Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The Wrestlers

Area Qualifiers/Opening Round Opponents

182 – No. 5 Nick Milder (33-2) Sr., Regina vs. Hunter Aney (25-9) Sr., Mediapolis

Returning State Champions

Current Weight/Wrestler/2018 Championship Weight

120 – Daniel Kimball, Sr., Don Bosco (106)

120 – Adam Allard, Jr., West Sioux (113)*

132 – Cael Happel, Jr., Lisbon (120)*

160 – John Henrich, Sr., Akron-Westfield (160)*

182 – Gabe Pauley, Sr., AHSTW (170)

*-Denotes mult-time champion

Undefeated Wrestlers

113 – Aidan Noonan (45-0) Soph., Cascade

120 – Adam Allard (52-0) Jr., West Sioux

126 – Briar Reisz (52-0) Soph., Logan-Magnolia

132 – Cael Happel (46-0) Jr., Lisbon

132 – Jacob McBride (43-0) Sr., Mason City Newman

138 – Cobe Siebrecht (46-0) Sr., Lisbon

160 – John Henrich (41-0) Sr., Akron-Westfield

170 – Treyton Cacek (42-0) Jr. GT-RA

195 – Zach Ryg (43-0) Sr. Central Springs

220 – Garet Sims (48-0) Sr. Iowa Valley

220 – Dylan Obermeier (50-0) Sr. Audubon

220 – Garrett Keehner (44-0) Sr. MFL-Mar Mac

220 – Nick Gaes (37-0) Sr. Alta-Aurelia

Who to Watch

Nick Milder has put together a spectacular career.

The Regina senior became the first four-time River Valley Conference champion in program history, added sectional and district titles earlier this month and boasts a 95-14 the past three seasons.

Now, Milder will try to put the finishing touches on his impressive career with the one thing he has been missing – some state meet hardware.

The ninth three-time state qualifier in Regina history, Milder (33-2) returns to Wells Fargo Arena for the final time seeking his spot on the medal stand.

Milder won his first ever state meet match two seasons ago as a sophomore but has lost each of his final four matches at Wells Fargo Arena.

Last season Milder dropped back-to-back 3-0 decisions to wrestlers that ended up on the medal stand at 170 pounds.

Milder enters the state meet ranked fifth at 182 pounds and brings a 12-match win streak into Thursday’s opener after posting back-to-back wins over No. 10 Cole Clark in the sectional and district title matches.

Milder will face Mediapolis senior Hunter Aney (25-9) in the opening round and finds himself in a crowded bottom half of the 182-pound bracket.

A quarterfinal matchup with third-ranked Tucker Kroeze (39-5) of Belmond-Klemme could await while Clark, second-ranked Thomas Even (40-1) of Bon Bosco and fourth-ranked Nathan Johanningmeier of MFL-Mar Mac are all possible semifinal op

Weight Class to Watch

It doesn’t happen often that a state meet bracket contains a pair of returning champions but that’s the case at 120 pounds in Class 1A.

Top-ranked West Sioux junior Adam Allard (52-0) and second-ranked Daniel Kimball (40-1) of Don Bosco each win 1A titles a year ago and are on a collision course to meet in the 120-pound title match.

Both wrestlers have enjoyed impressive careers.

Allard is a two-time champion winning the 106-pound title in 2017 and adding a title at 113 pounds last year.

Allard has won 98 consecutive matches during his two-year title run and has a 145-1 career record.

Kimball won the 106-pound title a year ago and is chasing his second state title.

The two met in the 106-pound semifinals in 2017 with Allard earning a 3-0 decision.

The Teams

District Champions (State Qualifiers)

Denver (10), Interstate 35 (5), Don Bosco (10), Emmetsburg (5), Lisbon (8), West Sioux (8), Underwood (9), Highland (4)

2018 Top 5 Team Finishers – 1. Lisbon 127.5; 2. Don Bosco 121; 3. Denver 86; 4. Wapsie Valley 66.5; 5. Underwood 58

Last 5 Team Champs

2018 – Lisbon

2017 – Lisbon

2016 – Alburnett

2015 – Alburnett

2014 – Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont

What to Watch in the Team Race ­­

Lisbon pulled away from Don Bosco to win its first state title since 1993 two years ago and then repeated the feat by edging the Dons for a second consecutive title last February.

Expect both of those perennial powers to figure into the 1A title conversation once again this week.

Top-ranked Don Bosco matched third-ranked Denver with 10 state qualifiers and all ten of the Dons qualifiers come to Wells Fargo Arena ranked in the top 10 at their respective weights.

Denver was third a year ago well off the pace of Don Bosco and Lisbon but brings seven ranked wrestlers to state this season including a trio of top-ranked wrestlers.

Lisbon isn’t going to give up the 1A crown without a fight.

The Lions have the top end firepower to win a third straight crown with a trio of top-ranked wrestlers led by two-time champ Cael Happel at 132 pounds.

Keep an eye on fourth-ranked Underwood and its nine state qualifiers and No. 5 West Sioux which has three wrestlers ranked in the top five.

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