The IGHSAU Wrestling State Tournament will begin Thursday inside Xtream Arena, with six area wrestlers competing.
All local wrestlers will compete in Class 1A tournaments in the first season of the sport having multiple enrollment classes. AP/GC will have three competitors, including Grace Storjohann, the 3-seed at 120, Zoey Uhlenhopp, the 12-seed at 145, and Kira Cox, the 7-seed at 170. West Fork’s Fernanda Ramirez is the 5-seed at 170, Hampton-Dumont-CAL’s Maren Subbert is the 8-seed at 190, and Iowa Falls-Alden’s Rylee Robison is the 16-seed at 235.
Uhlenhopp says she hopes to make it on the podium after last year’s run at state was cut short.
“I think I just need to keep being aggressive, and just giving it my all every match, because there’s nothing really to lose now that I already made it to state,” Uhlenhopp says. “Now the next thing is just placing.”
Subbert says some minor adjustments will help her wrestle her best after placing second at the regional meet.
“Definitely hand-to-hand fighting and then definitely taking more shots because I took none at the regional meet,” Subbert says. “Really just getting on a more offensive side instead of defensive.”
Storjohann on how she can continue her dominant season in her quest for a state title.
“In the end, it’s me versus me,” Storjohann says. “I can look at opponents, but also I just need to focus on myself and just doing my wrestling right. The girl that I’ve lost to this year and won against also other times, she’s a judo girl, and I sometimes I let her take control of the match. But what I need to do is just focus on myself and do what I like to do and control the match. So I’m just going to be really focusing on wrestling to my style and my capabilities because I know how strong they are.”
The first round, quarterfinals, and two consolation rounds will take place Thursday beginning at 4:30 p.m., with coverage airing on 99 The Wave.
Fernanda Ramirez, West Fork – Regional Champion at 170:
Maren Subbert, Hampton-Dumont-CAL – 2nd at 190:
