a couple varsity regulars out of the lineup, the Bobcats fell to Ottumwa, 44-27, at the Roundhouse in Iowa Alliance Conference action.

“We knew it’d be a dogfight and that we’d have to win some important matches,” MHS head coach Luke Cross said.

Nicholas Wise (132 pounds), Ivan Pantoja (138), Xayvion Anderson (165) and Johan Gomez (215) won by fall for the Bobcats. Lucas Bantz added a 6-4 decision at 126.

“Nick, Ivan and Xayvion are always working on their top work all the time so that’s where it’s taking off for them is effort in the weight room and during practice,” Cross said. “Nick especially is just a grinder and relentless once he’s on top. He’s 132 pounds but feels like he’s 290 pounds when he’s on top of you, always going for something.”

T-R PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER - Marshalltown’s Deanna Mancillaz, left, locks up her cradle on Ottumwa’s Serenity Frantz during their 130-pound match in Thursday’s wrestling meet at the Roundhouse. Mancillaz won the match by fall in 3 minutes, 29 seconds.

“I expect big things out of Johan all the time, so I’m not surprised at all, and it was good for the team coming off a loss at 190 that we weren’t expecting. Johan really brought the fire back.”

Bantz started the scoring for the Bobcats with his decision victory at 126, reversing an early takedown into three back points and adding an escape in the third period, then staying off his back when Tayton Frueh tried to rally with a takedown.

“Lucas is similar to Nick, one of those guys in the room that’s first one in, last to leave and always working on his technique,” Cross said. “That was a big win for him over the [Ottumwa] coach’s kid, a young kid, but a high-caliber wrestler, a good win for Lucas.”

The Bobcat boys head to a dual tournament at Dike-New Hartford on Saturday.

The Marshalltown girls fell 54-18 to Ottumwa on Thursday.

T-R PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER - Marshalltown’s Ivan Pantoja has the upper hand as he tries to turn Ottumwa’s Jonathan Wailes during their 138-pound match on Thursday at the Roundhouse. Pantoja won in 1 minute, 35 seconds.

Three MHS girls won by fall — Deanna Mancillaz, Nintee Tarr and Meya Roberts.

“Nintee’s a first year wrestler, and it’s really come to her quick,” said MHS assistant Brian Trowbridge. “She’s got good explosive hips that helps her finish shots.”

Roberts was the fastest winner for the Bobcats with a 34-second pin of Valeria Maldonado.

“Meya’s got a little more experience and using that to her advantage and staying in good positions,” Trowbridge said. “And Meya and Deanna, like all of our returners, are good leaders, speaking up in practice and keeping everyone accountable.”

Ottumwa’s wins were all by fall. The Bulldogs are led by returning state champion Jasmine Luedtke, who won her match with a first-period pin.

“We’re giving up way too many bonus points,” Trowbridge said. “We’ve got to work on our conditioning for sure, it was definitely showing in some of our matches.”

Marshalltown will regroup for a Boone tournament on Saturday.

GIRLS

Ottumwa 54, Marshalltown 18

110–Jasmine Luedtke (OTT) pinned Kaitlyn Yepez, 1:00; 110–Bradi Houston (OTT) pinned Rayna Bastidas, 1:01; 120–Gracie Noll (OTT) pinned Velkis Zelaya, 2:52; 125–Maravilha Vedina (OTT) pinned Ava Kusserow, 2:26; 130–Deanna Mancillaz (MHS) pinned Serenity Frantz, 3:29; 135–Jaydee Bircher (OTT) pinned Addyson Lovelace, 2:47; 140–Amaka Chukwunezie (OTT) pinned Patricia Mateo Merita, 1:16; 145–Nintee Tarr (MHS) pinned Kaydance Hancock, 5:46; 155–Meya Roberts (MHS) pinned Valeria Maldonado, :34; 170–no match; 190–Sophia Mendibles (OTT) pinned Genevieve Lantigua, 3:30; 235–Delilah Subsin (OTT) pinned Ireland Banderas, :18; 100–no match; 105–Julia Diaz de Gutresotos (OTT) won by forfeit.

BOYS

Ottumwa 44, Marshalltown 27

120–Brock Garcia (OTT) dec. Anthony Chavez, 10-7; 126–Lucas Bantz (MHS) dec. Tayton Frueh, 6-4; 132–Nicholas Wise (MHS) pinned Daltin Doud, 3:44; 138–Ivan Pantoja (MHS) pinned Jonathan Wailes, 1:35; 144–Efren Huerta (OTT) pinned Kager Kremer, 4:31; 150–Koby Chanthalavanh (OTT) pinned Gaston Feras, 1:45; 157–Braylon Griffiths (OTT) tech. falled Carson Wright, 19-2; 165–Xayvion Anderson (MHS) pinned Brannon Flattery, 1:57; 175–Kaden Hubbell (OTT) pinned Zach Kirkland, 1:14; 190–Neo Guida (OTT) pinned Michael Narvaez Correa, 3:35; 215–Johan Gomez (MHS) pinned John Hardin, 2:25; 285–Ezekiel Payton (OTT) dec. Ignacio Macias, 10-4; 106–Reece Cox (OTT) won by forfeit; 113–Ashton Grace (OTT) dec. Damien Rodriguez, 8-6 SV-1.