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State wrestling: Highland’s West twins advance to 1A finals
Feb. 19, 2016 7:31 pm
DES MOINES - Highland juniors Bryce and Drew West went into high school with one goal in mind: win state titles in the same season. Now in year three, they'll finally have that chance.
'For us to both make the finals is awesome, but now we've both got to win it,” Bryce said.
Drew, the 126-pounder, was the 2014 champion at 106, but placed third last year. Bryce, who sits at 120 pounds, was third as a freshman and won the state title at 120 in 2015. The pair just hasn't gotten the timing right for each other the last two years, but now have the chance to realize a dream.
'We've always wanted to have both of us win it in the same year,” Drew said. The last two years it hasn't fell so this year we've got to get it.”
Union's Holschlag assured a medal after bumping up weight in 2A
La Porte City Union's Derek Holschlag knows what it's like to finish on the podium - he was a medalist as a freshman and runner up last season - but now he's up two weight classes and back in the finals.
Nagging injuries led Holschlag to move up to 126, but said he's feeling good enough to secure that elusive state title.
'I feel a lot stronger than at 126,” Holschlag said. 'But it's just going to be tough from here on out so I'll just have to work hard.”
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Highland-Riverside's Drew West tries to pin Nodaway Valley's Ben Freese during the 126-pound bout of the 1A semifinal round of the 2016 State Wrestling Championships at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Friday, Feb. 19, 2016. West won with a fall in 2:52. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)
Highland-Riverside's Bryce West works on top of Missouri Valley's Connor Lange during the 120-pound bout of the 1A quarterfinal round of the 2016 State Wrestling Championships at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Friday, Feb. 19, 2016. West won with a major decision 11-2. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)