The 2021 Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament kicked off yesterday with the Class 1A morning session and three of five area grapplers advanced to day two of the annual event.
Highland’s Bryce Thompson won his first and only match on Thursday at 113 lbs with a 16-1 technical fall over St. Albert’s Zach Williams. The senior will compete in the quarterfinals against West Bend’s Donovan Hanson on Friday. Teammate Easton Schlabaugh was on the short end of a 10-8 decision in his first match at 106 lbs, but stayed alive in the tournament with a pin (:40) in the first round of consolations. Sigourney-Keota’s Cade Molyneux lost to his first opponent by fall (6:36), but rebounded for a 9-7 decision victory in the second match. Sigourney-Keota’s Cade Streigle and WACO’s Landan Provino saw their season come to a close with a pair of losses. Streigle was pinned in 2:47 and 5:11 at 195 lbs. Provino lost by fall in 38 seconds and 1:13 at 285 lbs.
Eleven area wrestlers begin their march toward realizing state championship dreams today when they take the mat at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines for the individual state tournament.
In class 2A, Washington Demon senior Ayden Frazer will begin his tournament at 182lbs against senior and No. 1 Adam Ahrendsen of Union LaPorte City. Frazer has an overall record of 20-7, Ahrendsen is unbeaten at 19-0.
Mid-Prairie will have three wrestlers in Des Moines including 35-9 senior Ben Meader at 182lbs who opens against 32-7, No. 7 ranked senior Austin Roos of Benton Community. Cael Garvey will be on the mat for the Golden Hawks at 195lbs. The 34-4 Mid-Prairie junior begins action against fellow junior, seventh ranked Matthew Wirtz of Emmetsburg. Golden Hawk senior Josh Wallington will wrestle at 220lbs. He puts his 38-3 record on the line against 22-2 junior Kain Nelson of Clarion Goldfield.
Area wrestlers secured their spot on the mat in Des Moines this week by cracking the top two on Saturday at Wapello’s Class 1A districts.
Highland will have a pair of representatives at state in Bryce Thompson and Easton Schlabaugh. Thompson (32-3) made it look easy at 113 lbs with a first period fall in 1:40 in the semifinal and dominating the championship with a 17-3 major decision to place first. Schlabaugh’s (39-6) semifinal pin at 106 lbs in 23 seconds proved to be enough to advance. The sophomore lost the first place match by fall, but did not need to compete in a wrestle back to claim second. Carlos Valenzuela (30-10) was one win shy of moving on by placing third at 126 lbs. The sophomore lost his first match by fall, but turned around to pin his second opponent in 5:13. That win set up a wrestle back with Midland’s Damon Huston where Valenzuela lost by fall in 1:11.
A pair of KCII wrestling teams traveled to Mediapolis on Saturday for the Class 1A Sectional 16 meet and four individuals had a top two finish to keep their season alive.
Highland will have three representatives at districts next week in Bryce Thompson, Carlos Valenzuela, and Easton Schlabaugh. Thompson was in a pinning mood at 113 lbs with a pair of falls that totaled 6:23 and Valenzuela also placed first at 126 lbs with an 8-7 decision and a pin in 1:26. Schlabaugh lost by pin, but also had a fall in 1:42 to claim second at 106 lbs. WACO had one grappler advance in Landan Provino. The 285 pounder had a methodical 6-2 decision victory and a fall in 2:08 to nab first.
It’s conference Saturday for Iowa High School Wrestling teams and a few area squads will travel to Letts for the Southeast Iowa Super Conference meet.
Columbus Community, Highland, and WACO are area teams that will be competing for a conference title. The Wildcats are riding high after sweeping a quadrangular at L&M on Thursday. Lane Scorpil was the headliner winning both of his matches at 120 lbs by a pin in 15 seconds and 1:05. The junior has recorded a 35-1 record and should compete for a conference title. Chance Malone has been dominant at 285 lbs with a 30-3 mark.
Highland also competed in Thursday’s quad and went 2-1 in duals with their only loss coming to the Wildcats. Easton Schlabaugh showed no mercy in his three matches winning by a 21-0 technical fall, 16-1 tech fall, and a 9-4 decision at 113 lbs. The sophomore is 30-4 on the campaign and Bryce Thompson is 24-3 at 120 lbs.