Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

DES MOINES – Anderson Osgood and Lucas Feuerbach each came to the state wrestling meet with their sights set on a state title.

Both Feuerbach and Osgood had a specific opponent they envisioned facing for their shot at state gold.

Feuerbach and Osgood each cruised to their coveted spots in the state finals on Friday and both have the matchup they were anticipating waiting on Saturday.

Second-ranked Osgood (45-3) won a 19-0 tech fall over Jackson McGonegle of Center Point-Urbana in a Class 2A 106-pound semifinal on Friday at Casey’s Center in Des Moines.

“It feels great,” Osgood said. “I love the support, my coaches, my friends, my teammates are here to support me and this is a really big deal for me.”

Second-ranked Feuerbach (46-2) pinned third-ranked Layne Kleppe of North Fayette Valley in 1:23 in a 285-pound semifinal to return to the state title match for the second consecutive season.

Feuerbach finished runner-up at 215 pounds last season.

“It obviously is a big tournament, it’s one of a lot of big stages I’ve been on the past year and half, but it definitely means a lot to me to be back here,” Feuerbach said. “I didn’t get what I wanted last year but we will see this year.”

Both Osgood and Feuerbach rolled to semifinal wins.

Now come the big matches for both on Saturday.

Osgood will face top-ranked Jackson Parmater (37-2) of Vinton-Shellsburg for the fourth time this season in the 106-pound title match.

Parmater won the first two meetings with Osgood, 19-1 on January 8 and 9-1 on January 17.

Osgood won the last meeting 3-1 in the finals of the WAMAC Conference tournament on January 31.

“I feel like I’ve improved a lot especially since taking those two losses in January,” Osgood said. “I watched some film and I feel like I’ve improved a lot from those moments.”

Feuerbach will face top-ranked Eaghan Fleshman (54-2) of Alburnett for the third time this season in the 285-pound title match.

Fleshman won 5-3 on December 6 and 4-1 in sudden victory in a regional dual on February 3.

Feuerbach anticipated a third meeting with Fleshman was coming this week in the finals.

“I think me and Eaghan have really separated ourselves from the rest of the division,” Feuerbach said. “I don’t think him or me has really had a close match with anyone in 2A so it’s been pretty obvious that it’s going to be me and him in the finals.”

Osgood needed 5:10 to record the 19-0 tech fall of eighth-ranked McGonegle in the semifinals.

It was the third consecutive tech fall for Osgood who has outscored opponents by a combined total of 54-4 in state tournament matches.

“I’m never changing the way I am wrestling,” Osgood said. “I’ve seen a lot of guys go out and want to make it a 1-1 match going into the third period and I don’t want to leave it up to chance like that so I want to get back to that mentality that it’s just another match no matter who is across from you.”

Feuerbach was equally impressive on his way to a pin in the 285-pound semifinals over Kleppe. It was the 38^th first-period pin for Feuerbach this season.

“I think I’ve really took care of business,” Feuerbach said. “All year everyone has been telling me ‘two time state champ’ and I really think I’ve improved on the having fun aspect. I think I’ve done pretty well so far and I’ll continue to do that.”

West Branch junior Ethan Humphrey fell to fourth-ranked Charlie Boelman of North Polk 9-3 in a 113-pound semifinal.

Class 2A State Tournament

At Casey’s Center in Des Moines

Team scores (Top 10; area teams) – 1. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 112.5; 2. Decorah 109; 3. Alburnett 93.5; 4. Glenwood 89.5; 5. Independence 88; 6. Wilton 83; 7. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 75.5; 8. Osage 67; 9. West Delaware 64.5; 10. Denver 60; 11. Solon 54.5; 27. West Branch 33.5.

Individual results (area athletes)

Semifinals

106 – Anderson Osgood (Solon) tech. fall Jackson McGonegle (Center Point-Urbana) 18-0

113 – Charlie Boelman (North Polk) dec. Ethan Humphrey (West Branch) 9-3

285 – Lucas Feuerbach (Solon) pinned Layne Kleppe (North Fayette Valley) 1:23

Consolation Round Five

144 – Jaxson Lundgren (North Fayette Valley) dec. Cash Hatfield (West Branch) 7-3

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