DES MOINES — Fourth-ranked 152-pounder Wyatt Appleseth is one win from wrestling for a state championship, with senior Emry Colby assured of a top-eight finish at 145 pounds after Friday morning action at the state wrestling tournament.
Appleseth (40-0) slipped past fifth-seed Colby Tool (19-3, Jr.) of PCM with a 4-3 decision in their quarterfinal battle.
The Panther junior will face top-ranked senior Will Esmoil (40-0) of West Liberty in the semifinal round Friday evening. Esmoil was the 2019 runner-up at 145.
A win would send Appleseth to the championship bout, where he would face the winner of Winterset junior Tyler Brown (41-6) and Sergeant Bluff-Luton junior Jack Gaukel (52-1). A loss would drop Appleseth to the consolation semifinals, with placing from third to sixth on the line. He would face the winner of Emmetsburg senior Bret Hoyman (39-7) and Forest City senior Kristian Gunderson (42-15).
Colby (40-7) had to win to stay alive and did just that, dominating Iowa Falls-Alden senior Cayden Howland (35-6) with a 9-0 major decision. The victory sets up a Friday evening third round consolation match against third-ranked Winterset senior Jack West (40-3).
A loss would drop Colby into Saturday’s seventh place match. A win would set up a consolation semifinal against either No. 8 Trestin Sales (44-2, Jr.) of Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, and put him in Saturday’s consolation semifinals, from where he could finish anywhere from third to sixth.
Both Panthers will be in action tonight in Session VI, which begins at 7:30 p.m. The consolation semifinals and finals will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, with the championships to start at 5:45 p.m. Saturday.
