Shaha on to State
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Raiders advance one to State Wrestling from Districts
The Mount Ayr Raiders traveled to Truro to compete in the Class 1A District 4 wrestling tournament on Saturday, February 11. The top two wrestlers at each weight would advance to the State Meet that began this Wednesday, February 15.
At 106 pounds, the bracket was light, with only four wrestlers, including Mount Ayr’s Brock Shaha. Shaha, who is ranked eighth overall in Class 1A at 106 pounds, had a bye to begin the day before facing Hunter Flatciff. Shaha won by fall in 1:12 to advance to the finals where he faced Tommy Booth of Pleasantville who had recently defeated Levi Webb of Martensdale by fall in 2:36. Shaha secured his berth with a pin over Booth in 1:39.
Shaha, a sophmore and most senior member of the team has faced the challenge of stepping up and being a leader on a very young Raider squad. “It’s getting people involved. We have five wrestlers and hard to get people excited about it,” said Shaha. “It’s such a hard sport and I just try to help work on technique and stay focused at practice.”
Shaha is entering the state tournament with experience under his belt already having been a state qualifier just a year ago as a freshman. However, qualifier isn’t what Shaha is after. He wants to win it all. “I’m feeling good. I need to work on my feet and mentality,” said Shaha. “Just winning the thing, that’s what I plan on doing. I don’t plan on being a qualifier again, it’s already done and I can already say I’ve been there.”
At 120 pounds, the Raiders fielded Nathan Mederos. Mederos wrestled Elijah Wheeldon to begin the day, falling in 1:50 to the Martensdale-St. Marys Blue Devil.
Mederos would end his day with a loss to Gus Oesch in the consolation bracket.
At 132 pounds, Mount Ayr’s Conlee Stark would face Cord Hamilton to start his day.
Stark went three rounds, but was unable to score against Hamilton, falling by major decision, 11-0. Stark would then face Ben Brenizer, where he fell by a close 7-5 decision.
At 138 pounds, Tegan Hill faced Keeton Ellison.
Hill made it a difficult win for Ellison, but Hill fell in 3:46.