DES MOINES — Panorama could have both of their state qualifying wrestlers finish as high as third place in their respective weight classes after both will compete twice Saturday, beginning with the consolation semifinals.
Junior Wyatt Appleseth (40-1) was handed his first loss of the season in Friday’s 152-pound semifinals, as top-ranked West Liberty senior Will Esmoil (41-0), who was second at 145 pounds last year, recorded a 4-1 decision.
Fourth-rated Appleseth will now face Emmetsburg senior Bret Hoyman (40-7), with the winner to wrestle for third place and the loser for fifth. Sixth-ranked junior Tyler Brown (41-7) of Winterset faces No. 9 Logan Engebretson (43-7, Sr.) of North Polk in the other consolation semifinal.
Panorama senior Emry Colby avenged early losses by beating third-ranked Winterset senior Jack West (40-4) with a 3-2 decision in their third round consolation battle.
Colby will meet North Polk junior Nicholas Bockenstedt (30-8) — who has recorded several upsets in the district and state tourneys — for the right to wrestle for third place, with the loser battling for fifth.
Defending 138-pound state champion Jack Thomsen (44-3), a LaPorte City Union senior ranked second, is in the opposite bracket, where he will battle No. 6 Jake Nieman (42-4, Sr.) of OABCIG.
The consolation semifinals and finals will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday.
