Fank stuns No. 1 Morris for spot in finals

DES MOINES - It was shaping up as the same old story for Independence's Ryan Fank against James Morris of Solon.

Two of Fank's three career losses to Morris came by a 3-2 score, with Morris getting the only takedown of the match for the deciding points. Fank found himself in that exact predicament in the final minute of Friday's state tournament semifinal re-match.

“I needed to do something different,” Fank said.

This time, he did. The senior rolled up a reversal and nearly pinned top-ranked Morris (36-1), scoring a stunning 6-3 victory that sent a bloodied, but excited Fank into tonight's 215-pound championship at Wells Fargo Arena.

He'll face Albia's Slater Poe in an unlikely final pairing. Fank (43-2) and Poe (33-2) came in as the sixth- and seventh-ranked wrestlers at their weight.

“I've been dreaming of going to the state finals and winning a state title since I was a little boy,” Fank said. “I've got my shot.”

The Mustang is one of four area finalists in Class 2A.

Back for a third title appearance is Williamsburg's Austin Blythe, who buried Roland-Story's Bret Johnson Friday by a score of 10-0.

The junior will go for a second straight 285-pound title against No. 1-ranked Adam Praska of Crestwood-Cresco. Blythe (51-3) dominated Johnson from the start, scoring a takedown in the opening seconds of the match.

“That's what I want to do in every match…score points as fast as I can, dog him on top and make him tired,” he said.

Praska (35-0) is one of two wrestlers to have beaten Blythe this year. Blythe erased the other – Davenport Assumption's Tyler Swope -- from the winner's bracket on Thursday.

“It's going to be a tough match,” Blythe said. “I'm going to have to work to score every point. He's big and strong and can defend those shots… I'm going to have to avenge that loss from early in the season and prove I am at the top of 2A heavyweights.”

Sigourney-Keota's Kalen Greiner came into the tournament as the first-ever Keota native to reach the state tournament.

He now is the first Keotan to wrestle for a state championship. Greiner advanced to tonight's finals with a 9-7 victory over Zach Henning of Decorah, much to the delight of a big group of Greiner fans matside.

“There's a bunch of people here watching,” Greiner said. “Keota's not a big town. It's a pretty big deal.”

He'll face Denver-Tripoli's Gunnar Wolfensperger, one of four finalists for the Titans, who hold a commanding lead the team standings with 111 points.

Greiner gave up a late takedown that tied the match, but got an escape with 8 seconds to go and Henning was penalized another point for locking his hands.

“This has been my goal all year,” said Greiner, whose previous best was sixth-place finish last year. “Now I have to try and win. That's the ultimate goal.”

It'll be a battle of freshmen for the 119-pound title, with Union Community's Logan Thomsen going up against Denver-Tripoli's Brandon Sorenson.

Thomsen, Union's first freshman finalist since Trey Clark in 1997, defeated Decorah's Zach Henning by a score of 7-5. A five-point reversal early in the third period was the turning point. Thomsen fought off Henning in the final seconds.

“I was just going out there and did what I normally do,” said Thomsen, who came into the week ranked ninth. “I score most of my points out of the bottom position. I was ready to get down there.”

Sorenson is unbeaten (50-0) and ranked No. 1. Thomsen (36-6) won't be intimidated.

“I don't really think when I'm out there,” Thomsen said. “I just do what comes natural.”

By Eric Petersen, Correspondent