(Des Moines, IA)- It’s the final night of the state tournament and that means the spotlights come out. Three mats, three matches, three state champions. Of course, you can’t have these championship bouts begin without first the presentation of the grand march.
Our area had five championship finalists, hear from each of them following their finals matches:
Class 3A 106lbs- Weston Porter of Lewis Central
A tough match for freshman Weston Porter as he faced off against fellow freshman Nico DeSalvo of Southeast Polk. The match would go all three periods but unfortunately DeSalvo comes out triumphant and defeats Porter by major decision 13-0.
Class 1A 138lbs- Blake Allen of Underwood
The first of our champions is Blake Allen of Underwood as seals up a tight match against Teague Smith of West Hancock with a 3-1 decision. These two would stay scoreless through the first period, before they each get an escape in periods two and three. Allen strikes with :30 left in the third for the edge of the mat takedown and clinches his second state championship. you know what they say, two is better than one. Especially in the finals.
Class 1A 144lbs- Corbin Riesz of Logan-Magnolia
Panthers rejoice! In the championship match at 144lbs, it’s Corbin Riesz who takes a 4-2 decision victory over Boden White of Denver. A close one throughout but two big tilts for Riesz is what put this match away. The best part? One more year of Corbin in the purple and gold as he returns for his senior year.
Class 1A 150lbs- Danny Kinsella of Treynor
The Cardinals first finalist in school history didn’t turn out the way that they hoped as Danny Kinsella battled through three periods of wrestling. Battled is no understatement either as Kinsella had multiple blood times called for scrapes to the head. It would be a takedown in the final seconds that ended the historic run as Kinsella takes second to Keaton Moeller of Starmont by decision 3-1. Maybe not the first champion, but Treynor’s highest finish at the tournament.
Class 1A 165lbs- Maddox Nelson of Underwood
Count ’em. Not one but TWO state champions for the Eagles of Underwood. Maddox Nelson was in a tight one never separated by more than one point until the third period where quick takedowns would stretch his lead and give him the 9-5 decision victory over John McGill of Colfax-Mingo. For the second time, you know what they say, two is better than one. Especially in the finals.
Class 1A 215lbs- Ashton Honnold of Nodaway Valley
Win a championship, throw your coach. Or in this case, your dad. Ashton Honnold take 1st for the Wolverines after he takes his match into overtime with a quick takedown in the final seconds of the third. It was just the burst he needed as he drops Brady Davis of Maquoketa Valley with a single leg and picks up the pin for an overtime win. Coach Honnold said it best after the match, “That’s how you wrestle six minutes.”
