WAUKEE — Slots at the State Wrestling Tournament will be up for grabs Saturday when Perry joins Ankeny, Carroll, Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln, Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson, Glenwood, Norwalk and host Waukee at a Class 3A District Tournament.
This is Perry’s first season competing in 3A, which meant no sectional tourney Feb. 3. The extra week to prepare — and heal — has sat just fine with Bluejay head coach Mark Weber.
“I think we are about as ready as we can be,” Weber said. “When you get to this point, it really comes down to how hard you are willing to push yourself. It will not be easy for anyone, and it should not be. We will have to earn each spot we get, but I am confident in our guys.”
Senior Zachary Thompson (38-4) is ranked fourth at 120 pounds. He has been sixth (at 113), sixth and third (both at 120) in his prior three prep seasons but will have to battle hard to make a fourth appearance.
The Perry all-time wins leader (168-27), his eight-man bracket will include seventh-ranked junior Derek Anderson of Ankeny and top-rated senior Kyle Biscoglia of Waukee.
Junior 126-pounder Kaleb Olejniczak (43-5) is ranked fifth and will compete in a bracket also featuring Waukee sophomore Cody Anderson, who is rated eighth. Olejniczak was a state qualifier as a freshman and placed fourth last season.
Bluejay senior Zach Stewart (48-5) reached the state tourney last year but was stopped short of the podium. He enters the district tourney as the top-ranked grappler at 138. No other rated wrestlers are in his bracket. (ThePerryNews.com uses ThePredicament.com for ratings).
Riece Graham will compete for the Bluejays at 106 pounds, with Jacob Nelson hitting the mats at 132, Justin Stammer at 145 and Jered Narber at 152. Erick Funez has the nod at 160 and Daniel Brinton at 170, with Jonathon Silva going at 182 and Alex Tapia at 220. Perry will leave the 113, 195 and 285-pound brackets open.
Wrestling begins Saturday at 12 p.m. The Class 3A State Tournament begins Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
