HUXLEY — The bid to three-peat as Class 2A state wrestling champions began with a bang for Ballard at the 2A sectional meet in Huxley Saturday.
The Bombers, ranked second behind Denver-Tripoli in 2A, advanced 11 of their 14 wrestlers on to next week’s 2A district meet in Conrad. Ten of those individuals were sectional champions, and the Bombers owned the team competition, compiling 284.5 points to outdistance Webster City’s runner-up score by 100.5 points for the title.
“I’m happy we got 11 through, and I didn’t realize we had 10 champions,” Ballard head coach Jeff Weatherman said. “That’s great.”
Ballard won every weight class except 119, 125, 215 and 285 pounds. Six of the Bomber champions won their title matches by fall as Tim Miklus (112), Dakota Bauer (130), Willie Miklus (145), Tanner Weatherman (152), Brad Mickelson (160) and Brock Weatherman (171) all stuck their opponents in the championship round.
Dillon Hansen (103) and Tanner Hiatt (140) also won for Ballard. Dillon Weatherman was awarded the title by injury default at 189 for the Bombers after Gilbert’s Marcus Keinert landed hard on his shoulder in their title match.
The most exciting title victory for Ballard came at 135 when Bo Cosens followed up a tough 4-2 win over Webster City’s Joe Powers with a 3-2 victory over fourth-ranked and previously unbeaten Erik Schmidt, of Gilbert.
Cosens fell behind 1-0 after a Schmidt escape to start the second period, but he patiently waited for an opening and then shot in on Schmidt for a takedown with 15 seconds left in the second.
“I had to wait because my coaches told me to ‘stay off the collar tie, stay off the collar tie,’” Cosens said of the big takedown. “Once he took one wrong move, I knew I had to capitalize, and that’s where I got the takedown.”
Schmidt got away for an escape in the final seconds of the second, but Cosens chose down to start the third, fought his way for the go-ahead escape with just over a minute left and then held on despite a late stalling warning.
Ross Larson was the other Bomber to qualify for districts. He took second at 215.
Gilbert ended up third at Saturday’s sectional meet with 161 points. Cole Jackson won the 215 title. Jordan Harestad was second at 285. Jake Lamkey came in second at 152, and Clay Long was runner-up at 171.
Schmidt had a heartbreaking end to his senior year as he was upset by Powers in a true-second wrestleback, losing a 6-5 battle to end the year at 32-2.
“I’m really happy for the four guys that moved on, but we didn’t have our best day,” Gilbert head coach Scott Auderer said. “Sometimes that just happens.”
Nevada finished fourth with 141 points. T.K. Pope (103), Kaine Leighty (125) and Nick Harvey (130) all took second.
Collins-Maxwell-Baxter was fifth with 109 points. Jayme O’Hara came in second at 119.
Roland-Story took last in the team standings with 91 points, but the Norse had two wrestlers make it to districts. Bret Johnson won the 285 pound title, and Spencer Peterson placed second at 112.
Final team scores: 1. Ballard 284.5 points, 2. Webster City 184, 3. Gilbert 161, 4. Nevada 141, 5. Collins-Maxwell-Baxter 109, 6. Roland-Story 91.
Class 2A district qualifiers
103 pounds – 1. Dillon Hansen (B), 2. T.K. Pope (N); 112 – 1. Tim Miklus (B), 2. Spencer Peterson (RS); 119 – 1. Taylor Raygor (WC), 2. Jayme O’Hara (CMB); 125 – 1. Tyler Patten (WC), 2. Kaine Leighty (N); 130 – 1. Dakota Bauer (B), 2. Nick Harvey (N); 135 – 1. Bo Cosens (B), 2. Joe Powers (WC); 140 – 1. Tanner Hiatt (B), 2. Eric Tolle (WC); 145 – 1. Willie Miklus (B), 2. Luke Shannon (WC); 152 – 1. Tanner Weatherman (B), 2. Jake Lamkey (G); 160 – 1. Brad Mickelson (B), 2. Cody Crouch (WC); 171 – 1. Brock Weatherman (B), 2. Clay Long (G); 189 – 1. Dillon Weatherman (B), 2. Garrett Johnson (WC); 215 – 1. Cole Jackson (G), 2. Ross Larson (B); 285 – 1. Bret Johnson (RS), 2. Jordan Harestad (G).
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Ballard sends 11 wrestlers to districts
