Alburnett takes district wrestling crown, advances six to state

ARLINGTON — It was business as usual for the Alburnett wrestling team.

The Pirates advanced all six of their wrestlers that qualified for the Class 1A District 6 meet to the state tournament. Alburnett also managed to win the team district title as well, scoring 99 points to edge out second-place MFL MarMac (91).

'Coming into today, you look at the matches on paper and think you'll probably get all six guys through,' Alburnett head coach Clayton Rush said. 'But with a tournament like this, you never know.'

That's a pretty good point.

With 13 teams and a gym literally overflowing with people, it was loud, noisy and the perfect atmosphere for a qualifying tournament. It was hard to go more than two feet without bumping into someone and the tension inside was palpable.

Jaymus Wilson got things going early for the Pirates at 106 pounds, getting a major decision in his first bout and a 2:24 pin in his second. Fifth place at the state tournament a year ago, the fifth-ranked wrestler in the state had little issue in either match.

'Feels good, I mean I've been looking forward to this all season,' Wilson said. 'I always get pumped with all the screaming and yelling and this really is a great tournament every year.'

Alburnett picked up an upset win at 132, as Mason Wickman topped No. 8 Michael Egan of MFL MarMac 10-4. Egan came into the meet with a 44-1 record this season and wrestled a good match to earn his first state tournament berth.

The last winner for the Pirates came via an injury default in the 170-pound final. No. 1-ranked Tanner Sloan — who spent all of 57 seconds on the mat Saturday afternoon — will get a chance to defend his state title.

Ben Moyer (126), Tanner Hoyer (138) and Tucker Franklin (160) all took second place and will make their returns to the state tournament.

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'There's a lot at stake in this tournament,' Rush said. 'I was happy with how they handled themselves today.'

Alburnett will try and replicate its success from last season, when it won both the traditional and dual meets at Class 1A. While this squad isn't quite as deep as that one (it did not qualify for the state duals this season), if Saturday is any indication, the Pirates certainly won't be a pushover in the tournament.

After Alburnett, MFL-MarMac and Maquoketa Valley advanced the second-most wrestlers with four apiece. East Buchanan and North Linn both pushed through three.

Class 1A District 6 (At Starmont)

Teams — 1. Alburnett 99, 2. MFL MarMac 91.5, 3. North Linn 74, 4. East Buchanan 68, 5. Maquoketa Valley 56, 6. Sumner-Fredericksburg 47, 7. Cascade 35, 8. South Winneshiek 32, 9. Postville 24, 10. Bellevue 18, 11. Elkader Central 14, 12. Edgewood-Colesburg 8, 13. Clayton Ridge 0.

Championship Matches, Wrestlebacks

106 pounds — Jaymus Wilson (ALB) pinned Ethan Stubbs (MFLMM), 2:24; 113 — Uvaldo Camarillo (POST) dec. Gannon Cook (EB), 7-4; Gannon Cook (EB) dec. Dalton Bell (NL), 5-0; 120 — Brock Henderson (NL) won by inj. Connor Conlin (CAS), 0:01; Connor Conlin (CAS) major dec. Brett Meyer (SF), 12-3; 126 — Brady Henderson (NL) dec. Ben Moyer (ALB), SV-1, 3-1; 132 — Mason Wickman (ALB) dec. Michael Egan (MFLMM), 10-4; Michael Egan (MFLMM) pinned Tayton Bullerman (SW), 4:52; 138 — Kyle Decker (EB) dec. Tanner Hoyer (ALB), 5-2; 145 — Braydon Nunemaker (EB) dec. Chance Downs (MV), 2-1; 152 — Nathan Johaningmeier (MFLMM) dec. Ted Hilgerson (ELK), 6-2; 160 — Karsen Seehase (SF) dec. Tucker Franklin (ALB), 7-1; Tucker Franklin (ALB) pinned Cain Hoffman (CAS), 5:07; 170 — Tanner Sloan (ALB) won by inj. Norman Wilson (MV), 0:01; 182 — Alec McDowell (MV) major dec. Bodie Garnier (SF), 10-1; 195 — Mason Lyons (BEL) dec. Manning Kuboushek (SW), 3-0; 220 — Korby Keehner (MFLMM) pinned Brock Meyer (SF), 1:57; Eric Heims (MV) dec. Brock Meyer (SF), UTB, 2-1; 285 — Kyler Schott (NL) won by inj. Paine DeLarm (CAS), 0:00.

l Comments: jordan.hansen@thegazette.com