Raiders send two on to State
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Mount Ayr took three wrestlers to the District Tournament in Pleasantville last Saturday where two Raiders advanced to the State Tournament and one Raider ended is wrestling career as a senior.
The first Raider through was Freshman Brock Shaha in the 106 pound weight class.
Shaha entered the day at 33-10 and faced Ogden’s Caleb Wisecup.
1:48 into the match, Shaha was able to get the fall and move on to face Dallas Canoyer of Earlham.
Shaha and Canoyer met at Sectionals the week before with Shaha victorious, and once more before that with Canoyer getting the win.
Shaha defeated Canoyer by a 7-2 decision to take the championship spot and advance to the State Tournament.
“It feels pretty good and I really needed to set the pace,” said Shaha. “It feels good to go to State and my goal is to be a State champion.”
Jaydon Knight at 170 pounds and entering Districts at 37-4, faced Ogden’s Tyler Kathman.
Knight was on the mat for 51 seconds before pinning his opponent for a shot at the first place spot.
Knight would see Callyn Bishop, of Baxter, in the 1st place matchup, a match that lasted 1:19 and ending in a fall in favor of Knight to push him onto the State Tournament.
“It feels good, hopefully I can get a lot better than last year,” said Knight. “Just hitting milestones in my career, getting better day-by-day and week-by-week. We are going to train hard for three days and go up there and see how the cards play out.”
Mount Ayr’s senior Braydon Swietlik came into the day at 24-16 and looked to battle through the 220 pound bracket.
Swietlik fell to Panorama’s Cooper Andersen in the first round by fall in 1:13 and would have to attempt a comeback for a shot at 2nd place.
Swietlik ultimately fell to Shane Aikin of Colfax-Mingo and would finish fourth, missing out on a State berth.
“I just tried to be the best I could be,” said Swietlik. “There was a lot of challenges and I think I did pretty good for only being in for two years. You have to do your best and never give up, no matter what and always try to be a better version of yourself.”
Coach John Ford closed out his final District meet as a Raider head coach as he is set to resign the position after the State Meet this week.
“Starting with Brock, I think he wrestled the best he’s wrestled all year today. Jaydon, when Swalla got beat that helped us but Jaydon was on a mission and he was going to go. Braydon knew he had to get his second one and couldn’t get it but I am proud of him,” said coach Ford. “You always want more as a coach. You want it all.”
State Tournament
At the State Tournament, Brock Shaha will face Reanah Utterback, who comes into the meet at 38-3, while Jaydon Knight will face Denver Pauley who comes into the meet at 45-5.
