For the second straight year, Lake Mills captured the 16-team Top of Iowa Conference Tournament.

The team amassed 221 points and won by a large margin despite having two weights open due to injury.

“It is nice to know we have a good enough team to win despite having a lot injuries and illness,” said  coach Alex Brandenburg. “Our effort was much better than Thursday, but we still looked a bit worn down and did not wrestle our best.”

Despite winning the tournament by over 60 points, Lake Mills only advanced four wrestlers to the finals. Two wrestlers were crowned TIC champions, as Kyle Beery pinned Dawson Lalor of Eagle Grove at 138 lbs, and Gabe Irons took 195 lbs by scoring a late takedown to beat No.2-ranked Hunter Hagen of West Hancock, 3-2.

“Kyle and Gabe wrestled outstanding today, and neither has lost a match since break,” Brandenburg said. “Irons was named the TIC West’s Wrestler of the Year for his efforts.”

The two other Bulldogs to make the finals and finish second were sophomore Tyler Helgeson at 120 lbs and freshman Casey Hanson at 132 lbs.

It was a solid performance by the 12 wrestlers who competed, as all of them placed and 10 were in the top four of their respective weight classes.

“It is exciting to win the conference tournament, as that is one of our goals,” noted Brandenburg. “Now we hope to take this next week to get healthy and get our full lineup back together so we can finish the season strong.”

Senior Cole Bergo reached a personal milestone by getting his 100th career pin in the first round.