Photos by Amy Nelson
(Des Moines, IA) — It was a disappointing night for Atlantic as Aiden Smith and Evan Sorensen both lost their semifinal matches and will try to get third place on Saturday.
Smith never got get any offense going and lost to #1 seed Jase Jaspers of Mount Vernon by MD 17-3 — Jaspers remains unbeaten at 46-0. Sorensen faced off with Jadyn Cooper of Winterset for the 4th time this season and Cooper held on for a 1-0 win. Sorensen was fighting for an escape to force overtime but needed another second or two in the third period and he might have gotten it.
Smith will face Elijah Kupka of Benton on Saturday morning while Sorensen will square off with Sam Christensen of Central Lyon in the consolation semifinals. If they win, they will wrestle for third place. If they lose, they will wrestle for 5th.
Braxton Hass of Atlantic did not make it to the medal round — the junior lost to Ed Edfors of Central DeWitt by fall at 3:24 in the blood round and Hass ends his season at 47-15.
Jesse Jens of Harlan survived the blood round — the senior had a 5-3 lead over Jarrett Engel of West Delaware and the two stayed in neutral most of the third period until Engel tried to make a move and Jens answered with an insurance takedown and an 8-3 win. Later, Jens came back and lost 16-5 to Kaydin Jones of Union LaPorte City — Jens will wrestle for 7th place on Saturday.
Mason Koehler of Glenwood is the #1 seed at 215 and he broke a 1-1 tie with a takedown and pin at 4:55 to advance to the finals.
Lane Travis of Creston lost in the blood round to Kaiden Parker of Oskaloosa by MD 14-3 and his season ends at 42-12.
Lucas Kral of Garner Hayfield Ventura beat Reese Fauble of Glenwood MD 13-1 in the blood round and Fauble’s season ends at 24-9.
Adam Baier of Red Oak also fell short of the medal round with a loss by fall at 1:06 and finishes his senior season 35-8.
At 215 pounds, Mason Nally of Clarinda lost to Trevor Bailey of AP-GC 10-7 and his season ends at 46-10
