DES MOINES – Day one of the 100th Iowa High School State Wrestling tournament is in the books and North Mahaska’s trio is still in contention for a spot on the podium. The Warhawks picked up two wins and another will move into the consolation bracket when action resumes Thursday afternoon.
Aydan Groom at 132 and Ryan Groom at 144 each advanced to Thursday’s quarterfinals. Chance Angle lost a tough match at 215 and will battle back in the consolation seeking third place.
“It was a tough start, but we ended well,” said coach Ryan Groom. “Chance, being his first time here and being the first wrestler for us can work for you or against you. He had a tough match and lost in the final period. Then Aydan came back to win, and Ryan dominated, so we had all kinds of emotions today.”
Aydan was trailing as they entered the final period. He took the down position and scored a reversal and worked his way to the pin in 5 minutes 5 seconds. The freshman was facing a taller senior in Kaleb Kuhl of Logan-Magnolia.
“The kid’s tough, but I had positive thoughts entering the match,” said Groom. “I knew I had to keep moving if I was going to come out with a fall. I was able to move around and get him to his back.”
“Aydan is really good in close,” said coach Groom. “The other kid wanted distance, but Aydan fought through it, and I saw he would get the pin.”
Groom, who is ranked 11th, will face Brayden Scheffers of Interstate 35 in Thursday’s quarterfinal.
Ryan Groom is ranked fifth coming into the tourney. He was able to take control early and control the way the match progressed. He was able to build a lead, but Hinton’s Mark Gant took him into the second period where Groom took him down for goo in 3:16.
“I just needed to stay tough and in control,” said Groom. “I just did my thing and was able to score. I was confident I could get him to his back and win.”
Groom will meet Dylan Stein of Lenox in his quarterfinal match Thursday.
Angle was the first of the North Mahaska wrestlers to take to the mats in the opening round. He faced Emmetsburg’s Nick Saxton. Saxton was able to control the NM junior early and Angle challenged but could not overcome for the win.
“I was really nervous since this is a really big tourney,” said Angle. “I was kind of shaky in the first period but began to gain my confidence in the second. I wasn’t moving my feet very well. The loss gave me a lot more confidence and will be better tomorrow.”
Coach Groom was still pleased with the day’s results.
Thursday’s action at Wells Fargo Arena for Class 1A begins at 1:30 p.m.
