By Becky Walz,
Day two wrapped up with a bang as Decorah’s 190-pound Tommy Sexton squared off with the top-ranked grappler, Brody Sampson of Ballard, coming out with a decision victory.
As a team, Decorah sits in sixth place with 41 points, tied with Roland-Story with four wrestlers living to see another day of action at the 2024 Boys State Wrestling Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Still alive
At 106 pounds, 11th-ranked Gavin Knutson earned two falls today in the consolation second and third rounds. In round two, the Viking pinned Crestwood’s Owen Korsmo in 39 seconds. He later threw Kaleb Feld of Garner-Hayfield-Ventura in the third round of consolations in 55 seconds. Knutson needs to win one more match against No. 7 Taye Jordan of Atlantic Friday morning to guarantee himself a medal.
Sophomore Mason Avila scored a 5-3 decision over No. 9 Kaiden Parker of Oskaloosa at 132 pounds to advance to the semifinal round Friday. The seventh-ranked Viking got a takedown early in the first period with Parker getting the escape just seconds later. In the second period, Avila gave up a pair of escapes as he was in the offensive position to start the period and got his second takedown of the match at the 1:14 mark. Leading 4-3 into the third, Avila chose the defensive position and managed an escape himself. In the semifinal, Avila will face No. 2 Kaiden Dietzenbach of Burlington Notre Dame.
Also keeping his chances for a trip to the podium alive is 11th-ranked William Fullhart at 144 pounds. After falling into the consolation bracket Wednesday night, the freshman responded with a 10-1 major decision win over Will Atkinson of Woodward-Granger in the third round of consolations. Later Thursday morning, Fullhart took care of Brady Patterson of Benton Community, winning 6-3. He now looks to face No. 3 Jackson Jaspers of Mount Vernon Friday morning in the fourth round of the consolation bracket.
One of the stunners of the day came at 190 pounds as No. 7 Tommy Sexton defeated top-ranked Brody Sampson of Ballard in the quarterfinals, 10-6. Each of the two grapplers scored a takedown and escape in the opening period. Sexton chose defensive position to start period two, fought for the escape until the 39 second mark and quickly got a takedown and near-fall points over Sampson. The Viking held on in the third period for the win, in spite of Sampson picking up three points on an escape and nearfall. Sexton’s next quest is Ben Bryant of North Polk in Friday’s semifinals.
Seasons end
In his second trip to Wells Fargo Arena, Will Larson wrapped up his season at 138 pounds as he dropped his second round consolation match to Dalton VanWyhe of Sergeant Bluff-Luton by a 9-1 major decision Thursday morning. The sophomore finishes his season with a 25-20 overall record.
At 150 pounds, Kollin Henry failed to get his offensive attack fired up as the fell by 10-0 major decision to Cooper Ludwig of Carroll. Henry concludes his career as a Viking wrestler with a 23-18 senior season record.
Hoping to keep his season going, Brody Hanson went 1-1 Thursday morning, finishing his seasin and career in the third round of the consolation bracket at 157 pounds. Hanson defeated Miken Wheeler of Anamonsa by a 17-4 major decision to start the day in the second round of the consolations. In round three it was Cason Miller of Fairfield getting the win 10-6. Hanson finishes the season 34-12 overall.
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