Alburnett, Lisbon going head-to-head as 1A state wrestling tournament reaches semifinals

DES MOINES – Alburnett and Lisbon remain atop the team race of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 1A state wrestling tournament Friday at Wells Fargo Arena.

The Pirates advanced four to the semifinals and four left in consolation competition, tallying 55 ½ points after the second session.

State finalist Conner Shulista (152) won by fall, Tanner Hoyer (145) added a major decision and all three consolation matches were won by fall.

'Bonus points are extremely key right now,' Alburnett Coach Clayton Rush said. 'Especially on the backside of the bracket.'

Drake Halblom (132) and 170-pounder Tanner Sloan also reached the semifinals, assuring them of a top-six finish.

Lisbon has three semifinalists, including top-ranked 145-pounder Carter Happel, who took one more step closer to becoming Iowa's 25th four-time state champion. Happel scored his second straight technical fall of the tournament. He is joined by teammates Nick Williams (138) and Chase McLaughlin at 132.

Williams was a 2014 state champion. He earned his third consecutive state medal, beating Wapsie Valley's fourth-ranked Bryce Ackerman, 5-1.

McLaughlin topped Don Bosco's Chris Paulsen, 6-5, in an overtime tiebreaker to make the semifinals. Lisbon has 43 points and three alive in consolation matches.

'They are wrestling really well,' Lisbon Coach Brad Smith said. 'They're showing a lot of heart and that is all I can ask.'

The two teams have two head-to-head battles in the semifinals. Halblom has won the previous two meetings this season. Unbeaten Happel will face Hoyer.

'That's a lot of points,' Smith said. 'We feel good about both of them.'

Highland twin brothers Bryce and Drew West, advanced to the semifinals at 120 and 126, respectively. Both won by fall in the quarterfinals.

North Linn advanced two to the semifinals. Top-ranked 113-pounder Brock Henderson posted a 4-1 decision over Martensdale St. Mary's No. 2 Josh Tibbits. Lynx heavyweight Kyler Schott scored a first-period fall over Oakland Riverside's Coy Maher.

Schott, ranked fourth, will face Iowa City Regina's top-ranked Jared Brinkman, who pinned Belmond-Klemme's second-ranked Luke Worden in 5:30 in the quarterfinals.

HLV's Nate Van Buren continued his strong start, earning a medal with his second straight overtime win against a top-four ranked foe. Van Buren beat Sibley-Ocheyedan's No. 4 Garrett Sayler, 8-4,in sudden victory to reach the semifinals. He opened the tournament with a 9-7 sudden-victory win against second-ranked Jarel Abergast, of West Fork.

English Valley's top-ranked Zach Axmear reached his third straight semifinal. The 152-pound junior remained unbeaten with an 8-4 victory over Lisbon's Hunter Robinson.

Iowa Valley's Jacob Krakow (138), South Winneshiek's Landers Kuboushek (195), Starmont's Kody Kleve (113) and Maquoketa Valley's Alec McDowell at 182 all made the semifinal round.