DES MOINES – Day two of the Class 1A state wrestling tournament took a different road than what the North Mahaska faithful were hoping four. All three wrestlers battled hard, but came up short of staying on the championship side.
Aydan Groom and Ryan Groom lost in the quarterfinals and will begin working their way through the “blood round” Friday afternoon with the goal of reaching the podium. Junior Chance Angle saw his season come to an end in the consolation bracket.
Angle was facing Kingsley-Pierson’s Peyton Hackett as consolations opened the afternoon session. Angle and Hackett spent the first period trying to get in position for a takedown. Hackett was able to make a jump with two seconds left in the first period to go up 3-0. Early in the second period Hackett put Angle on his back for the win in 2:51.
Angle said he made one mistake.
“I got caught,” said Angle. “I got out of position and got caught. I started out well, moving my feet, but he caught me.”
Angle said entering day one of the tourney that he was nervous.
“The nerves went away and I felt a lot more confident today,” said Angle. “This just fueled the fire for me to come back again next year.”
Aydan Groom took on Interstate 35’s Brayden Scheffers (40-4). Scheffers scored a takedown and some quick back points to go ahead 7-0 after one period. Groom took him to the end but lost a 12-1 major decision.
He will face Sioux Central’s Hunter Cooper to stay alive for a position on the podium.
Ryan Groom entered the 144 pound match with a 47-1 record and ranked fifth and faced Lenox’s Dylan Stein (50-1). They dueled to a 0-0 tie after one period and Groom scored an escape early in the second. In the third period Stein scored and escape and a takedown to win the match 4-2.
Groom will face Alburnett’s Cooper Franklin, a wrestler he defeated in the district finals, 10-4.
Coach Ryan Groom said all three were so close to winning their matches.
“Aydan went for it and came up short,” said Groom. “They all had a chance but they faced some tough matches. All they have to do is win one more match tomorrow and they will be on the podium.”
Action for Class 1A will commence at 1:30 p.m. Friday.
