April 24, 2024

Four Raiders and two Eagles make it to state

By BRENNEN NORMAND
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Mount Ayr's Trae Ehlen pulls back the arm of his opponent Saturday. Ehlen clinched an opportunity to wrestle for a state title, placing first in his district to advance to Thursday's state meet. (Newton Daily)

PLEASANTVILLE – Mount Ayr advanced four wrestlers and two advanced from East Union in Class 1A District 4 to the Traditional State Wrestling Tournament Thursday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Arena.

Mount Ayr had Class 1A 106 No. 10 Drew Ehlen, Jarrett Webb (113), Class 1A 120 No. 10 Bryce Shaha, Class 1A 138 No. 9 Trae Ehlen, Jaydon Knight (145) and Donovan Morales (220) hit the mat at districts.

Both Ehlen brothers placed first with Shaha. Knight advanced with a second-place finish.

Drew Ehlen picked up two pins on his way to a first-place finish, with a win over Colfax-Mingo’s Noah Strohmeyer in the championship round. Shaha recorded a pin and 4-3 decision win over East Union’s Jarryn Stephens for first.

Stephens took second by default, advancing to state with Drew Ehlen.

Trae Ehlen scored a 4-2 decision win and 2-1 win over Colfax-Mingo’s Cyden Fitch on his way to a first-place finish.

Knight finished with a pin over Ogden’s Avery McCloud, but fell to a 9-5 decision in the first-place match to Moravia’s Connor Golston.

Knight received a wrestle back against Pleasantville’s Kitt Lundy, winning a 5-2 decision to advance to state.

Webb and Morales were eliminated from competition, falling outside of the top-two with third and fourth-place finises, respectively.

Webb lost in his wrestleback for second to Ogden’s Kale Munson by no contest due to a semifinal loss to Munson. Webb fell behind on points, ultimately losing in by major decision 14-2.

Morales dropped both his matches, falling in the semis to Ogden’s Blake Haub and South Hamilton, Jewel’s Colton Willis for third. He was pinned in both at 0:20 and 0:51, respectively.

East Union’s Brant Looney (170) scored a pin over Ogden’s Justus Rude at 1:44 but dropped the finals match against South Hamilton-Jewell’s Lane Swenson in a 12-3 major decision. Looney didn’t need a wrestleback as Rude took a win, giving Looney second place.

EU’s third qualifier for districts was Louis Gonzales at 195. Gonzales fell in the third-place match, falling in the semifinal before his pin at 2:49 to Pleasantville’s Alex Swanson.

Gonzales opened with a loss to Trevor Thompson of South Hamilton, Jewell. He was pinned in 0:32.

State tournament

106 – Drew Ehlen (MA), 37-2, Fr. vs. Paul De Jong (North Mahaska, New Sharon), 29-4, Fr. (No. 2 seed).

120 – Jarryn Stephens (EU), 21-9, Jr. vs. Bryce McDonough (Central Springs), 45-4, So.

120 – Bryce Shaha (MA), 24-2, Jr. vs. Drayven Kraft (West Sioux, Hawarden), 28-14, So.

138 – Trae Ehlen (MA), 38-4, Jr. vs. Blake Mann (BGM, Brooklyn), 35-13, Sr.

145 – Jaydon Knight (MA), 25-6, Fr. vs. Cael Rahnavardi (Don Bosco, Gilbertville), 39-4, Jr.

170 – Brant Looney (EU), 20-10, Sr. vs. Mathew Francis (West Hancock, Britt), 47-9, So.

The first round of Class 1A will be in the third session, starting at 6 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines Thursday night.