Okoboji/HMS wrestler Nick Bronstad took a spot on the medal stand after an eighth place finish at the State Individual Wrestling Tournament held February 18-20 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Bronstad, a junior at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn, came close to earning a higher placing. In each of his last two matches he was on the short end of a 1-0 decision. Bronstad ends the season with a record of 35-15.
Championship round one for Class 2A on Thursday night began with Bronstad losing a 5-0 decision to senior Chance Malone of Columbus Community. That moved the 285-pounder into the consolation side of the bracket. Facing an end to his tournament later that night, Bronstad lived to wrestle on by pinning South Tama County sophomore Rudy Papakee in 2:16.
Friday afternoon was the time for Bronstad’s consolation round two match with Jacob Leohr, a senior from Dike-New Hartford. Bronstad ended the match by fall over Leohr in 2:13. That night in consolation round three the Okoboji/HMS heavyweight faced another junior, Sioux Center’s Ethan Hooyer. The Warrior wrestler kept Bronstad down on the mat and came away with a 1-0 win by decision.
With the loss to Hooyer went Bronstad’s chance to place as high as third. His 7th place match ended in another 1-0 loss, this time to Mount Vernon senior Keean Kamerling.
Nick Bronstad’s results from State
285-Nick Bronstad (eighth place) Champ. Round 1 – lost a 5-0 decision to Chance Malone (Columbus Community) 37-5; Cons. Round 1 – won by fall over Rudy Papakee (South Tama County) 24-11 in 2:16; Cons. Round 2 – won by fall over Jacob Leohr (Dike-New Hartford) 14-7 in 2:13; Cons. Round 3 – lost a 1-0 decision to Ethan Hooyer (Sioux Center) 41-7; 7th Place Match – lost a 1-0 decision to Keean Kamerling (Mount Vernon) 23-7.