SOLON — The Spartans hosted the Class 2A District 9 wrestling meet this past Saturday sending four wrestlers to the 2024 Traditional (individual) Tournament and placing second in team points to Mount Vernon. The Mustangs captured the District Championship with 209.5 points to Solon’s 171.5. Central DeWitt (149.5), Columbus/WMU (119.0), West Liberty (107.0), Mid-Prairie (54.0), Tipton (51.0), and Camanche (29.0) rounded out the field.
Jordan Schmidt won at 138 pounds pinning DeWitt’s Colton Penniston in 1:54, winning by technical fall (5:00, 17-2) against Camanche’s Jayden Krontz, and taking a 5-4 decision from Mount Vernon’s Jase Jaspers. Schmidt lost to Jaspers twice this season and qualified for State last year at 138 pounds, finishing seventh. He takes a 45-6 record to Des Moines this week.
Charlie Karam took 2nd at 132 pounds pinning DeWitt’s Adam Wilke in 1:39 and Tipton’s Gavin Roth in 4:00 before falling to West Liberty’s Briggs Collins in the first-place match. Karam took a 12-3 major decision from Columbus’ Bowen Thomson to win the 2nd place match. Karam advances to his first State Tournament with a 31-18 record.
Jackson Feuerbach took 2nd at 165 pounds with a first round bye, a 5-2 decision over Columbus’ Cole Storm in the quarterfinals, and a 7-3 decision over Camanche’s Olyver Fuller in the semis. DeWitt’s Elston Lindner took a 6-2 decision from Feuerbach in the 1st place match and Feuerbach won by no contest over Fuller for the 2nd place match. Feuerbach has a 30-20 record going into his first State Tournament appearance.
Lucas Feuerbach took 2nd at 215 pounds after a first round bye and taking a 3-0 decision from Columbus’ Cooper Buffington in the semis. DeWitt’s Chris Wrage won an 8-4 decision from Feuerbach in the 1st place match and Mid-Prairie’s Quinn Callahan fell to Feuerbach in 2:21 in the 2nd place match. Feuerbach takes a 40-8 record into his first State Tournament appearance.
Coach Aaron Hadenfeldt said he had mixed thoughts about the District Meet and upcoming State Tournament.
“They’re mixed because we have a handful of guys still wrestling and the rest are not. It’s tough when we’ve got good kids staying home (from State). I was proud of all of their effort and am happy for those four that earned the chance to wrestle this week. We’ll take the momentum into Des Moines and do our best to bring home some medals.”
Third place finishes went to Jayden Steapp (106), Kyler Steapp (120), Evan Burg (126), Lawsin Sinnwell (144), Carson Kidwell (150), and Kyler Jensen (190).
Teague Williams and Oliver Owens placed fourth at 157 and 175 pounds while Justin Moore (113) and Jamie Calef (285) did not place.
2024 State Tournament information
The tournament started Wednesday (Feb. 14) at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines with Class 2A first round and consolation matches at 9:00 a.m. Quarterfinals and consolations continued Thursday at 9:00 a.m. with semifinals and consolations at 9:00 a.m. Friday (Feb. 16). All classes consolation semifinals and consolation finals will begin at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 with all classes’ awards, The Grand March, and finals starting at 5:15 p.m.
For complete details on tickets and how to watch from home go to www.iahsaa.org/wrestling/state-tournament-central/.
Spartans send four to State Wrestling
February 15, 2024
About the Contributor
Chris Umscheid, Editor
Chris Umscheid is the editor of the Solon Economist.