‘Just another tournament’

After a fifth-place performance at the Iowa State Duals Tournament, the Creston Panthers are switching to an individual contest as they prepare for Saturday’s districts tournament.

Unlike the previous format, wrestlers no longer have to place in sectionals to qualify for districts. The sectionals meet weekend was replaced with the state duals.

For the first time, all wrestlers will have a chance to compete at the eight-team districts. The top two from each weight class will advance to next week’s state tournament.

The Panthers will compete at ADM with Chariton, Clarke, Saydel, Van Meter, Winterset, Woodward-Granger and host ADM.

As they ready for competition, one theme rings consistent from wrestlers to coaches — treat it like it’s just another tournament.

“If you show up thinking it’s anything more than a wrestling match, you go away from what’s been working all year,” coach Cody Downing said.

106, 113

Competing at 106 and 113 pounds for the Panthers will be freshmen Lane Travis (28-16) and Kylen Parsons (23-21).

Parsons had a quick pin in his last match against Tyler Babe of Shenandoah, pinning him just over a minute into their bout.

Travis is coming off two huge victories for the Panthers in regionals and state duals. At regionals, Travis’s pin in the second-to-last bout regained Creston’s lead to defeat Glenwood and advance to the duals. In the duals, it was the same story. The Panthers were down by four to Webster City with three matches left to wrestle. Travis’s first-period pin took back the lead.

“Lane and Kylen will both probably be the third seed at 106 and 113,” Downing said. “The semi final match will be huge.”

There are no state-ranked wrestlers competing at the two lightest weight classes.

120

One of the most consistent wrestlers, junior Christian Ahrens (38-5) has a good shot at making his first appearance at state.

At 10th, Ahrens is the only ranked wrestler at 120 pounds competing at ADM. “Christian should be the one-seed,” Downing said. “I like his chances to qualify.”

During the duals, Ahrens found himself facing several ranked-wrestlers including Webster City’s Carson Doolittle, ranked number one in the state. Though he lost to both Doolittle and Williamsburg’s third-ranked Gavin Jensen, his opponents were unable to pin him.

Ahrens qualified for districts last year, but was unable to advance. “Last time wrestling at districts, I went in a lot more scared than I should have,” he said. “This time I’m going in feeling a lot more confident with the season I’ve had. I’m just ready.”

Going in, he said his mindset is to keep his warmup and focus the same as any tournament.

126

Though he was unable to compete for part of the season due to injury, junior Lincoln Keeler (16-4) was quickly able to find his place back on the state rankings.

Keeler may be the only ranked wrestler competing in his bracket. Winterset’s Kasen Cochran is not listed on the rankings, but Downing said if he is healthy, he will likely be the one-seed with Keeler right behind at two.

Though Keeler didn’t wrestle Tuesday at Shenandoah because of illness, Downing said he’s confident Keeler will be back for districts.

132

With no one ranked competing at 132, senior Trey Chesnut (36-10) should have a good shot at advancing.

Downing anticipates Nathan Bailey of Saydel to take the first spot with Chesnut following at two.

“I like where Trey is at,” Downing said. “If he wrestles the way he can, he has a good shot.”

Chesnut is coming off two important wins for the Panthers at state duals. Against Williamsburg, Chesnut wrestled first, setting the pace for the team with a second-period pin against Caleb Mohr.

“I just wanted to wrestle my match without feeling any pressure and embrace the moment,” he said. “Before I walked out there, I knew I was going to win this match, and I needed to for the team.”

His bout against Brayden Henely was the finale of a back and forth dual with Webster City. In the end, it was Chesnut who took the 5-2 decision and sealed the four-point victory over the Lynx.

138

Returning state performer Austin Evans (23-3) also spent a majority of the season off the mat with an injury. Now, he’s facing one of the toughest brackets.

Based on Wednesday’s IA Wrestle report, three state-ranked wrestlers will face off at 138 and a non-ranked state wrestler Van Meter will add to the pool of talent.

Ranked highest is Winterset’s Keegan Jensen at fifth. At seventh is Peyton Nixon of Woodward Granger. Evans earned his spot back on the rankings with only three losses so far this year. At ninth, he rounds out the ranked wrestlers in his bracket.

Van Meter’s Mason Drake throws another wrench into the mix as he defeated Nixon earlier this year.

“138 is probably the best bracket there,” Downing said. “It’s loaded.”

While the state rankings help clarify talent, Downing said they don’t play a part in the seeding. He anticipates Evans to take the second seed behind Jensen.

Unsatisfied with his state performance last year, Evans said he just feels more relaxed this year.

“I’m going at it with a different mindset that I’m stronger than I was last year,” he said. “I have a tough district going into it. I know if I wrestle my ability, I’ll be just fine.”

Being surrounded with a team of talented wrestlers has helped Evans continue to push himself. “We are able to push each other more every day in the practice room, and we have fun while we’re doing it because we’re being successful,” he explained. “I just need to stay in routine. It’s just another tournament this weekend.”

145

Another senior, Chris Aragon (33-10) seemed to come out of nowhere this year after three years on JV.

“Chris is the two seed at the moment,” Downing said. “A little bit of a slip up (Tuesday) but a good chance to get through.”

Winterset’s Abe Bushong is ranked 11th in the state and should take the top spot.

Though Aragon found a last second loss in Tuesday’s match against Shenandoah, he had a first-period pin earlier in the day.

152

Junior Milo Staver (36-11) competed at districts in 1A as a freshman when he attended East Union, but this is his first time competing as a Panther.

While ADM’s Aiden Flora is ranked 10th at 152, he’s been sidelined with an injury and may not compete Saturday. “If not, Milo is probably the one seed at 152,” Downing said. “I like Milo’s chances to get through.”

“I feel pretty good. I feel like districts will be a really good tournament for the team and we should get quite a few people through,” Staver said. “I’ve taken a look at where everyone is at in my districts and my bracket, I don’t think it’s too hard. I think I have a chance at winning it.”

Staver is focusing on making sure he has a good warm up to clear his mind before his matches. “The big matches tend to get to me sometimes so I need to be ready for them before I wrestle,” he said. “I just need to stay ready for my matches, don’t put too much pressure on myself and be aggressive.”

160

Though junior Will Bolinger (35-9) is on a six match win streak, it wasn’t enough to put him back on the state rankings at 160.

With no other ranked wrestlers at 160, Downing said he believes Bolinger will be the one seed.

“I made it to districts last year but haven’t made it to state yet,” Bolinger said. “It’s definitely a big goal of mine.”

He said his focus is to treat it like just another tournament. “Last year I showed up, got super nervous and didn’t wrestle very well,” he explained. “So this year just going into it, showing up and wrestling and just thinking of it as another tournament.”

At the forefront of his mind this postseason is the path that led the team here. “All the hard work and everything that me and my teammates have gone through to get there,” he said of the state tournament. “It’s just a big thing for people to make it and perform up there. It all comes down to what happens in that room.”

170

Senior Kaden Street (40-5) has held his spot on the state rankings all year, sitting at 12th heading into districts.

Downing anticipates Street to be the one seed.

Street was disappointed in his performance at the state duals, but said he viewed Tuesday’s double dual as a chance to start over. His two wins made his 40 victories the most of any Panther this season.

“I’ve just been working hard.” Street said. “I know this is my last chance. I just see myself making it out. It’s my senior year; I’m coming for it.

182, 195

After missing several meets due to illness, Jagger Luther (17-15) has turned it on the last few weeks.

“I would say Jagger is the three seed,” Downing said. “What I saw (Tuesday), that was the old Jagger.” Downing had similar sentiments after Luther’s performance at state duals, including one of the team’s four victories against Mount Vernon.

Van Meter’s Jackson Boese will pose a challenge for the junior with a ranking of eight at 182.

Downing said 195 will be one of the most competitive brackets, creating a challenge for freshman Gunner Martwick (20-19).

“I told Gunner just go have fun, get the experience and see what you can do,” Downing said.

Clarke’s KJ Fry, Winterset’s Carter Smuck and Chariton’s Allen-Winston, all ranked, will duke it out at 195.

220

Quinten Fuller (18-9) found himself out of the rankings after a wrist injury from a fall in a match sidelined him for several weeks.

Despite the difficulty of his bracket, Downing is confident Fuller will take the second seed.

Clarinda’s Jase Wilmes, Clarke’s Cole Binning and Winterset’s Jadyn Cooper will all prove tough competition as Fuller vies for a spot at state.

“Cooper from Winterset should be the three seed,” Downing said. “That will be a key match in the semi finals. I can see the Sheridan 195-pounder moving up.”

Fuller said it would mean a lot to qualify. “Go out, wrestle hard and qualify,” he said of his focus. “I’m preparing to wrestle the hardest guys.”

As a previous state qualifier, Fuller said he learned the crowd doesn’t matter. “The state tournament was very overwhelming the first time,” he said. “It won’t be the second time.”

285

Downing said junior Max Chapman (33-10) should be the one seed in the heavy-weight bracket.

The only ranked wrestler in his bracket, Chapman reiterated his motto to always think of himself as the “baddest man on the mat.”

“If you don’t think you’re going to go out and just absolutely dominate your kid, there’s probably not a good chance what you want to happen is going to,” he explained. “That confidence a lot of times comes from winning those small matches that people don’t see as significant compared to the others.”

Coming off five consecutive victories, Chapman said it feels good knowing he will likely be the one-seed.

State

The top two in each weight class will advance to next week’s state tournament at the Wells Fargo Arena. Last year, the Panthers sent four wrestlers. This year, Downing anticipates as many as 10 wrestlers to come in seeded to advance.

“If we’re healthy and wrestling our best, it will be a good day,” Downing said. “It’s about keeping that intensity.”

The 2A competition will be 1:30-5 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday; 1:30-4:30 p.m. Friday and all three classes competing from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.