Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – Nick Milder has big goals for his final season.

The Regina senior has one goal that is significantly bigger than the others.

“I want to win state,” Milder said. “I want to make a run at it and I don’t care what anyone says. I just really want to get there and win state.”

Milder will take his shot at that big goal in February in the meantime he is busy crossing other goals off his list.

He continued to cross goals off the list on Saturday with an individual title at the final home invitational of his career.

Milder was impressive on his way to the 182-pound title at the Regina Invitational on Saturday in front of a near capacity crowd at Regina.

“It was really nice to get a win at home and have a lot of people that I know see me wrestle,” Milder said. “It’s something I was able to do my senior year that I will always remember.”

The title by Milder was part of a strong showing for the host Regals/

Regina got a title from junior Rowan Udell at 195 and a runner-up finish from Aidan Udell at 152 pounds while finishing seventh at the 16-team meet with 88 points.

Solon crowned six champs and won the team title with 236.5 points. West Branch was 13th with 45.5 points.

“Rowan and Nick have been in this situation before and they’ve been wrestling a long time and they really came out in the final round and did what we expected them to do and really turned it on when they needed to,” Regina coach Adam Martensen said. “Aidan is a freshman and he went against some really tough competition in (Solon senior Zack) Bevans and he has a lot to learn yet but I think he went out and showed what he can do today.”

In the final home tournament of his career Milder was impressive.

He reached the 182-pound finals with a pair of first-period falls where he recorded a 10-0 major decision over Solon junior Seamus Poynton.

“Coach has definitely got me more on my offense focusing on setting up my shots more and trying to be more aggressive every time I wrestle,” Milder said. “I just focus on scoring as many points as possible.”

Milder had three takedowns in the title match, one in each period with each coming in the first 40 seconds of the period.

His first takedown came 40 seconds into the title match and provided a 2-0 cushion entering the second period.

The next takedown for Milder came 35 seconds into the second period and he needed just 10 seconds in the third period to earn his third and final takedown.

“Getting the first takedown, it’s a huge edge for me just mentally but it also wears the other guy down,” Milder said. “It makes it a lot easier to ride the guy when he gets tired.”

Milder improved to 15-0 on the season with his 3-0 performance on Saturday with eight of those wins coming via fall.

A two-time state qualifier and three time River Valley Conference champion the senior is looking to continue to cross off goals as the season goes on.

With one big goal waiting in February at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

“He’s a two-time state qualifier that’s had really tough luck with how he’s landed in the brackets but he is committed to reaching his goals and that is to be at the top of the podium at the end of the year,” Martensen said. “I definitely could see him there.”

Regina Invitational

Team scores – 1. Solon 236.5; 2. Williamsburg 164.5; 3. Mount Pleasant 124.5; 4. Pekin 104; 5. Tipton 101.5; 6. Marshalltown 99.5; 7. Regina 88; 8. Columbus/Winfield-Mount Union 81; 9. North Cedar 61; 10. WACO 55; 11. H-L-V 49.5; 12. Sigourney 47; 13. West Branch 45.5; 14. Davenport West 42.5; 15. Fairfield 26; 16. Lone Tree 25

(Individual champions; Area placewinners)

106 – Bryce Thompson (LT) dec. Travis Hodges (DW) 7-4

113 – Mason Dye (SIG) pinned Kayden Gryp (WIL) 4:23; 4. Quinn Hayden (WB)

120 – John Crowley (TIP) pinned Tyler Siemen (WB) 1:02

126 – Hayden Taylor (SOL) dec. Zach Bitker (MAR) 9-2

132 – Zeb Gnida (SOL) dec. Jalen Schropp (WIL) 3-2

138 – Jarod Kadel (COL) major dec. Zach Hammes (PEK) 11-3; 4. Aidan Dall (SOL)

145 – Garrett Jensen (WIL) dec. Nathan Wallace (MP) 2-0; 3. Caleb Ebert (SOL)

152 – Zack Bevans (SOL) pinned Aidan Udell (ICR) 2:24

160 – Andy Brokaw (SOL) major dec. Riley Holt (WIL) 12-2

170 – Jax Flynn (SOL) pinned James DeMeyer (MP) 3:59; 6. Morgan Hartz (WB)

182 – Nick Milder (ICR) major dec. Seamus Poynton (SOL) 10-0

195 – Rowan Udell (ICR) dec. Tyler Thurston (NC) 8-1; 3. Adam Bock (SOL)

220 – Mike Hoyle (SOL) dec. Zach Beason (MP) 11-4

285 – Jordan Anderson (MAR) pinned Chase Gallagher (NC) :31