(Avoca) AHSTW’s Hayden Fischer is striving for a third straight state appearance while Garrison Gettler has hopes of getting to “The Well” for the first time in his high school career.
The Vikings go to Underwood for District Wrestling on Saturday.
Fischer goes in as a runner-up which means his first match will be critical, especially with highly regarded Gable Porter, of Underwood, on the other side of the bracket. Head coach Evan McCarthy says, “You don’t like to talk in total absolutes when it comes to wrestling because anything can happen, but you have to be real with the kids too. It’s probably 99% likely if Hayden wants to get through he has to win that first match.”
His first round matchup is against Bryce Shaha, of Mount Ayr. “He’s a returning state medalist. According to one rankings Shaha was 10th and Hayden was 12th. It’s going to be a really tough test for Hayden, but hopefully it’s match where he is ready to compete his best and come out on top against a really quality opponent. This is probably the highest level of wrestler he’s going to have to beat in his three district tournaments so far.””
Fischer takes a 20-7 record into the weekend. Garrison Gettler is 30-5. He won a sectional title at Riverside last Saturday and will begin the District Tourney with 18-4 Caleb Eliff, of Treynor. “Garrison is going to have to be at his best to get through this weekend. I think when he’s at his best he can compete and beat anybody in his bracket on Saturday.”
Every wrestler at 160 has seven losses or fewer. McCarthy says its a tough bracket. “The kid that Garrison beat from Missouri Valley last week, that was a very close match and could have gone either way. The wrestler from Treynor has really made some improvements this year and then Jackson Wray from East Mills had a great season last year and has been wrestling great the last couple of weeks.”
Wrestling starts at noon on Saturday in Underwood.
