1A team race between Alburnett, Lisbon comes down to state wrestling’s final night

DES MOINES – The battle between Alburnett and Lisbon rages into the championship matches.

The Pirates hold a slim 7 ½-point edge on the Lions after placing matches of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 1A state wrestling tournament Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena.

Alburnett has 110 ½ points, while Lisbon has 103.

Alburnett has seven medalists, including finalists Conner Shulista (152) and 170-pounder Tanner Sloan.

Former state champion Bryce Paul finished third at 160 and 132-pounder Drake Halblom and Tanner Hoyer (145) finished fourth. 106-pound freshman Jaymus Wilson posted four pins in the consolation round, tallying eight bonus points, to place fifth. Tucker Franklin (138) was eighth.

Lisbon has three champions, including 145-pounder Carter Happel, who is attempting to become the 25th four-time state champion in Iowa history. The Lions' 138-pounder Nick Williams made his second trip to the final, winning a 2014 title and placing third last season. He will face Iowa Valley's Jacob Krakow.

Chase McLaughlin advanced to the final for the first time. He will compete for the 132 championship.

Wally Zernich chalked up five straight wins to place third after suffering an opening loss at 126. Cooper Siebrecht nabbed his second straight state medal, finishing fourth at 120. Hunter Robinson added a fifth-place finish at 152.

North Linn cracked the top-10 going into the championship matches. Brock Henderson, top-ranked at 113, will make his finals debut. Lynx heavyweight Kyler Schott placed third.

Highland twin brothers, Bryce and Drew West, reached the finals at 120 and 126, respectively. The Huskies were sixth before the finals.

Belle Plaine had two medalists. Dakota Henry (120) and Joey Schwenn (170) both finished seventh.

Three area wrestlers reached the podium at 182. Maquoketa Valley's Alec McDowell was third, BGM's Colton Massengale was fifth and Kaleb Reeves, of Sigourney-Keota, was seventh.

Tipton's Jordan Challis earned his second medal, placing fourth at 195.

West Branch's Drew Finnegan (220) and Jesup heavyweight Brian Sadler were fourth.

Starmont's Kody Kleve was fifth at 113. HLV's Nate Van Buren placed sixth at 160.

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