State Wrestling meet starts Thursday for six area qualifiers
DES MOINES -- Six area wrestlers will begin competition Thursday at the 2016 State Wrestling Tournament inside Wells Fargo Arena. The state meet will continue Friday and Saturday and conclude with the championship finals on Saturday night.
This year’s local qualifiers include three from AHSTW, two from Harlan Community and one from Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton. The only returning state qualifier among the group is Exira-EHK senior 195-pounder Lane Ring.
Class 1-A competition will begin Thursday at 9:00 a.m. while the first 2-A session is Thursday at 6:00 p.m. Below is a list of each area qualifier, their first-round opponent and potential second-round opponents, complete with win-loss records and state rankings. A state meet schedule is also provided for the 1-A and 2-A divisions.
State Wrestling Tournament: February 18-20
at Wells Fargo Arena - Des Moines
HCHS First-Round Matches
132: Elias Shaeffer, HCHS, sr. (33-21) vs. #1 Keaton Geerts, N. Hampton, jr. (46-1)
Next match vs. Colton Vest, S. Tama, so. (30-4) or Gavin Kramer, Spirit Lake-Park, jr. (35-17)
160: Jacob Wingert, HCHS, jr. (33-11) vs. Tyler Zeimen, Cherokee, so. (40-6)
Next match vs. Kyler Jondle, SE Valley, fr. (35-10) or Nick Long, E. Marshall, sr. (38-6)
AHSTW First-Round Matches
138: Jay Heiny, AHSTW, sr. (13-4) vs. Cody Zellmer, Woodbury Cnt., sr. (40-14)
Next match vs. #6 Austin Pontier, Int. 35, sr. (35-6) or Dakota Garretson, Clarksville, jr. (27-11)
160: #7 Dustin Engel, AHSTW, sr. (34-4) vs. #1 Bryce Paul, Alburnett, sr. (47-3)
Next match vs. #3 Sal Arzani, Int. 35, sr. (47-1) or Kaden Kilburg, Lisbon, so. (37-14)
170: #6 Tim Barr, AHSTW, sr. (51-1) vs. #9 Zach Ryg, Central Springs, fr. (41-6)
Next match vs. Hunter Connor, Louisa-Musc., so. (30-8) or Bodie Garnier, Sumner-Fred., jr. (41-9)
Exira-EHK First-Round Match
195: Lane Ring, Exira-EHK, sr. (47-11) vs. #4 Nick Ross, Ogden, sr. (41-1)
Next match vs. Chaz Clark, Pleasantville, so. (37-2) or Griffin Cabalka, E. Buchanan, sr. (36-10)
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Class 2-A Schedule for Harlan Community qualifiers
Thursday, Feb. 18: 6:00-9:00 p.m. - 1st Round and 1st Round Consolations
Friday, Feb. 19: 2:30-5:45 p.m. - Quarterfinals and 2nd Round Consolations
Friday, Feb. 19: 8:45-10:00 p.m. - Semifinals and 3rd Round Consolations
Class 1-A Schedule for AHSTW & Exira-EHK qualifiers
Thurs., Feb. 18: 9 a.m.-12:00 p.m. - 1st Round and 1st Round Consolations
Friday, Feb. 19: 9 a.m.-1:00 p.m. - Quarterfinals and 2nd Round Consolations
Friday, Feb. 19: 2:30-5:45 p.m. - Semifinals and 3rd Round Consolations
All Classes: 1-A, 3-A, 2-A order
Saturday, Feb. 20: 10 a.m.-2:15 p.m. - Consolation Semifinals & Finals (3rd-8th)
Saturday, Feb. 20: 6:00 p.m. - Grand March and Championship Finals
The State Dual Tournament for all three classes will be held Wednesday, Feb. 17, at Wells Fargo Arena.