DES MOINES — Defending 220 pound state champion Cody Fisher had little trouble in advancing to the quarterfinals of the state tournament Thursday, with fellow W-G standout Tyler Lawrenson surviving a tough first round loss to win and keep alive in the heavyweight consolation bracket.
Fisher (49-0) needed just 64 seconds to pin Chariton senior Jordan Mundy (27-8) in the first round. He faces Mr.Vernon junior Keean Kamerling (25-11) in the quarterfinals after he scored a Sudden Victory I 2-0 win over West Lyon sophomore Esston Fleshman (24-4).
A win would put No. 1 Fisher into the semifinals against either third-rated Seth Adrian (28-2) a Davenport Assumption senior or Kamrin Steveson (40-3), a Grinnell junior ranked seventh.
If Fisher were to be upset in the quarterfinals he would drop to the consolation bracket and draw Cresco Crestwood junior Treyton Burnikel (39-6), who is ranked sixth.
Lawrenson (27-4) kept his senior season alive despite an opening loss to Central Lyon/George-Little Rock senior Jarrett Meyer (33-1), ranked fourth. Meyer had a one-point escape in the second period and Lawrenson in the third to force extra time. An escape in the second one-minute extra period gave Meyer a 2-1 win in Tiebreaker II.
Lawrenson responded by needing just 1 minute, 13 seconds to pin Washington freshman Brayden Hartman (21-16). The Hawk senior awaits the loser of third-ranked Carson Petlon (31-3), a West Delaware junior and Atlantic senior Cale Roller (46-6), who is rated seventh.
A win would put Lawrenson somewhere on the podium. His third round consolation match would be against either Chase Crooks (27-13, Soph.) of Charles City or Gilbert senior Jacob Torresi (40-11) and No. 2 Taven Rich (39-1, Sr.) of Maquoketa, who meet in the quarterfinals, with the loser to battle Crooks.
The Class 2A quarterfinals and second round consolations will begin at 9 a.m. Friday in Session IV, with Session VI (7:30 p.m. Friday) to feature the 2A semifinals and third round consolation matches.
