Nick Bronstad capped his high school wrestling career with 101 wins and a seventh-place finish at the State Wrestling Tournament which was held February 17-19 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
As was the case last year, the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn senior had to wrestle his way back through the consolation side of the bracket to claim a medal. Unlike a year ago, Bronstad won his Seventh Place Match to move up one spot on the State medals podium. Along the way he reached the prestigious milestone of 100 career wins.
Bronstad was the only Okoboji/HMS grappler to qualify for this year’s State Tourney. His eight points scored meant a 49th-place team finish for the Pioneers.
Those putting together the Class 2A bracket for the 285-pound weight class must have a weird sense of humor. After clashing in both the Sectional and District Tournaments, Bronstad and Daniel Chavez of Clarion-Goldfield-Dows were paired up as the State Tourney began Thursday morning. Chavez won the rubber match by way of a 3-1 decision. The Okoboji/HMS grappler moved directly into Consolation Round 1. Needing a win to continue on in the tournament, Bronstad got it by pinning fellow senior Colton Schupbach of North Fayette Valley in 3:47.
As the 2A portion of the tourney resumed on Friday, Bronstad was slated to take on Gannon Callahan in Consolation Round 2. The winner would be assured of a medal and the HMS senior made certain he was the one receiving the hardware. He defeated the Mid-Prairie senior 3-0. There was a special significance to the victory as it was Number 100 for the Okoboji/HMS competitor.
Bronstad came back Friday evening for a Consolation Round 3 bout against West Delaware junior Cameron Geuther. It was Geuther picking up the win by fall in 4:54. That meant that when Bronstad would resume wrestling Saturday morning it would be for seventh place.
This year’s State Tourney came full circle for Bronstad and Chavez as they finished it the same way they began it – facing each other. Bronstad had the last word in the saga of the seniors. He built up a 7-1 lead before pinning Chavez’s shoulders to the mat in 5:34 to finish off a 39-9 senior season.
Bronstad was back on the floor of Wells Fargo Arena Saturday night to take his position as the seventh-place medal winner on the State podium.
Nick Bronstad State Tournament Results
Class 2A 285-Nick Bronstad (placed seventh) – Champ. Round 1 – lost a 3-1 decision to Daniel Chavez (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows); Cons. Round 1 – won by fall over Colton Schupbach (North Fayette Valley) 3:47; Cons. Round 2 – won a 3-0 decision over Gannon Callahan (Mid-Prairie); Cons. Round 3 – lost by fall to Cameron Geuther (West Delaware) in 4:54; 7th Place Match – won by fall over Chavez in 5:34.