Groom Earns Fifth at State
DES MOINES – North Mahaska sophomore Ryan Groom came into the Class 1A state wrestling tournament ranked sixth and seeded sixth. He was hoping for more but at the end of the day Groom outlasted fifth-seeded Carson Thomsen of Underwood to take fifth.
Entering the final day of competition Groom needed to win twice to vie for third place. In the consolation semifinal Jayden Friedrichs of Akron Westfield scored a pin of Groom in 1 minute 25 seconds. The loss sent Groom to the fifth-place match.
Most of the action in the match came in the first period. Groom scored first with a takedown and Thomsen reversed the field. Groom escaped and again Thomsen scored a takedown and added two nearfall points to lead 6-3. Groom escaped and was taken down again. Groom then took control with an escape, takedown and three nearfall points to lead 10-8.
In the second period, Groom was in the bottom position and scored an escape and takedown to lead 13-8. Groom gave up a third period takedown but earned a penalty point and an escape to secure fifth.
Groom becomes the seventh different NM wrestler to medal and the first since Lincoln Taylor’s eighth place in 2003. He is the third Warhawk to take fifth at the state individual wrestling meet.
