(Avoca, IA) – AHSTW has finally been able to get into the practice room after such a busy January where it seemed like just about every other night they were headed to another school for more matches and duals. Head Coach Evan Hansen is happy that they’ve been able to get back in the practice room to be able to knock down some key mechanics as they have a few days to prepare for districts on Saturday.
Despite not having many practices, the Vikings have improved in a few key ways. They’ve come into matches with a different mindset as even the young wrestlers have gone into matches with confidence at the end of the regular season. The Viking’s ability to also knock down some of their techniques and moves has led a few of their wrestlers to success at the end of the regular season, just in time for postseason action.
Blake Akers (26-7), Kayden Baxter (28-4), and Henry Lund (25-4) have continued to lead this season on the mats for the Vikings and have been put into good positions to get to the state tournament. Alongside those three, both Sawyer Kiesel (27-14) and Braden Fineran (11-8) have been stepping up as of late to where their current success could also lead down a path to Des Moines.
AHSTW will be graduating five seniors after this season including Michael Mitchell, Wyatt Evans, Nate Jorgensen, Sawyer Kiesel, and Payton Hopkins. With it being Head Coach Evan Hansen’s first season as a head coach, he has been proud to see not only the development of his wrestlers but the development that he has seen in himself from what they’ve been able to do on the mats.
The Vikings head to Oakland at Riverside High School on Saturday for the Class 1A District #9 wrestling tournament. They will battle local teams ACGC, CAM, Coon Rapids-Bayard, Griswold, Mount Ayr, and Riverside. KSOM 96.5 will be live from Riverside on Saturday with Austin West providing updates throughout the day, starting at 10:00 a.m.
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