Alburnett wrestling captures first-day lead of Class 1A state tournament

DES MOINES — Alburnett has made a habit of feeding off the energy and excitement created in competition.

The Pirates generated enough to avoid any symptoms of a hangover from their emotional State Duals championship.

Alburnett won seven straight matches, claiming the team lead after the opening day of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 1A state wrestling tournament Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena. Alburnett tallied 20 1/2 points, leading second-place Sibley-Ocheyedan by 5 1/2.

The round started with two losses but third-ranked Drake Halblom (132) ignited a six-match win streak to close the first-round. The Pirates tallied 5 1/2 bonus points during that stretch.

'We feed off each other's success and emotion,' said Alburnett's 138-pounder Tucker Franklin, who posted a 15-6 major decision over Fort Dodge St. Edmond's Payton Sitzmann. 'It helps the team when you get it rolling like that.'

Bonus points are critical and Alburnett first-year head coach Clayton Rush stresses that each day in practice and during every event. He continued that message. The Pirates received a major decision from Conner Shulista (152) and pins from 170-pounder Tanner Sloan and Jaymus Wilson, who won his consolation bout at 106.

'Some people emphasize it more in dual meets, but it's just as important out here,' Rush said. 'The tournament race has a lot of different factors. Some teams just need two or three guys that do really, really well. We need all our guys firing on all cylinders in order to win a big tournament like this.'

Franklin (40-13) made his third trip to state and has matched his win total from the previous two years combined. He surrendered the first points of the match and then dominated the rest of the way, which Rush lightheartedly referred to as 'Tuckifying' an opponent.

'I was getting some turns that allowed me to open things up,' Franklin said. 'When you do that, it helps a lot.'

The Pirates did more 'Tuckifying' than Rush would have liked. Halblom and state champion Bryce Paul (160) gave up takedowns but battled back for decisive wins.

'They just stayed composed,' Rush said. 'They kept wrestling through those positions.'

Franklin topped one ranked foe and will face another in Iowa Valley's No. 2 Jacob Krakow, beat New London's Reno Chiri, 7-0. Franklin isn't concerned with rankings. He is focused with wrestling his best.

'It's pretty nice to prove people wrong when they're doubting you,' Franklin said. 'It feels good.

'I'd rather have that than a target on my back.'

Lisbon was third after the first day with 14 1/2 points. The Lions have seven wrestlers alive, including five in the winners bracket.

Senior 145-pounder Carter Happel (49-0) remained in contention to become Iowa's 25th four-time state champion. Happel throttled Central Springs' seventh-ranked Dylan Mueller, 19-3, in just 4:00.

He experienced more jitters for the State Duals than the beginning of the tournament.

'Everyone's going to get butterflies,' Happel said. 'During the state duals final, they were setting in just because the big rivalry between us and Alburnett. Right now, they aren't really here. I have a feeling Friday and Saturday they will be.'

Happel was offensive and aggressive. He wanted to avoid the slow starts he has had occasionally.

'I went out there to score as many points as I could,' Happel said. 'I thought I did a pretty good job.'

Lisbon's Cooper Siebrecht (40-10) advanced to the second round. He avenged a loss to Moyer, riding him out for the win in ultimate tiebreaker overtime. They have wrestled five times with Siebrecht's only loss coming in overtime Wednesday night.

'He got his first win against me and it came at a really good time for them,' Siebrecht said. 'I was glad to beat him for the last time this year.'

In the final overtime, Siebrecht chose to try and ride Moyer for the 30-second period, instead of attempting to escape for the victory. He had success in that position.

'The last three matches I've ridden him out,' Siebrecht said. 'I felt comfortable on top.'

Nick Williams, a two-time state medalist and 2014 state champion, defeated West Marshall's No. 10 Cooper White at 138. Chase McLaughlin (132) and Hunter Robinson (152) each had one-point decisions to advance for Lisbon.

North Linn was perfect in two matches. Brock Henderson (113) and heavyweight Kyler Schott remained undefeated this season. Henderson (44-0) rolled to a 12-1 major decision over Oakland Riverside's fifth-ranked Tatem Bluml.

Schott (44-0) had a tougher time in his first-round bout. Fourth-ranked Schott escaped in just five seconds of the ultimate tiebreaker overtime, beating West Lyon's 10th-ranked Beau Kellenberger, 3-2. The victory was his first opening-round win in three state appearances.

'That is the match to get your nerves out,' Schott said. 'It was a good first-round match.'

The pair exchanged escapes in regulation and in the first overtime tiebreakers. Schott scored first and needed just three seconds for his second escape. The 6-foot-3, 276-pounder has always been mobile and has worked to improve his agility as a linebacker for the Lynx football team. Schott also noted the impact of the regular dodgeball games in the practice room.

'That helps with the agility,' Schott said. 'Our school is made up of three towns. We're always really competitive.'

Schott wants to follow in the footsteps as his older brother, Brendan, who was a two-time state champion for the Lynx.

'My goal is to wrestle to my full ability,' Schott said. 'I want to get to the top of the podium.'

Iowa Valley and Tipton were in a tie for 12th with six other teams. Tipton swept its three first-round matches. Ben Emrich (113) and Jordan Challis (195) won by decision, and Cameron Ihrig recorded a pin at 220.

Highland twin brothers, Bryce and Drew West, won their opening matches. Bryce West, the top-ranked defending state champion, pinned Wapsie Valley's No. 8 Kaleb Krall in 1:11 at 120. Drew West, a 2014 state champion, beat Logan-Magnolia's Garret Thompson, 10-3.

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