Humboldt boys advance to state dual wrestling!


A jubilant Humboldt boys' wrestling team and its coaches and cheerleaders proudly display their banner after winning a Class 2A regional dual in Humboldt on Jan. 31. The Wildcats defeated Ballard Huxley, 38-29, to advance into the state dual team tournament in Coralville on Saturday, Feb. 4. Independent photo by PHIL MONSON.

The Humboldt boys' wrestling team kept their dual season alive Tuesday night (Jan. 31) in the Humboldt gym by turning back Ballard Huxley, 38-29 in Class 2A regional dual.

Humboldt will take an overall record of 18-2 into the state dual team tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville on Saturday, Feb. 4. Opening round action begins at 9 a.m. Humboldt, seeded No. 6, will meet No. 3 seed Sergeant Bluff-Luton at 11 a.m. on mat 4. The winner will face West Delaware (2nd) or Webster City (7th) at 3 p.m. in the semifinals. A loss would put Humboldt in the consolation match at 1 p.m.

Consolation finals will be at 6:30 p.m. The championship and third and fourth-place matches will be at 8:30 p.m.

Humboldt fell behind 14-0 in the match that began at 195 pounds. The Wildcats proceeded to win the next five straight matches for a 26-14 lead after Jayden Gargano moved up to 132 pounds and pinned Jayden Leland by technical fall, 15-0 with 41 seconds left in the third period.

Ballard won the next match at 138 but Humboldt's Zayn Feaster at 145, Jase Goodell at 152 and Ty Gargano at 160 sealed the win with victories, giving Humboldt an insurmountable lead at 38-17. With the win in the bag, the Wildcats forfeited the final two weights to Ballard.

Ballard edged Winterset in the opening round, 31-29.

It was Humboldt’s fifth trip to the state dual tournament. Humboldt placed eighth in 2020 and also qualified in 2001. Humboldt won the state title in 1992 and placed third in 1996.

Humboldt will prepare for the Class 2A district at Webster City on Saturday, Feb. 11. The top two place-winners at each weight advance to the individual state tournament in Des Moines Feb. 15-18.

Humboldt 38,
Ballard Huxley 29
195–Jackson Wacha (B) tech. fall over Ethan Kunert, 18-3, 3:39. 220–Gabriel Christensen (B) pinned Kyle Caquelin, 1:35. 285–Henry Christensen (B) dec. Tayeton Lohaus, 5-1. 106–Aden Prenger (H) won by forfeit. 113–Cyler Cirks (H) pinned Tony Horness, 0:39. 120–Tyce Clarken (H) pinned Wyatt Emery, 0:47. 126–Owen Mayall (H) dec. Jacob Harrison, 8-7.
132–Jayden Gargano (H) tech. fall over Jayden Leland, 15-0, 5:21. 138–Tucker Vitzthum (B) dec. Brady Beers, 8-7. 145–Zayn Feaster (H) dec. Lane Kahler, 3-2. 152–Jase Goodell (H) pinned Daniel Hyman, 0:36. 160–Ty Gargano (H) dec. Rhett Hedrick, 9-4. 170–Luke Hartsock (B) won by forfeit. 182–Brody Sampson (B) won by forfeit.

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