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Tyler Hancox has been down a couple of times over the last week during the wrestling postseason but the Solon senior has never been out.

Now Hancox is in.

As in – in the state wrestling meet.

For the second consecutive week Hancox bounced back from being pinned to win a wrestle back and secured his first trip to the state meet with a runner-up finish at the Class 2A, District 8 meet in Williamsburg on Saturday.

“I have a lot of people that support me,” Hancox said. “I believe in myself, believe in my coaches and believe in god and let the wrestling talk for itself.”

The runner-up finish from Hancox was part of a solid day for the Solon as the Spartans qualified three wrestlers for the Class 2A state meet next week at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Top-ranked senior Gage Marty won the title at 285 pounds and freshman Jordan Schmidt advanced with a runner-up finish at 126 pounds.

Saturday was about the resilient Hancox who posted back-to-back pins to finish runner-up at 220 pounds.

Last week at the sectional meet Hancox led Colley Billingsley of Washington 11-0 when he was pinned in the second period.

Less than an hour later he posted a first-period pin of West Liberty sophomore Joe Akers in a wrestle back to keep his season alive.

Hancox (23-14) was pinned by top-ranked Clark Younggren of Mount Vernon in 1:10 in the opening match.

He got a measure of revenge from a week ago with a third-period pin of Billingsley in the consolation match.

“We strategized for him,” Hancox said. “He is a solid guy, I was able to get to my stuff and come away with a win.”

Hancox completed his comeback with a pin of Kai Malone (28-22) of Columbus in 2:41 in the wrestle back to advance to state.

“It was a huge win a huge thing for me,” Hancox said. “I am going to remember that moment forever.”

Schmidt (37-18) recorded the only takedown of the match 30 seconds into overtime to down Zach Westercamp (17-11) of Fairfield in his semifinal at 126 pounds.

“I was just trying to go out there and work hard and get that last takedown in and get a shot to go to state,” Schmidt said. “I just had to get that last takedown.”
Schmidt was pinned by top-ranked Jaiden Moore of Benton Community (37-0) in the title match but advanced to state for the first time with the runner-up finish.

“It was a great feeling as a freshman getting to be at state with the best guys,” Schmidt said. “I get to go up there and have a shot at a medal.”

Marty (45-2) continued his impressive run through the postseason with a pair of wins on Saturday.

He pinned Russel Coil of Columbus in 1:17 in the opener and won a 9-0 decision over Gannon Callahan (23-3) of Mid-Prairie in the final.

Class 2A, District 8 Meet

At Williamsburg  

Team scores – 1. West Burlington Notre Dame 154.5; 2. Mount Vernon 80.5; 3. West Liberty 75; 4. Benton Community 65; 5. Williamsburg 63; 6. Solon 46; 7. Columbus 39; 8. Mid-Prairie 25; 9. Fairfield 23; 10. Washington 9

Championship matches; state qualifiers

106 – 1. Colin Cassady (WL) dec. Carter West (WBND) 7-5 SV-1

113 – 1. Gavin Jensen (WIL) dec. Kaiden Dietzenbach (WBND) 6-3

120 – 1. Lane Scorpil (COL) pinned CJ Davis (WBND) 1:49

126 – 1. Jaiden Moore (BC) pinned Jordan Schmidt (SOL) 1:10

132 – 1. Blaine Frazier (WBND) won by forfeit Cason Miller (FAI)

138 – 1. Jackson Jaspers (MV) dec. Tate O’Shea (WBND) 2-0

145 – 1. Brenden Heying (BC) major dec. Joshua Zeman (WL) 13-4

152 – 1. Isaiah Fenton (WBND) tech. fall Henry Ryan (MV) 19-2

160 – 1. Samuel West (WBND) dec. Kam Royster (WIL) 10-8 SV-1

170 – 1. Drake Collins (WL) won by forfeit River Belger (WBND)

182 – 1. CJ Walrath (WBND) tech. fall Felipe Molina (WL) 21-5

195 – 1. Jack Geels (WIL) dec. Cael Garvey (M-P) 5-4; 2. Jahsiah Galvan (WL)

220 – 1. Clark Younggreen (MV) pinned Kai Malone (COL) 1:00; 2. Tyler Hancox (SOL)

285 – 1. Gage Marty (SOL) major dec. Gannon Callahan (M-P) 9-0

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