The Okoboji/HMS wrestling team earned a fourth-place finish at their own Okoboji/HMS Invitational held December 4 at Milford. The Pioneers finished with 154 points, trailing only West Sioux (215 points), West Hancock (172) and Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (165.5).
Pioneer wrestlers placing first in their weight class were Nick Bronstad at 285 pounds and Noah Strantz at 152. Dylan Jones finished second at 120 pounds. Winning third-place matches were Jesse Bockman at 170, James Gellerman at 182 and Sam Pas at 220. Bronstad and Gellerman are Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn wrestlers. A third HMS grappler, Ethan Wiersma did not place.
Team Scores
West Sioux 215, West Hancock 172, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 165.5, Okoboji/HMS 154, Estherville Lincoln Central 100, Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire 100, Bishop Heelan 82.5, Sioux Central 77.5, Garner Hayfield Ventura 75.5, North Union 72, Fulda/MCC (Minn.) 63.5, Sibley-Ocheyedan 41.0
Results for HMS Wrestlers
182-James Gellerman (third place) – Quarterfinal – won by fall over Kaleb Lufkin (North Union) in 2:00; Semifinal – lost by fall to Liam Cleary (Bishop Heelan) in 3:54; 3rd Place Match – won a 4-3 decision over Evan Kruger (Central Lyon/GLR).
195-Ethan Wiersma (did not place) – Quarterfinal – lost by fall to Juan Topete (West Sioux) in 1:00; Cons. Semi – lost by fall to Clayton Schroeder (Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire) in 3:58.
285-Nick Bronstad (first place) – Quarterfinal – won by fall over Jess Christensen (Estherville Lincoln Central) in :36; Semifinal – won by fall over Keegan McMillan (West Sioux) in 1:34; 1st Place Match – won by fall over David Smith (West Hancock) in :34.