Sports

Six-pack of Hawks eyeing spots at state mat tourney

February 8, 2018

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state wrs grand march on deck — The 336 state medalists from the three classes and 14 weight divisions await the start of the traditional Grand March last year. Earning a spot at state and a shot at walking in such distinguished company awaits six W-G wrestlers Saturday.

WOODWARD — The dream of wrestling in the state tournament is tantalizingly close for six Woodward-Granger matmen as the sextet prepare for Saturday’s Class 2A District Tournament in Harlan.

Winners and the runner-up in each of the 14 weight classes will advance to the Wells Fargo Arena, where Class 2A action will begin at 9 a.m. Feb. 15.

Two Hawks will be seeking return appearances. Senior Austin Scharlau (38-17) will be attempting to reach the big show for a second consecutive season after being eliminated in two matches last year.

W-G’s Austin Scharlau tries to control Washington’s Trey Van Weelden in their first round battle at 152 pounds at the 2017 state tourney.

Also eyeing a return is third-ranked 195-pounder Cody Fisher. The state runner-up last season, Fisher was the lone freshman, and one of only two underclassmen out of a total of 48 195-pounders, to reach “the Well.” Fisher (51-1) is the lone non-senior ranked in the top 10.

Fisher opens against Cole Nebel (Sr., 45-11) of Shenandoah. Second-ranked Harlan senior Nick Foss (36-1) faces Leo Tauke (Sr., 9-5) of ADM, likely setting up a monster of a final match.

Scharlau has drawn Red Oak sophomore Justin Cunn (43-7), with seventh-ranked Nolan Harsh of ADM (Jr., 21-3) to face hardly-tested frosh Peyton Fuson (2-1) of Atlantic/CAM.

W-G senior Hunter Pierce (39-15) opens against Red Oak sophomore Jonathon Erp (37-11) at 106 pounds, with Winterset junior Trey Allen (28-6) facing eighth-ranked sophomore Benjamin Schultz (41-4) of Kuemper Catholic.

W-G’s Cody Fisher battles West Liberty’s Bryce Esmoil in the Class 2A State Championship at 195 pounds.

Fellow senior Ryan Munoz (35-19) will tangle with Harlan sophomore Ethan Lemon (35-11) in their first bout at 120, with ninth-ranked Bryce Hatten of Winterst (So., 35-10) squaring off against freshman Steeele McLaren (35-12) of Atlantic/CAM.

Junior Gabe Yingst in 43-9 at 160 for the Hawks and will begin his quest for a state tourney spot against Kuemper Catholic’s Zak Hulsing (Sr., 45-7). The other side of the bracket as Creston/O-M senior Kolby Thomas (26-22) battling Atlantic/CAM junior Connor Pellett (40-16).

Also in competition for the Hawks will be senior 220-pounder Dillon Fogarty (35-19), who will tussle with ninth-ranked Shenandoah junior Tyler Courtier (40-3). ADM sophomore Kaden Sutton (28-8) faces Red Oak junior Colton Kinnison (34-19) in the other bout at 220.

Saturday’s district action will begin at 12 p.m.