Wrestlers prepare for sectional assignments

The high school wrestling field is about to become a lot less crowded.

The win-or-go-home sectional tournaments are scheduled Saturday, and more than half of all wrestlers? seasons will be over by Sunday morning. In the 12 Class 2A sectionals throughout Iowa, as many as six wrestlers at each weight will compete, but only the top two will advance to the district tournament and move one step closer to the state meet.

The Fairfield wrestling team is headed to Clear Creek-Amana to take on wrestlers from Benton, Clear Creek-Amana, Mid-Prairie, Washington and Williamsburg. The top wrestlers will earn a Feb. 11 trip to Fairfield to face the top two placewinners from the West Burlington-Notre Dame sectional.

?I feel our sectional, for the most part, is tougher than the other sectional,? said Fairfield head coach Steve Miller. ?I wouldn?t say there?s any slouch weight classes.?

Fairfield?s Ammon Shaner (138) and Jacob Mineart (225) were both first-place finishers at sectionals one season ago, while Seth Davisson (170) finished second.

?Shaner?s got a real good looking chance at getting through sectionals,? said Miller. ?Davisson should be the one or two seed in his class, and Mineart will probably be first or second seed in his weight class.?

While all three Trojan juniors have a good shot at advancing to districts for a second consecutive season, several teammates have a realistic chance at joining them. Aaron Gevock (145), Quinton Bradfield (152), Justin Godwin (182), Tanner Metcalf (195) and Alec Stoner (285) are hoping to make their first district meet.

Miller acknowledged some wrestlers have harder paths than others, but he expects a solid day from all his wrestlers ? from 113 to 285 pounds.

?I want all of them to know they have a chance in it,? he said.

The Trojans, who have won four of their last five duals, also will be up against the five other squads in the team standings in hopes of advancing to the regional dual tournament. The top two teams from the Clear Creek-Amana sectional will face off against the top two from Notre Dame to determine entry into the state dual tournament.

?Williamsburg will be tough. They beat us in the regional dual last year, but we?ll go head-to-head with them,? said Miller. ?Washington beat us earlier this year in a dual. I don?t know how strong [Clear Creek-Amana and Benton] are as teams, but they?ve got some ranked individuals.?

In other area action, Pekin, Van Buren and Cardinal are headed to Saturday?s Class 1A sectional at Van Buren. The three teams will be joining Eddyville-Blakesburg, Moravia, Sigourney-Keota and WACO. The top two placewinners at each weight will move on to the district competition Feb. 11 at Eddyville-Blakesburg.

Saturday?s action is set to begin at noon.