DES MOINES — The Ottumwa wrestling team picked up two key late-season wins in the CIML Metro Conference on Thursday. The Bulldogs secured a couple of close decisions to edge Des Moines East, 42-36, before distancing themselves early in a 52-30 victory over Des Moines Lincoln.

The Bulldogs won four straight matches with three straight pins by Karsten Van Velsor (145), Scott Wilson (152) and Chase Wood (160) to take an early 18-6 lead against the Scarlets. Tad Howard and Lucas Lunsford picked up the key wins of the dual, however, as both scored decisions with Howard edging Markram Ibraheem 4-3 at 170 pounds while Lunsford won a 3-0 220-pound decision over the Scarlets’ Alex Contreras. What made these two victories extra sweet was the fact that both wrestlers had lost to their competition earlier in the season.

“That’s always good when you have kids who beat guys who beat them because it shows we’re improving,” assistant coach Jeremy Frueh said.

Howard’s victory came in particularly thrilling fashion. He was trailing Ibraheem 3-2 in the waning moments of the third round when he scored a takedown to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the round’s final second.

“That was just a big win for Tad Howard, confidence-wise,” Frueh said. “To beat a kid who beat him by that much earlier in the year is huge for Tad. It shows he’s improving and progressing to wear he needs to be.”  

In a scary moment, Kevin Childs lost consciousness at one point during his match in the heavyweight division. Ottumwa assistant coach Frueh said Childs, who has been one of the Bulldogs most consistent wrestlers; was inadvertently choked as he tried to escape from a headlock being applied by Scarlet Brandon Haus. Once the match was over — Haus won by fall — Childs was transported to the hospital as a precautionary measure, Frueh said. The coach said Childs is questionable for Saturday’s Ankeny duals.

The dual against the Railsplitters proved to be a memorable one for Tyler Bookin-Nosbisch, who originally wasn’t even supposed to wrestle in the dual. But because of Childs’ injury, a couple of Ottumwa’s wrestlers were forced to move up in weight, which left no one to wrestle at 195. Frueh said Bookin-Nosbisch was in the shower — he had already competed at the junior varsity level — when he learned his night wasn’t over yet.

“We had to tell him ‘hey get, your singlet on, you have to wrestle varsity,’” Frueh said.

Bookin-Nobisch, who had never wrestled at the varsity level going into the dual, came through for his team, scoring a pin over Chuong Nguyen at 195 in the third period.

Van Velsor and Wood also picked up pins early on against the Railsplitters. Wood and Howard had back-to-back pins to start a run of six straight Bulldog wins that included falls by Conner Mier (220) and Lunsford (Heavyweight).

Ottumwa (8-7, 4-1) is back in action on Saturday at the Ankeny Duals. The Bulldogs will face Marshalltown, Oskaloosa, Sioux City North, Spencer and the hosting Hawks starting at 10 a.m.

Ottumwa 42, Des Moines East 36

106 — Devlen Fisher (Des Moines East) won by fall at :41 over Alex Clark (Ottumwa). 113 — Collin McConnell (O) won by forfeit. 120 — Nathan Cary (O) won by fall at 1:07 over DeMarcus Dameron (DME). 126 — Matt Schmitt (DME) won by fall at 1:37 over Garrett Goodwin (O). 132 — Chance Raleigh (DME) won by fall at 2:44 over Wyatt Schlotter (O). 138 — Lucas Roberts (DME) won by fall at 2:00 over Justus Skinner (O). 145 — Karsten Van Velsor (O) won by fall at 5:35 over Josh Davis (DME). 152 — Scott Wilson (O) won by fall at 4:24 over Craig Taylor (DME). 160 — Chase Wood (O) won by fall at 3:23 over Chase Reynolds (DME). 170 — Tad Howard (O) won by dec. over Markram Ibraheem (DME) 4-3. 182 — Austin Roberts (DME) won by fall at 2:45 over Isaiah Cox (O). 195 — Conner Mier (O) won by forfeit. 220 — Lucas Lunsford (O) won by dec over Alex Contreras (DME) 3-0. HWT — Brandon Haus (DME) won by fall at 3:41 over Kevin Childs (O).

Ottumwa 52, Des Moines Lincoln 30

106 — Tyler Powell (Des Moines Lincoln) won by fall at :43 over Clark (O). 113 — Andrew Pauley (DML) won by fall at :09 over McConnell (O). 120 — Cary (O) won by fall at 2:41 over Lucas Brouillette (DML). 126 — Cole Baber (DML) won by fall at 3:45 over Goodwin (O). 132 — Schlotter (O) won by forfeit. 138 — Marlom Villatoro (DML) won by fall at 2:34 over Skinner (O). 145 — Van Velsor (O) won by fall at 3:48 over Luke Williamson (DML). 152 — Nate Luna (DML) won by fall at :42 over Wilson (O). 160 — Wood (O) won by fall at 1:59 over Dakota Sanchez (DML). 170 — Howard (O) won by fall at 2:30 over Ryan Baber (DML). 182 — Cox (O) won by maj. dec. over Justin Weeks (DML) 14-6. 195 — Tyler Bookin-Nosbisch (O) won by fall at 4:54 over Chuong Nguyen (DML). 220 — Mier (O) won by fall at 1:25 over Briles Christenson (DML). HWT — Lunsford (O) won by fall at 1:55 over Andrew Tiangco (DML).