May 01, 2025
Local NewsState & National

Trio of Panthers advance to state wrestling

By JARED LARSON

Creston heavyweight wrestler Quinten Fuller is met by his coaches Chris Louden and Cody Downing after qualifying for the 2022 IHSAA State Championships. Fuller pinned Carroll's Colton Wieland in 1:57 and got pinned by district champion Logan Green in 3:12. (JARED LARSON)

GLENWOOD – Creston grapplers Austin Evans (138), Triston Barncastle (145) and Quinten Fuller (285) advanced to the 2022 IHSAA State Championships after a solid individual showings at districts in Glenwood.

Creston had 10 total wrestlers at districts on Saturday but it was a tough day on the mats for Creston.

“We got three guys going and we’re excited for those guys, but we had a bad day to have a bad day,” Creston head coach Cody Downing said. “A lot of that falls on my shoulders as coach. My focus has to go to the three guys that are going to state.”

Barncastle was the lone champion for Creston. Evans and Fuller were runners-up.

Austin Evans opened districts with a 8-4 decision over Greene County’s Brenner Gallagher. Evans fell to Carroll’s Carter Drake in the first place match but won his wrestle back against Atlantic/CAM’s Dante Hedrington with a 15-4 major decision.

Evans starts Thursday near the top of the 138-pound bracket, against Carter Fousek Crestwood (Cresco).

“I would say the last month, Austin Evans has been our best wrestler,” Downing said.

Barncastle had two victories on his way to the 145 district championship, a 12-10 decisions over Glenwood’s Kellan Scott and a 5-2 decision over Clarinda’s Kale Downey.

“The last week, maybe Triston has been [the best wrestler], Triston’s kind of flipped the switch,” Downing said. “I think he’s learning every week what he can do with his knee. I think they’re a dark horse up there [in Des Moines].”

Barncastle opens Thursday against Cooper Sanders of Vinton-Shellsburg.

Fuller fell to Clarinda’s Logan Green who is 38-1 this season.

“I told Q go out and frustrate him,” Downing said. “We’re just so undersized there and under experienced. I still think we fought hard, he’s a great story just for sticking with something. He started the year as a back up 220, third string heavyweight and made his way up the depth chart. [He] capitalized on an injury and is the state tournament.”

“I knew it was going to be a hard match, I just wanted to go out there and compete,” Fuller added.

Fuller might get his chance to get revenge against Green. His state tournament opens with Aaron Graves of Southeast Valley (Gowrie).

If Dugan Tolley of Winterset loses to Green and Fuller wins, the two will meet in bout 2224.

Class 2A State Qualifiers

106: 1. Aiden Smith (Atlantic/CAM) 2. Dreylen Schweitzer (Carroll)

113: 1. Vincent Mayberry (Glenwood) 2. Seth Ettleman (Southwest Iowa)

120: 1. Kale Petersen (Greene County) 2. Cael Nelson (Carroll)

126: 1. Matthew Beem (Glenwood)  2. Ethan Follmann (Atlantic/CAM)

132: 1. McKinley Robbins (Greene County) 2. Easton O`Brien (Atlantic/CAM)

138: 1. Carter Drake (Carroll) 2. Austin Evans (Creston)

145: 1. Triston Barncastle (Creston) 2. Kale Downey (Clarinda)

152: 1. Gavin Scheuermann (Greene County) 2. Brian South (Atlantic/CAM)

160: 1. Dawson Bond (Red Oak) 2. Karson Downey (Clarinda)

170: 1. Kadin Stutzman (Atlantic/CAM) 2. Sterling Rodman (Carroll)

182: 1. Zane Bendorf (Harlan) 2. Jase Wilmes (Clarinda)

195: 1. CJ Carter (Glenwood) 2. Brenden Casey (Atlantic/CAM)

220: 1. Tegan Carson (Central Decatur) 2. Tyler Binning (Clarke)

285: 1. Logan Green (Clarinda) 2. Quinten Fuller (Creston)