Don Bosco, Lisbon sit at the top of 1A state wrestling after first round

DES MOINES — Just as they did Wednesday night during the 1A State Duals, it certainly looks as if Don Bosco and Lisbon will be battling for a state title.

After the first session of the Class 1A state wrestling tournament, the Dons hold a slim lead over the Lions for the lead in the team race. Don Bosco has 22 team points while Lisbon sits at 21.

'It's fun to have Lisbon and us in a race,' Don Bosco head coach Tom Hogan said. 'Of course you'd like to distance yourself if you can, but it looks like that probably isn't going to happen here.'

Lisbon started off the session hot, rattling off two pins. Cobe Siebrecht (106) got a fall in 2:47, while Cael Happel (113) had one in 2:36.

The Lions were also able to get a fall from Cooper Siebrecht at 132 and a major decision at 170 from Bryce Werderman. Any bonus points help and getting a few here and there could very well be the difference between first and second.

'You have to be ready for every match,' Cooper Siebrecht said. 'No one here is going to give you an easy one.'

The Dons were also able to get things going early, getting bonus-point wins at those weights as well. Happel will see Don Bosco's Easton Larson in the quarterfinals in what will be an important match in the team race.

Not counting consolation rounds, Happel and Larson's match will be one of just three opportunities the schools have of going head-to-head in the bracket. At 106, Siebrecht (ranked No. 2) would see Don Bosco's No. 1 ranked Daniel Kimball in the final.

The last chance the two schools could potentially match up is at 120, where the Dons' Gable Fox is ranked second. Lisbon's Ryne Mohrfeld made it out of the first round at the weight and would have to beat Manson-Northwest Webster's Koby Hanson to get the matchup with Don Bosco.

That said, the battle for the title likely will come down to how many wrestlers each team is able to keep on the winner's side and how they do in the consolation rounds.

'You have to stay alive for the team and for yourself,' Lisbon head coach Brad Smith said. 'It's hard to get up after getting beat, but it shows character.'

All nine of Don Bosco's wrestlers are still kicking and just three of them have fallen into the consolation rounds. Lisbon also started with nine and like the Dons, still have six on the winners' side. It also has just one wrestler — 220-pounder Logan O'Connor — out, but the team does still have two alive on the backside.

There are a few other contenders that haven't quite allowed Lisbon and Don Bosco to completely separate from the pack. Sibley-Ocheyedan currently sits in third with 16 points.

The Generals have six wrestlers still in the bracket, with five still on the winners' side. Fourth-place Missouri Valley (15 points) is certainly also still in the thick of the team race.

l Comments: jordan.hansen@thegazette.com