PANORA — Last season was one for the Panorama wrestling history books, as five Panthers qualified for the state tournament and a school record three stood on the podium on the final evening.
Two Panthers — seniors Gunnar Grunsted (170 pounds) and Dalton Holmes (195) — will have a shot at making return appearances, with five others eager to join them. In order to advance, a grappler must either win, or finish as runner-up, in their weight class at Saturday’s Class 1A District Tournament in Guthrie Center.
Grunsted was fifth last year at 170 after not reaching the medal stand as a sophomore, while Holmes bowed out before earning a podium spot in his first trip to “the Well.” Senior Danny Nordquist (126 pounds), freshman Wyatt Appleseth (132), junior Noah Kirtley (138), sophomore Emry Colby (145) and senior Trevor Carey (182) will all be seeking their first appearance on the big stage.
Grunsted (41-3) is ranked sixth and opens against Logan-Magnolia’s Chase Maguire (Jr., 31-20). The other side of the bracket features Steven Linn of Martensdale-St. Marys (Jr., 30-20) against second-ranked Missouir Valley senior extraordinaire Nathan Haynes (50-3). Second as a sophomore and fourth last season, Haynes will break four-time state champion Max Thomsen’s (LaPorte City Union) all-time state record career victory record of 210 with his next triumph.
Junior Nick Haynes (51-4) in seventh-ranked at 182 and is the opening foe for Carey (40-7). The other 182-pound match has top-ranked Logan Schumacher (Sr., 46-0) of M-SM facing WCV junior Carson Wadle (35-7).
Holmes (37-5) is set to battle WCV senior Riley Algreen (32-15) at 195, with sixth-ranked Joey Wolf (Sr., 42-2) of Woodbine to battle Ogden sophomore Blake Haub (30-9), who is rated eighth.
Nordquist (38-8) will tussle with Quint Vogel of Missouri Valley (Jr., 38-18) in one of the 126-pound bouts, with eighth-ranked Wyatt Crocker of Logan-Magnolia (Sr., 43-5) to battle Colfax-Mingo sophomore Cyden Fitch (38-12).
Appleseth is rated 10th at 132 and will begin his hopes of securing a spot at state against senior Ryan Guy of Woodbine (27-14). The opposite bracket has third-ranked Joshua Tibbits of M-SM (Jr., 46-1) facing WCV junior Drew Belden (16-12).
Missouri Valley junior Connor Lange (44-1), ranked sixth, is the draw for Kirtley (40-13). Fourth-rated Zach Willey (So., 41-4) of Interstate-35 will tangle with Lo-Ma sophomore Bryce Hudnut (27-22) in the other pairing.
Colby (23-20) will open against fifth-ranked Lo-Ma senior Garrett Thompson (47-3) at 145, with the opposite side pitting I-35 junior Ethan Elliot (36-7) against WCV senior Tye Joint (26-9).
Wrestling in Guthrie Center begins at 12 p.m. Saturday. Panorama (and Nathan Haynes at 170) records are current, others may or may not reflect possible participation in dual team action Tuesday.
The Class 1A State Wrestling Tournament begins Feb. 15 at 6 p.m.
