Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Class 2A District 8

When: Saturday, Noon

Where: Washington High School

Teams (Number of Qualifiers): Solon (12); Washington (9); West Liberty (7); Centerville (6), Davis County (6); Tipton (3); Burlington Notre Dame (3); Keokuk (3); Mid-Prairie (2); Columbus (2); Louisa-Muscatine (2); Fairfield (1)  

Ranked Teams: No. 4 Centerville; No. 6 Solon  

Area Qualifiers

113:     Jakobe Lahr (Solon) Fr.          21-23

120:     Lucas Kampman (Solon) Fr. 15-27

126:     Hayden Taylor (Solon) Fr.     45-2

132:     Zeb Gnida (Solon) Jr.             35-9

138:     Aidan Dall (Solon) Fr.            29-18

145:     Colton Spillman (Solon) Sr.   28-12

152:     Zack Bevans (Solon) Sr.         42-5

160:     Andy Brokaw (Solon) Sr.       36-10

170:     Jax Flynn (Solon) Jr.               41-5

182:     Seamus Poynton (Solon) Jr.   35-8

195:     Adam Bock (Solon) Sr.          35-11

220:     Mike Hoyle (Solon) Sr.          41-1               

What to Watch

Solon took five wrestlers to the state meet last season and finished 13th a year after claiming the Class 2A title in 2017.

The first step to improving on the 13th place finish from a year ago comes Saturday as The Spartans attempt to best the five qualifiers from last season.

Solon has 12 district qualifiers and five ranked wrestlers, the most among district 8 teams. Half of the Spartans’ qualifiers enter as sectional champs and eight of the 12 qualifiers have 35 or more wins this season.

Who to Watch

The longer the season goes the better Seamus Poynton has seemed to wrestler. To keep his season going for another week Poynton will need to be at his best on Saturday.

Poynton (35-8) has won 24 of his last 27 matches entering the district meet after notching a sectional title meet last week.

He faces a tough task on Saturday in a strong 182-pound district bracket that features second-ranked and unbeaten Tristin Westphal-Edwards of Washington.

Poynton faces Keokuk junior Dylan Jeffers (20-4) in the semifinals.

Weight Class to Watch

The District 8 meet features three brackets with two ranked wrestlers but the potential marquee title matchup is at 126 pounds.

With semifinal wins third-ranked Solon freshman Hayden Taylor (45-2) and fourth-ranked Kayden Kauzlarich (21-1) of Centerville would meet for a district title.

Taylor has been impressive in his first varsity season. With a win over Washington junior Brandon Dickel (11-5) in the semifinals Taylor would set himself up for a shot at a statement win before the state tournament.

Kauzlarich is a two-time state medalist that placed third last season and opens with Tipton junior Austin Lenz (19-8).

Ranked Wrestlers

106:     No. 2 Blaine Frazier (Burlington Notre Dame) Fr.

113:     No. 1 Matthew Lewis (Centerville) Soph.

120:     No 2 Nathan Genobana (Centerville) Soph.

126:     No. 3 Hayden Taylor (Solon) Fr.

           No. 4 Kayden Kauzlarich (Centerville) Jr.

132:     No. 6 Zeb Gnida (Solon) Jr.

138:     No. 3 Jarod Kadel (Columbus) Sr.

145:     No. 3 Will Esmoil (West Liberty) Jr.

152:     No. 4 Zack Bevans (Solon) Sr.

            No. 8 Coy Ruess (West Liberty) Sr.

170:     No. 9 Jax Flynn (Solon) Jr.

182:     No. 2 Tristin Westphal-Edwards (Washington) Sr.

195:     No. 9 Logan Escher (Washington) Sr.

            No. 10 Isaac Boucher (Mid-Prairie) Jr.

220:     No. 3 Mike Hoyle (Solon) Sr.

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by becoming a member.