Wrestling Awards Night for the Greene County Rams was held Tuesday evening at Clover Hall on the Greene County Fairgrounds in Jefferson. Head coach Zach Beekman and his coaching staff spoke about the team and handed out letters and other awards. The Rams were 11-11 in dual meets and finished in third place in the Heart of Iowa Activities Conference Tournament.
Jefferson-based wrestling goes back to the 1965-66 school year and the 2022-23 season marked the first time the Rams had two State Champions in the same campaign. In fact, seniors Kale Petersen and McKinley Robbins won titles in consecutive weight classes- Petersen at 132 lbs. and Robbins at 138, both in Class 2A. The duo turned in undefeated seasons with the former at 42-0 and the latter at 48-0. Sophomore Brent Dennhardt placed eighth at 145 lbs. and junior Gavin Scheuermann had a top 12 finish at 160 lbs. The Rams finished eighth in the team race, equalling their best team finish ever, first established by Jefferson High School in 1982. The three place winners also was a first as Greene County. Jefferson-Scranton/Paton-Churdan had three top six place winners in 1991.
Joining the four State qualifiers as letter winners were Marcus Ball, Zeke Binkley, Crew Conner, Jacob Harmeyer, Dakota Mobley, Braeden Turner, Jackson Turner, Gavyn Winters, plus managers Naphtali Hoyt, Madison Mobley, Georgia Osterson, Sadie Shannon, and Payton Scheuermann.
Academic honors to those with at least a 3.25 grade point average on a 4.00 scale as a junior or senior were Binkley, Mobley, Osterseon, Robbins, Scheuermann, and Jackson Turner.
Super Booster awards went to Chris Conner, and the Justin & Lacie Robbins family. Binkley was named the Outstanding JV wrestler in honor or Logan Scheuermann. Dennhardt received the Most Improved varsity wrestler award in honor of Aaron Beaman. The Citizenship award in honor of Brad Badger went to Osterson with the Iron Heart award in honor of Fred Watson to Dakota Mobley. Jackson Turner received the Warrior Ethos award in honor of Jake Taggart, and Robbins received the Most Valuable Wrestler award in honor of Chase Flack. Guts Club awards were presented to those who attended every practice and Robbins, Osterson, Dakota Mobley, and Binkley, received those awards.
Cheer coaches Shannon Black and Deb Wolterman presented letters to cheerleaders Gretah Kersey, Meadow Losee, Nala Losee, Maddie McCarthy, Veronica Van der Meer, and Skyler Warnke. Kersey was named Most Valuable Cheerleader.