Vikings lose regional dual at Mo. Valley

 MISSOURI VALLEY (Feb. 5) -- For the second straight year, Missouri Valley ended a successful dual season by the AHSTW wrestlers.
 The Vikings never got any momentum going against the 11th-ranked Big Reds on Tuesday night, falling behind 30-3 after six weights and losing 52-21 in a Class 1A regional semifinal dual.
 Seventh-ranked Woodbury Central won the other semifinal 66-18 over Riverside before Mo. Valley (26-1) beat the Wildcats 35-28 in the final round to clinch another trip to next Wednesday’s state dual tournament.
 AHSTW, making its fifth consecutive appearance in the regional duals, finished with a 14-5 record but still has seven wrestlers who will be competing in Saturday’s (Feb. 9) 1A District Tournament at Truro.
 Hayden Fischer (106), Elliot Young (126), Joel Sampson (132), Ben Ehlers (138), Seth Kiesel (160), top-ranked Gabe Pauley (182) and sixth-ranked Gavyn Fischer (220) all placed first or second at last week’s sectional meet to advance to districts.
 The Vikings finished 4-8 with three pins in contested matches vs. Mo. Valley. Gabe Pauley, Young and Sampson all won by fall in the first period and Ehlers opened the dual with a 6-3 decision over Quinten Vogel.