DES MOINES — Tough first round draw took their toll on the Panorama wrestling team, as four of five Panthers dropped their opening match.
However, the quartet showed their mettle by all winning their first round consolation matches to advance to the second day of the state tourney. Any grappler who wins twice before losing his second match is assured a spot on the podium.
Senior 182-pounder Trevor Carey (43-8) was the lone Panther to begin his quest for glory with a win. Carey was spectacular in dominating Lousia-Muscatine senior Hunter Connor (40-1). Connor had been undefeated and ranked third, but Carey took the match to Connor and scored a 13-5 major decision to set up a quarterfinal scrap against Christian Wulthuizen (38-8, Sr.) of Akron-Westfield, who was a 10-3 victor.
A win will pit Carey against either Tucker Kroeze (42-5, Jr.) of Belmond-Klemme or No. 2 Garret Sims (53-1, Jr.) of Iowa Valley. A loss would send Carey against Greattinger-Terrill junior Carter Murray.
Senior Danny Nordquist (41-10) suffered a 13-2 major decision loss to No. 2 Cobe Siebricht (49-1, Jr.) of Lisbon. Nordquist bounced back to claim a 12-9 win over No. 9 Trey Scheck (43-5, So.) of Sibley-Ocheyedan.
He will tangle with either top-ranked Alex Thomsen (48-1, Sr.) of Underwood or Logan Heaberlin (36-11, Jr.) of Belmond-Klemme at 126 pounds.
Freshman and 10th-rated Wyatt Appleseth (42-10) was handed an 18-5 major decision loss at 132 pounds by top-ranked senior Danny Schmit (42-2) of Wapsie Valley. He stormed back for a 4-0 decision over Casey Hanson (45-13, Fr.) of Lamoni.
Appleseth awaits the loser of No. 3 Joshua Tibbits (50-1, Jr.) of Martensdale-St. Marys and Koby Hanson (22-4, Sr.) of NW Webster.
Sixth-ranked 170-pound senior Gunnar Grunsted (44-5) faced top-ranked Gabe Pauley (53-0, Jr. ) of AHST, who managed to elude the Panther standout and survive with a 2-1 win. Grunsted scored a late take down to top Nick Milder (26-6, Jr.) of Iowa City Regina in the consolation round.
He will now face either No. 9 Thomas Even (25-7, So.) of Don Bosco or Brayden Lyman (42-10, Sr.) of Eagle Grove.
Senior 195-pounder Dalton Holmes (40-7) dropped a 2-1 Tiebreaker I contest to Brock Meyer (40-7, Sr.) of Sumner-Fredericksburg in his opening contest. A late aggressive move created a 3-1 SV I win over Bedford-Lenox’s Brandon Christensen (34-5, Sr.) in their consolation match.
Holmes awaits the loser of No.1 Tanner Sloan (45-1, Sr.) of Alburnett and Darius Gasche (28-5, So.) of West Monona-Whiting.
The Class 1A quarterfinals and second round consolations will be contested at 2:30 p.m. Friday. The semifinals and third round consolations will be held in the second half of Session 6, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
