DES MOINES — Panorama senior Wyatt Appleseth had to wait almost an entire calendar year to return to the state wrestling tournament for the fourth time in his stellar career.
Once there, he needed just 36 seconds to advance to Friday’s quarterfinal round.
Appleseth (44-0), ranked second, was very aggressive from the opening whistle and simply overwhelmed Sergeant Bluff-Luton sophomore Garrett McHugh (36-14), scoring a pin before either grappler could work up much of a sweat.
The victory sends the Panorama sophomore into the round of eight against the winner of Clarion-Goldfield junior Garrett Seaba (32-2) and LaPorte City Union junior Hunter Bye (20-8) in Session 5 at 2:30 p.m.
A victory would lift Appleseth into the semifinals, in Session 6, at 7:30 p.m. Friday. A loss would drop Appleseth into the second round consolation (Session 5) against the winner of River Belger (24-11) of, a junior, and Creston senior Hunter Bye (20-8) in the second round consolation.
