15 area wrestlers qualify for state in Class 1A

A total of 15 area boys wrestlers qualified for the state tournament across three Districts in Class 1A Saturday.

Belle Plaine qualified five at Lisbon, Iowa Valley and BGM each had three at Sigourney and Montezuma and HLV-TC each had two at Colfax-Mingo.

Class 1A state tournament action kicks off Thursday at 9 a.m. at the Casey’s Center in Des Moines.

AT COLFAX-MINGO

HLV-TC’s Bryer Jack put it simply. “I just had to go.”

Trailing 8-6 late in the third period of his quarterfinal match against Lynnville-Sully’s Kendric Johnson, Jack had time for one more move.

A blood timeout was called with 14 seconds remaining. Jack reacted well to the whistle and got underneath Johnson’s counter, getting a takedown with nine seconds remaining for the 9-8 win.

Jack followed with a 18-7 major decision over top-seed Luke Reed of North Mahaska, advancing him to the 144-pound final.

Both South Iowa Cedar League opponents defeated Jack earlier in the season.

With no wrestleback at 144, Jack clinched his first state tournament berth after being defeated in the final.

“It was a great moment,” Bryer Jack said. “I’ve been going to state since I was a young kid to watch, and now I get to go as a competitor. It was even more special to do it with my Dad in the corner.”

Bryer’s father, Beau Jack, is the head wrestling coach.

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Cael Weisskopf also qualified for the Warriors, at 157.

Weisskopf rolled through his three matches with a win by fall in the quarterfinals, a major decision in the semifinals and another fall against ACGC’s Lane Stringer in the final.

The Warriors junior will take an impressive 44-1 record to the state tournament.

Montezuma’s two qualifiers came at 126 and 215.

Wesley Ross became a first-time qualifier at 126. Ross picked up two wins by tech fall, including over top-seeded Cason Fitch of Colfax-Mingo in the final, 22-7.

At 215, Braxton Plants moved to 55-1 on the season after winning the final.

In a head-to-head ranked matchup, Plants won 4-1 in the tiebreakers after no score in sudden victory against ACGC’s Carter Richter.

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AT LISBON

Derek Kressley and Brody Hosek became first-time qualifiers for Belle Plaine.

Kressley did so at a weight in which he has been wrestling for only a couple weeks.

The Plainsmen junior started the season at 175 but decided that dropping 10 pounds to 165 would be better for the postseason.

That plan worked out.

Kressley picked up a win by fall in the semifinals to advance to the final at 165.

After being defeated in the final, Kressley had little time to prepare for the wrestleback match.

“I probably only had around 30 minutes, around the minimal requirement,” Kressley said. “Mentally I was frustrated, but I did not want to disappoint myself and everyone, because I felt I was the best wrestler in the bracket.”

Kressley pinned Iowa City Regina’s Luke Hamilton in 39 seconds, but it was an active 39 seconds.

After a stalemate was called, Hamilton looked to execute an underhook, but Kressley hip-tossed him onto his back for the fall.

“I definitely was crying some after the win,” Kressley said. “It was emotional, but I was just so excited, and it was heartwarming after getting third last year at Districts.”

Hosek also advanced to the final at 106, and as Kressley did, had to go to a wrestleback for second, where he secured a second period fall over Lone Tree’s Trenton McKean.

“After being denied the opportunity (to qualify), they took care of business and finished the day strong,” Belle Plaine coach Brandon Heying said of Kressley and Hosek.

The Plainsmen senior trio of Will Sankot (138), Aidan Timm (144) and Wade Sankot (150) took home district titles, giving the Plainsmen five qualifiers.

Of the seven victories between the three, six came by bonus points.

Will Sankot secured a second-period fall over Durant’s Trey Ramer in the 138 final. Wade Sankot pinned WACO’s Harley Larrimore in the first period of the 150 final.

The only non-bonus point win came in a ranked head-to-head matchup in the 144 final, in which Timm picked up a 7-3 decision over Lisbon’s Jackson Knapp.

“Only having eight guys, we were limited a lot in what we could do in practice,” Kressley said. “So to get five qualifiers is really exciting. I’ve learned a lot from our three seniors, being with them on the mat for a long time. It’s going to be a lot of fun being at state with them now.”

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AT SIGOURNEY

BGM’s trio all became first-time state qualifiers.

Brock York was the first at 157. York picked up wins by tech fall and fall on his way to the final, finishing runner-up.

BGM’s lone district champion was Sully Thompson at 165. The BGM freshman wrestled with a heavy heart.

“Sully had some hardships to battle this week with the passing of his grandpa, but I think he channeled it and was able to use that to fuel his wrestling today.,” BGM coach Dalton Roberts said.

Thompson held complete control in all three match wins, getting falls in times of 1:31, 1:17 and 1:28.

At 215, Reed Slater had to earn his ticket to state the hard way, in a wrestleback for second.

In a close match, Slater was able to get the fall over Van Buren County’s Alex Scott in the second period.

“Reed was sick today and wasn’t feeling great, but he took advantage of the opportunity he put himself in and punched his ticket to state,” Roberts said.

After just one qualifier last season, the Bears’ youth has given them three qualifiers this season.

“It’s awesome to see three first-time qualifiers come from our young team,” Roberts said. “It gives their current and future teammates a path to follow and goals to chase. Proud of all the hard work these guys have put in all season long to lead them to this point.”

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Iowa Valley’s lead trio which qualified last season did the same this season.

Mason Hoyt (175) moved to 50-1 on the season, winning by a 19-5 major decision over Columbus’ Trevor Phillips in the final.

Nolan Kriegel (190) was also a district champion, racking up three dominating wins by fall. Kriegel moved to 51-2 on the season heading into the state tournament.

Chance Hoyt (150) dropped a hard-fought 3-2 decision to Jesup’s Tyrone Parrow in the final and finished runner-up.

The three combined for eight bonus-point victories.