Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

DES MOINES – Solon sophomore Lucas Feuerbach took some big steps this season.

Feuerbach was left one step shy of the top of the podium.

Top-ranked Mason Koehler (42-4) of Glenwood scored takedowns in the first and third periods on his way to a 7-0 win over Feuerbach in the 215-pound state title match on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

The runner-up finish for Feuerbach (46-4) was the first medal for the already two-time state qualifier and capped a stellar sophomore season that saw him emerge as one of the top young wrestlers in Class 2A.

“I think if you told him at the beginning of the year that he’d be wrestling in the state champion match he’d take that,” Solon coach Aaron Hadenfeldt said. “Hopefully we’ve got a couple more years left to get back here and get a different outcome.”

A year after going 2-2 in his state tournament debut Feuerbach reached the state title with back-to-back wins over ranked wrestlers.

Third-ranked Feuerbach won a 10-4 decision over second-ranked Henry Christensen of North Polk in Friday’s semifinals.

“I think he grew confidence-wise this week,” Hadenfeldt said. “Not that he lacked confidence but I think he proved to himself that he is right there with the best guys.”

Koehler scored the opening takedown less than a minute into the first period and added an escape point in the second for a 4-0 lead.

“I think it was pretty obviously that (Koehler) had been here a few times,” Hadenfeldt said. “We went out and tried to toss him right away and he stayed calm and he’s a solid wrestler.”

Koehler scored the match-clinching takedown on a counter attack with 30 seconds remaining.

The title was the first for Koehler who finished eighth and fifth the past two seasons.

“We got into a little bit of a flurry at the end and he closed it,” Hadenfeldt said. “That’s what the maturity and that experience here brings.”

Class 2A State Tournament

At Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines

Team scores (Top 10; area teams) – 1. Burlington Notre Dame 129; 2. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 107.5; 3. Union 103.5; 4. Davenport Assumption 99.5; 5. Sergeant Bluff-Luton 98; 6. Mount Vernon 88; 7. Independence 87.5; 8. West Delaware 83; 9. Williamsburg 76; 10. Anamosa 74.5; 34. Solon 30

Championship Round (area athletes)

215 – Mason Koehler (Glenwood) dec. Lucas Feuerbach (Solon) 7-0

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