Williamsburg’s Nile Sinn powers way to Class 2A boys’ state wrestling semifinals

DES MOINES – Nile Sinn recalled be in awe of Williamsburg wrestlers his first trip to the state wrestling tournament.

Those Raiders left an impression on him, wanting to be in their Asics someday. Now, things have come full circle for the Williamsburg senior 150-pounder.

“I had to be so little,” Sinn said. “I remember thinking that the guys wrestling for Williamsburg were pretty cool guys. I almost looked up to them like they were gods. It's cool to be that guy for some little kid from Williamsburg.”

Sinn might have inspired a few young Raiders with his dominant 12-1 major decision over Sergeant Bluff-Luton’s Ayden McRoberts in the quarterfinals of the Class 2A state boys’ wrestling tournament Thursday night at Wells Fargo Arena. He secured his second state medal in three appearances here.

“He’s an awesome kid,” Williamsburg Coach Grant Eckenrod said. “It means a lot to our program because he’s been a great leader in character. He’s a good role model for our younger kids.

“He used to walk around these meets with the guys and do selfies with all of them. There’s millions pictures of those guys he looked up to and now he’s that guy. He does a good job of it.”

Sinn earned his first semifinal berth and a chance to compete in the center of six mats Friday night.

“Just means bigger stages,” Sinn said. “They have that dog-bone setup tomorrow night and I'll be in the middle of it. I think that's pretty cool.

“The ultimate one is the setup on finals night but the doesn’t sound too bad.”

No. 6 Sinn never trailed No. 3 McRoberts, taking him down in each of the first two periods, producing a six-point third period and bettering last year’s seventh-place finish.

“He wrestled a smart match,” Sinn said. “I was taking good shots where I couldn’t get countered. I was able to finish where I could get there. That’s really important to me.”

Jeff Sinn has been a Williamsburg assistant since before his son was born. He was the first to give a fist-pump from the corner to the Raiders crowd as time ticked off the clock. Father and son share a strong bond through wrestling.

“It’s everything,” Sinn said. “No one knows you better than your own dad.

“He can be (excited). He's into it. I wouldn't have it any other way.”

Sinn has been an example for others to follow. Eckenrod said he is a well-rounded student-athlete as a member of the National Honors Society with almost a 4.0 grade-point average, all-state baseball player and a two-way starter in football. He is a darn good wrestler, too, improving to 48-4 this season.

“He’s earned it,” Eckenrod said. “He’s put in his time. A lot of coaches in our high school have asked a lot of him. He’s a busy young man and he’s never complained, working his tail off for all of us.”

Sinn will face Mount Vernon’s No. 2 Mikey Ryan, who advanced with a 4-1 win over Burlington Notre Dame’s Kael Cook. The two Wamac Conference rivals are very familiar with one another but Sinn will have to reverse the trend for the most important meeting.

“He’s had my number,” Sinn said. “I just have to flip the script one time.”

Ryan was one of three Mustangs to reach the semifinals. He was joined by top-seeded 144-pounder and two-time state finalist Jase Jaspers and No. 3 heavyweight Ethan Wood.

Jaspers trounced SBL’s Ben Walsh, 15-1, in the quarterfinal. Wood wasted little time, pinning Clear Lake’s Aaron Richtsmeier in 1:39.

“That’s what I came here to do,” Wood said. “I’ve opened up opportunities for me and I finish them when I can.”

Wood, a three-time qualifier, said he has waited for this since getting sixth a year ago.

“I came up short last year,” Wood said. “I came in here with a chip on my shoulder. I just want to take down everybody.”

Union Community matched the Mustangs with three semifinalists. Top-seeded trio of Coy Mehlert (106), Brayden Bohnsack (120) and 132-pounder Jace Hedeman moved into the semifinals. Bohnsack and Hedeman are both looking to become three-time titlists.

Mehlert and Hedeman posted technical falls, while Bohnsack beat Central DeWitt’s Eli Edfors, 8-2.

“I won but it didn’t go as I planned, as I thought it should have,” Bohnsack said. “Down here a win’s a win but you always want to get better. I still have two matches to go.”

Anamosa duo Hudson and Austin Scranton returned to the semifinals, helping Anamosa to fourth in the team standings after Day 2. The Blue Raiders have 53 ½ points, 1 ½ back of third-place Burlington Notre Dame, a point ahead of Independence and 1 ½ points ahead of Mount Vernon.

Both pinned their ways to the semifinals. Hudson decked West Liberty’s Briggs Collins in 1:34 at 150. Austin stuck Davenport Assumption’s Dru Diaz in 1:37.

Scranton will have a semifinal rematch with West Delaware’s Brent Yonkovic, who beat Garner-Hayfield-Ventura’s Parker Moritz, 17-1. Scranton beat Yonkovic en route to the 175-pound title last year.

They’re bother chasing top-seeded Brenden Heying, of Benton Community, who is 6-1 against the duo this season. Heying was dominant in his first state quarterfinal win in three chances.

“It feels good but I know the job’s not finished,” Heying said. “I still have to go back to work over the next two days and do what I came here to do.”

Heying trounced Ballard’s Rhett Hedrick, 17-1, four takedowns and tallied 11 points in the second period alone.

“My main focus is getting to my attacks,” Heying said. “I know I’m good on my feet. Once I get to the legs at the beginning of the match, I know I’m good.”

Heying, Scranton and Yonkovic could finish 1-2-3 at tournaments in three straight months, including the Bob Murphy Invitational in December, the Jerry Eckenrod Bobcat Invitational last month and here.

“I love it,” Heying said. “It’s a battle every week. It lets you know we have to get better at stuff. I really love having that competition.”

Independence’s Tyler Wieland moved into the semifinals with a 4-2 win over Benton’s Elijah Kupka. A third-period takedown was the difference.

“It was getting down to the wire,” Wieland said. “You have to make sure you get to your ties, get to your offense. It struggled for me a little bit but I got it done in the end.”

Wieland fell in the semifinals last season and is determined to redeem himself.

“I was here last year,” Wieland said. “I don’t think I’m going to mess up this next time. Not again.”

West Liberty’s Kaden Wiele (157), Decorah’s William Fullhart (165) and Solon 215-pounder Lucas Feuerbach also advanced to the semifinals and captured a top-six finish.

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