Shenandoah Wrestling celebrates a senior class that changed the program
A small senior class spent its final moments with the Shenandoah boys wrestling program Tuesday, March 10, at the program’s annual banquet, hosted and sponsored by the Shenandoah Elks Club.
Jacob McGargill, Tyler Babe and Owen Nokes were the only three seniors in the program but the mark they left on it was incredible.
Much of that came from McGargill, who finished his career on the program record board eight times, including being a four-time state qualifier, a three-time state medalist, a three-time, and the last, Hawkeye 10 Conference champion, a three-time Harris Tournament champion and breaking the school record for career wins with an even 200.
But it was much more than McGargill, Babe reached the 100-win mark for his career and this group helped change the program.
Shenandoah head coach Todd McGinnis said that in the four years prior to their arrival, the program earned 11 dual wins, total. In their four years, they won 81, including a school record 24 during their junior year. They qualified for regional duals twice and had four different state medalists and seven different state qualifiers over those four years.
Shenandoah Wrestling's team award winners show off their plaques Tuesday, March 10, at the annual banquet. From left: Taylor Dickerson (JV Wrestler of the Year), Carter Wooten (Rookie of the Year), Tyler Babe (Curtis Semmons Award, Most Improved), Jacob McGargill (Joseph Heitshusen Outstanding Wrestler, Curtis Semmons Award) and Hayden Roush (Varsity Wrestler of the Year).
McGargill was named the Joseph Heitshusen Outstanding Wrestler. He’s a two-time recipient of that award, which has been awarded twice, and named after Heitshusen, who won more than 100 matches in his Shenandoah wrestling career from 2009-2013 before his death in 2020.
McGargill and Babe both won the Curtis Semmons Award, which McGinnis said is his favorite award to give out. It goes to the wrestler who displays class, is fearless, has a positive attitude and gets the job done on the mat and in the classroom.
Shenandoah wrestling's state qualifiers with their state awards Tuesday, March 10, at the annual banquet. From left: Hayden Roush and Jacob McGargill.
Hayden Roush, Shenandoah’s other state qualifier this season, was named the varsity Wrestler of the Year and Taylor Dickerson the junior varsity Wrestler of the Year. Babe was named the Most Improved Wrestler and Carter Wooten the Rookie of the Year.
Shenandoah seniors Tyler Babe (left) and Owen Nokes (right) earned the Hawkeye 10 Conference Academic Award and were presented their certificate Tuesday, March 10, at the annual banquet.
Babe and Nokes earned the Hawkeye 10 Conference’s Academic Award while the entire team earned the Distinguished Academic Achievement Award from the Iowa High School Athletic Association for achieving a team GPA of 3.25 or higher.
Highlights from the season included McGargill’s 200th career win, after reaching 150 early in the season. Babe, Roush and Lukus Major all reached 100 career wins. McGinnis said a dual win over Creston this season was something he doesn’t remember happening before. The Mustangs earned two revenge dual wins, beating a team that had beaten them earlier in the season, two of their 23 on the season.
McGinnis also spent time on the team’s character traits they focused on this season, having class, grit, gratitude and earning it, saying they continued to show those characteristics more as the season progressed.
McGinnis challenged next year’s returners that it’s their time now as they go into a new era of Shenandoah Wrestling and Shenandoah Athletics with the move to the Western Iowa Conference. He added there are plenty of opportunities available in the coming months to get better and it’s all about how much each of the athletes wants to improve.
Shenandoah wrestling's 40 and 50-match winners show off their awards Tuesday, March 10, at their annual banquet. From left: Hayden Roush (49 wins), Jacob McGargill (58 wins, 200 career) and Lukus Major (42 wins).
Shenandoah wrestling's 30-match winners with their awards Tuesday, March 10, at the annual banquet. From left: Carter Wooten (34 wins), Landon Fuller (35) and Tyler Babe (39).
Shenandoah wrestling's 20-match winners Tuesday, March 10, at the team's annual banquet. From left: Will Berning (27 wins) and Charlie Liles (26 wins).
