Okoboji/HMS wrestler Nick Bronstad punched his ticket to State with a second-place finish at the Disctrict Wrestling Tournament held February 13 at Humboldt. Noah Strantz, Bronstad’s teammate on the Pioneer squad, finshed third at Districts, just missing out on a trip to State. The 21 points scored by the duo placed Okoboji/HMS eighth in the District team standings. The State Wrestling Tournament will be conducted February 18-20 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Bronstad, a junior at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn, is slated to wrestle Thursday Night as the Class 2A grapplers take to the mats. His scheduled opponent in the 285-pound weight class is Chance Malone of Columbus Community. The senior comes into the match with a record of 36-3. Bronstad’s season mark is 33-12.
Cole Jeffries of Osage was the challenger for Bronstad in the District semifinal match. Bronstad picked up the 6-2 win by decision but showed signs of injury during and following the match.
When it came time for the first place match, both Bronstad and Aaron Graves of Southeast Valley (Gowrie) went to the center of the mat. Before the action could really get going, Graves was declared the winner by injury default. That left Bronstad in second place pending the result of the third place match. When Jeffries pinned his opponent, there was no need for a wrestleback and Bronstad had possession of second place and a ticket to state.
For Strantz, a sophomore at Okoboji, the 152-pound semifinal bracket featured a match-up with Bryce Allen of Clarion-Goldfield-Dows. Strantz advanced with a narrow 4-3 win by decision. His opponent in the first place match, Spirit Lake Park’s Zach Jensen had defeated him in the Sectionals. The story was the same here as Jensen pinned Strantz in 3:34. The Pioneer grappler was required to face Joey Potter of Osage in Potter’s attempt to wrestle back for second place. A trip to State was not to be for Strantz, who lost the match by fall in 2:56. Strantz finishes the season with a record of 29-15.
Team Scores
Osage 145, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 83, Spirit Lake Park 80, Emmetsburg 65, Humboldt 54, Forest City 45, Southeast Valley (Gowrie) 44, Okoboji/HMS 21, Algona 20, Estherville-Lincoln Central 14, Clear Lake 12.
152-Noah Strantz (third place) – Semifinal – won a 4-3 decision over Bryce Allen (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows); 1st Place Match – lost by fall to Zach Jensen (Spirit Lake Park) in 3:34; 2nd Place Match – lost by fall to Joey Potter (Osage) in 2:56.
285-Nick Bronstad (second place) – Semifinal – won a 6-2 decision over Cole Jeffries (Osage); 1st Place Match – lost by injury default in :02 to Aaron Graves (Southeast Valley (Gowrie). (no wrestleback).