The Iowa State Individual Wrestling Championships will include 23 wrestlers representing eight area schools after Saturday’s District meets.
At the Class 2A competition in Cherokee, Spirit Lake Park arrived with six grapplers, and four will make their way to Des Moines as district champions. Undefeated junior Doug Miner (42-0) remained that way, taking the crown at 106 pounds. Teammates Zach Skopec (So, 120, 37-5), Isaac Lundgren (Sr, 138, 35-6), and Dylan Bryce (Sr, 145, 33-7) all went 2-0 on the day. Meanwhile, Estherville-Lincoln Central traveled to Forest City with four wrestlers still alive. The Midgets will now head to the state tournament with half that, as Oscar Ramirez (So, 34-4) was crowned champion at 120 pounds and Gable Bonner (Sr, 34-3) finished runner-up at heavyweight.
Click here for the post-match interview with SLP coach Rick Vander Woude.
Sibley-Ocheyedan hosted the Class 1A Districts, and after the day’s events, Okoboji had its first four-time state qualifier. Senior Tanner Taylor improved to 39-0 with two victories to claim the 182 pound title. Emmetsburg, which finished second in the team standings, will send an impressive five wrestlers to Wells Fargo Arena. Justin Studer (Sr, 31-12) and Andrew Wellik (Jr, 14-0) claimed championships at 145 and 170 pounds, respectively. Brady Bailey (Jr, 152, 27-7), Nick Schany (Jr, 160, 19-2), and Austin McCarten (Jr, 182, 8-2) each advanced with runner-up honors. Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn crowned one champion, Brett Flynn (Sr, 38-4) at 152 pounds, while placing two more in second place, Nick Drenth (Sr, 126, 41-6) and Heath Nagel (Jr, 132, 28-10). The Knights of Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire qualified two wrestlers for the state championships, 132-pound champion Ty Gibson (So, 28-5) and the runner-up at 106 pounds, Tyler Dalen (Sr, 40-2). And the hometown Generals capped the day with a second-place finish by Brent Reed (Sr, 28-15) at 113 pounds.
Click here for the post-match interview with Okoboji coach Nate Dau.
Click here for the postgame interview with Emmetsburg coach Jared Pickett.
It was a very successful day in Ft. Dodge for the Spencer Tigers, who will be represented by five grapplers in the Class 3A state tournament. Of those five, four wrestlers took home district titles. John Christopherson (Jr, 126, 25-1), Levi Gilmore (So, 132, 39-3), Jack Randall (Sr, 138, 40-3), and Tanner Schaefer (Jr, 152, 33-2) all stood atop the medal stand. Bailey Hawn (Jr, 32-11) was the fifth qualifier, placing second at 113 pounds.
The state championship run Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, and Q102 will provide live coverage and updates of the on-going events. Up-to-the-minute results on local wrestlers can also be found online at ExploreOkoboji.com.
