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Regina got a predictable performance from its state meet veteran on Thursday as four-time qualifier and defending state champion Jared Brinkman opened his 285-pound title defense with a first-period pin.

It was a couple of state meet newcomers that stole the show for Regina.

Junior Ryan Schott and sophomore Nick Milder both picked up wins in their state meet debuts as Regina sent three wrestlers into the quarterfinals on the opening day of the 1A state meet at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

“Today the kids really stepped up to the plate,” Regina coach Adam Martensen said. “They wanted to go out and prove themselves and I think right off the bat today they came out and set a tempo for how they wanted to approach this tournament.”

Schott got Regina off to a good start with a 3-2 win over Tri-Center’s Tyler Paulson in the opening round at 160 pounds.

The win improved Schott to 22-2 on the season and moved him into Friday’s 1A quarterfinals where he will face sixth-ranked Dalton Nelson (26-0) of North Butler.

Milder followed with a win in his first ever state match, a 11-6 win over Nick Haynes of Missouri Valley.

Milder (36-4) will face top-ranked Tanner Sloan (50-3) of Alburnett in the quarterfinals.

“I’m super proud of those guys,” Martensen said. “It’s really tough when you’ve never been down here before and you look at the atmosphere, you look at all the people and all the mats that are there and it’s very overwhelming and they did a really good job of staying focused on why they were there and doing the things that got them there to begin with.”

Brinkman put the finishing touches on a strong opening day for Regina with a first-period pin of Dike-New Hartford’s Chase Arends at 285 pounds.

The win was the sixth straight state tournament win for Brinkman who won the Class 1A, 285-pound title last season.

Top-ranked Brinkman (35-1) needed just 1:20 to pin Arends for his fifth consecutive first-period pin in the postseason.

“Jared came in today and he said it’s really fun because this is the first time I’m down here and I’m not nervous,” Martensen said. “He was really ready to go and excited to go out and wrestle.”

Brinkman will face tenth-ranked Mitchell Smith (40-6) of Saint Ansgar in the quarterfinals as he continues his drive to become the first two-time champion in Regina history.

“He continues to get better,” Martensen said of Brinkman. “He has learned to step up to the challenge of these big matches and these bug tournaments.”

Regina senior Mason Simpson dropped both of his matches on Thursday.

Simpson was pinned by Nick Gaes of Alta-Aurelia in the opening round and Wes Geisler of Hudson pinned Simpson in a first-round consolation match.

Class 1A State Meet

Team scores (Top 10; Area Teams) – 1. Don Bosco 22; 2. Lisbon 21; 3. Sibley-Ocheyedan 16; 4. Missouri Valley 15; 5. Alburnett 13; 6. Lake Mills 12; 6. Westwood 12; 8. Underwood 11.5; 9. Dike-New Hartford 11; 9. Logan-Magnolia 11; 9. Martensdale-St. Marys 11.

Opening Round

160 – Ryan Schott (Regina) dec. Tyler Paulson (Tri-Center) 3-2

170 – Nick Milder (Regina) dec. Nick Haynes (Missouri Valley) 11-6

195 – Nick Gaes (Alta-Aurelia) pinned Mason Simpson (Regina) 1:28

285 – Jared Brinkman (Regina) pinned Chase Arends (Dike-New Hartford) 1:20

First Round Consolation

195 – Wes Geisler (Hudson) pinned Mason Simpson (Regina) 2:38

Friday’s Quarterfinal Matchups

160 – Ryan Schott (22-2) Jr. Regina vs. No. 6 Dalton Nelson (26-0) Sr., North Butler

170 – Nick Milder (36-4) Soph., Regina vs. No. 1 Tanner Sloan (50-3) Jr., Alburnett

285 – No. 1 Jared Brinkman (35-1) Sr., Regina vs. No. 10 Mitchell Smith (40-6) Sr., Saint Ansgar