Headed back to districts

Although Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn doesn't have its own wrestling program in 2020-21, its school colors made an auspicious appearance on Saturday at the Class 2A sectional wrestling tournament at Spirit Lake.

Wrestling as part of the Okoboji/H-M-S program Nick Bronstad, wearing a Hawk singlet, won the first place match at 285 pounds with a second period pin of Logan Meendering of Algona. The win advances Bronstad to the district meet for the second time and gives him an opportunity to earn his first trip to the state wrestling tournament.

The No. 1 seed among the six heavyweights, Bronstad needed just 78 seconds to win his semifinal match with Sawyer Thompson of Spirit Lake Park.

The other Okoboji/H-M-S wrestler who advances to the district meet is Noah Strantz. He won the 152-pound semifinal match with a decision over Jace Nelson-Brown of Emmetsburg. He lost the championship match to Zach Jensen of Spirit Lake Park.

Chayton Faulkner lost both matches in the first period to finish sixth at 170 pounds. The H-M-S senior completed his season with a record of 14-29.

Okoboji/H-M-S also had one fourth-place finisher, three wrestlers place fifth and two more finish sixth.

Spirit Lake Park won the team title with 214 points, edging second-place Humboldt by seven. The Indians qualified to compete in the regional dual team tournament on Feb. 9 at Sergeant Bluff. Okoboji/H-M-S's 111 points gave them a fifth-place team finish.

Complete individual results for wrestlers from H-M-S are listed with placement matches.

CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 8

(Placement match results)

106: 5th Place Match - Michael Gonnerman received a bye.

120: 3rd Place Match – Dylan Jones won by fall over Hunter Penton (AL), 3:37.

126: 3rd Place Match – Caleb Jones lost major decision to Hayden Thompson (AL), 17-7.

132: 5th Place Match – Ryan Pyle received a bye.

145: 5th Place Match – Caden Larue forfeit to Gage Prenger (HUM).

152: 1st Place Match – Noah Strantz lost decision to Zach Jensen (SLP), 7-1.

160: 5th Place Match – Jesse Bockman won by fall over Ashton Bradley (ELC), 1:17.

170: Quarterfinals – Chayton Faulkner lost by fall to Bryan Leathers (SLP), 1:09; 5th Place Match – lost by fall to Christian Alcala (HUM), 1:07.

182: 5th Place Match – Logan Duvall lost by fall to Tanner McKimmey (HUM), 1:18.

220: 3rd Place Match – Sam Pas won decision over Cohen Reffer (AL).

285: Semifinals – Nick Bronstad won by fall over Sawyer Thompson (SLP), 1:18; 1st Place Match - won by fall over Logan Meendering (AL), 2:40.

Team Scores: Spirit Lake Park 214, Humboldt 207, Emmetsburg 192, Algona 177.5, Okoboji/H-M-S 111, Estherville-Lincoln Central 105.5.