Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

DES MOINES – A three-time state qualifier and two-time state medalist West Branch junior Ethan Humphrey has picked up a few things in his previous two trips to the state wrestling meet.

The number one lesson Humphrey learned while going 7-4 in state tournament matches in his first two prep seasons – focus on one match at a time.

“I’ve learned to take one match at a time and stay focused,” Humphrey said. “You can’t do much more than just staying focused on each match. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Humphrey had one match to focus on Thursday and was locked in.

Third-ranked Humphrey (42-2) needed just 4:35 to record a 17-1 tech fall of Saydel senior Roman Kile in a Class 2A 113-pound second round match at Casey’s Center in Des Moines.

The win sends Humphrey into the state quarterfinals for the third consecutive season where he will face No. 11 Romann Derksen (31-9) of Wilton on Friday in a session that begins at 9 a.m.

“It’s a good atmosphere, I’m just getting used to all the people yelling and screaming,” Humphrey said. “I’m ready to hear my name from the people screaming and yelling when I’m in the finals.”

Humphrey finished eighth in his state meet debut as a freshman.

Last season Humphrey reached the state semifinals on his way to a third-place finish at 106 pounds.

Humphrey has his sights set even higher this season starting with Friday’s quarterfinal.

“No matter my opponent I know I can win so I just keep that mindset going,” Humphrey said. “I never let anything get ahead of me.”

All four West Branch qualifiers advanced to Friday’s second day of the 2A state meet.

Cash Hatfield, Keaton Gates and Cooper Gates all bounced back from second-round losses with consolation wins.

Fifth-ranked Hatfield opened with a 3-2 win over Gable Underbakke of West Liberty at 144 pounds before falling to eighth-ranked Jaxson Lundgren of North Fayette Valley 7-0 in the second round.

Hatfield (34-6) responded to the loss with a 20-3 tech fall of Kayden Henderson of Albia in a consolation match.

Keaton Gates fell to seventh-ranked Decorah freshman Grant Knutson in the second round at 150 pounds but responded with a consolation win to keep his season alive.

No. 10 Gates (40-10) had six takedowns in a 19-4 tech fall of Central DeWitt’s Keaton Hansen in the consolation round.

Senior Cooper Gates (46-8) went 2-1 on Thursday moving into Friday with a consolation win at 165 pounds.

Sixth-ranked Cooper Gates pinned Keagan Schultz of North Fayette Valley in the opener round before dropping a 7-2 decision to eighth-ranked Lane Gudenkauf of West Delaware in the second round.

Gates capped his day and extended his season by winning a 7-2 decision over Kyler Wade of Williamsburg.

Class 2A State Tournament

At Casey’s Center in Des Moines

Team scores (Top 10; Area teams) – 1. Independence 51; 2. Decorah 50.5; 3. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 44.5; 4. Alburnett 40; 5. Wilton 39; 6. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 38.5; 7. Glenwood 34.5; 8. Atlantic 34; 9. Algona 33; 10. West Delaware 32.5; 23. West Branch 17.5; 25. Solon 16.5

Individual Results (Area wrestlers)

Opening Round

113 – Romann Derksen (Wilton) pinned Evan Gleason (Solon) :52

126 – Jayden Steapp (Solon) dec. Garett Bruner (BCLUW) 3-0

144 – Cash Hatfield (West Branch) dec. Gable Underbakke (West Liberty) 3-2

157 – Brooxton Lundgren (North Fayette Valley) tech. fall Carson Kidwell (Solon) 17-2

165 – Taevyn Zinnel (Algona) tech. fall Teague Williams (Solon) 17-2

165 – Cooper Gates (West Branch) pinned Keagan Schultz (North Fayette Valley) 5:26

215 – Tayten Rummel (Algona) major dec. Kyler Jensen (Solon) 12-1

Second Round  

106 – Anderson Osgood (Solon) tech. fall Weston Drahos (Williamsburg) 20-3

113 – Ethan Humphrey (West Branch) tech. fall Roman Kile (Saydel) 17-1

126 – Jayce Curry (Sergeant Bluff-Luton) dec. Jayden Steapp (Solon) 7-0

144 – Jaxson Lundgren (North Fayette Valley) dec. Cash Hatfield (West Branch) 7-0

150 – Grant Knutson (Decorah) dec. Keaton Gates (West Branch) 10-5

165 – Lane Gudenkauf (West Delaware) dec. Cooper Gates (West Branch) 7-2

285 – Lucas Feuerbach (Solon) pinned Trayvahn Williams (Iowa Falls) :22

Second round consolation

113 – Kaleb Brown tech. fall Evan Gleason (Solon) 15-0

126 – Jaxson Port (Alburnett) dec. Jayden Steapp (Solon) 8-3

144 – Cash Hatfield (West Branch) tech. fall Kayden Henderson (Albia) 20-3

150 – Keaton Gates (West Branch) tech. fall Keaton Hansen (Central DeWitt) 19-4

157 – Gavin Knutson (Decorah) major dec. Carson Kidwell (Solon) 11-2

165 – Teague Williams (Solon) major dec. Olyver Fuller (Camanche) 18-9

165 – Cooper Gates (West Branch) dec. Kyler Wade (Williamsburg) 7-2

215 – Dru Diaz (Davenport Assumption) major dec. Kyler Jensen (Solon) 13-5

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