Area Regional Wrestling Wrap-up
by Jamie Brockman
The postseason began Saturday for High School Wrestling in Iowa with Class 1A and 2A Sectional tournaments. The top two finishing teams from each Sectional advance to Regional Duals on Tuesday, while the top two individual finishers in each weight class advance to next Saturday’s Districts, the final stop before the State Wrestling Tournament.
In Class 2A at Williamsburg, Eddyville -Blakesburg-Fremont earned a return trip to the Regional Team Duals with a second place finish, just 15 points behind Williamsburg.
Grinnell finished third, and Albia was sixth. E-B-F qualified seven wrestlers for next week’s Districts including champions Tyler Landgrebe at 113lbs, Trestin Sales at 126lbs, Tayton Ricard at 132lbs, and Sage Walker at 170lbs who improved to 44-0. The Rockets also advance runners up Caydn Hull at 106lbs, Eli Rose at 138lbs and Conner Reed at 160lbs. Albia advanced three wrestlers. Carter Anderson was the lone champion at 106lbs, but Barrett Bonnett at 145lbs and Jer McAninch at 195lbs advanced as runner ups. Grinnell also advanced four wrestlers through. They will compete in Districts at Knoxville on Saturday.
In another Class 2A Sectional at Carlisle, PCM qualified for the Regional Team Duals with a second place finish behind Carlisle. PCM also advanced 10 of their 14 wrestlers to Districts with six champions including Payton Drake at 120lbs, Colby Tool at 145lbs, Wes Cummings at 160lbs, Jarron Trausch at 170lbs, Lucas Roland at 182lbs, Seth Greiner at 220lbs and Jace Smith at Heavyweight. Runner-ups, also advancing included Landon Fenton at 113lbs, Brian Nicholson at 126lbs, and Cody Wallace at 152lbs. Chariton advanced one to Districts as Reid Walters was runner up at 195lbs. Knoxville was unable to advance any wrestlers. Districts will be in Knoxville on Saturday.
Also in Class 2A at Fairfield, Washington and Centerville both advanced to Team Regionals. Centerville advanced six wrestlers, with four champions, including Matthew Lewis at 113lbs, Nathaniel Genobana at 120lbs, Kayden Kauzlarich at 126lbs, and Gage Moorman at 132lbs. Peyton Russell at 195lbs and Brady Clark at heavyweight also advanced with runner up finishes. Their District will be at Washington Saturday.
In Class 1A action at Pleasantville, Pleasantville and Colfax-Mingo were the top two teams with North Mahaska, Lynnville-Sully and Montezuma finishing 4th, 5th, and 6th. North Mahaska advanced four wrestlers, all champions, including Mike DeJong at 113lbs, Jarrett Stodghill at 145lbs, Ethan Molenburg at 152lbs and Luke Groves at 170lbs. Montezuma advanced Conner Van Zee, runner up at 113lbs and Lynnville–Sully advanced Myles Mintle, who won the championship at 182lbs, as well as CJ Snethen at 132lbs and Evan Squires at 220lbs, both runners up. They all advance to the Districts at Montezuma on Saturday.
In Class 1A in Sigourney, Pekin won the team title to advance to Team Regionals. Cardinal-Eldon finished sixth and Sigourney-Keota in seventh. Sigourney-Keota advanced two wrestlers, Mason Dye, Champion at 113lbs and Trent Hendricks runner up at 138lbs. Pekin qualified five wrestlers for districts with four champions including Michael Jones at 132lbs, Zach Hammes at 138lbs, Cael Baker at 145lbs, and Mason Juhl at 195lbs. Hunter Conger was runner up at 160lbs. Their Districts will be at Wilton on Saturday
Regional Team Duals will be held on Tuesday. In Class 1A, Pekin draws the tough task of facing top-ranked wrestling powerhouse Gilbertville Don Bosco at Don Bosco in the semifinals. In Class 2A, PCM will head to Atlantic to face Harlan, with the winner facing Humboldt or Carlisle. Eddyville Blakesburg-Fremont travels to Solon and will face Ballard, with the winner matching against Solon or Gilbert. District Tournaments are Saturday starting at Noon and the top two finishers in each weight advance to the State Wrestling Tournament.
