On paper — on paper at least — the three Perry wrestlers set to open competition tomorrow at the State Wrestling Tournament have received favorable draws.
That said, if there is one surety at Iowa’s biggest prep event it is this: the uncommon and unexpected have a tendency to appear or a regular basis.
Neither Zachary Thompson (120 pounds), Kaleb Olejniczak (126) or Zach Stewart (138) are paired with higher-ranked opponents in their opening match, nor on the other side of their four-man mini-bracket.
Fourth-ranked Thompson has been down this road three times before, as the all-time victory leader at PHS (170-28) will be competing at the Wells Fargo Arena for the fourth consecutive year. The senior standout was sixth at 106 as a freshman, sixth at 120 as a sophomore and third at 120 last season.
He opens against Fort Dodge sophomore Jeremy Ayala (7-3), with fifth-ranked junior Dylan Albrecht of Waverly-Shell Rock (35-11) facing Ankeny Christian sophomore Ben Monroe (36-6) in the opposite pairing.
Olejniczak (45-5), a junior, is ranked fifth at 126. He qualified for the state tourney as a freshman but did not medal, responding as a sophomore to place fourth at 113. Olejniczak will do battle with 10-rated Southeast Polk sophomore Camden Baarda (26-17). Bettendorf senior T.J. Cole (21-6) faces Johnston sophomore James Edwards (16-4) in the other bracket.
Senior Zach Stewart was stopped short of the podium last year but has been on a mission in his final campaign. Now 51-5, the top-ranked 138-pounder has drawn Johnston senior Sterling Brunk (34-11) in his opener.
Bettendorf senior Will Jefferson (40-5) faces Southeast Polk junior Nathan Marchan (32-9) in the opposing set. Jefferson is ranked fourth, Marchan seventh.
The Class 3A tournament begins with Session Two (1:30-4:30 p.m.) tomorrow.
