Alburnett's Bryce Paul (left) upends Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont's Jeffrey Koebke as he works on a pin in 1:23 in their 145-pound bout for the dual team 1A championship at the state wrestling tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013, in Des Moines. (Liz Martin/The Gazette-KCRG)
Small schools start the postseason with sectional tournaments across the state this Saturday. The Predicament released its final tournament team and individual rankings for Class 1A and 2A before the trek to the state tournament in Des Moines for prep wrestlers.
Defending state champion Alburnett remains in the top spot in Class 1A with six ranked wrestlers. The Pirates are led by top-ranked Bryce Paul (145) and 170-pounder Dylan Windfield, who is a returning state champion. Senior Zach Fowler is third at 113, while two-time state champion Hunter Washburn is second at 132.
Highland is third in the team rankings. The Huskies are led by top-ranked twin freshmen Drew and Bryce West, who are at 106 and 113, respectively.
Lisbon is ninth with three ranked wrestlers, including 132-pound No. 1 Carter Happel, who was a state champion last year as a freshman. Maquoketa Valley is 10th and Matt Parmely is ranked first at 220 for the Wildcats.
Mediapolis ranks first in Class 2A with a 2A-best nine ranked wrestlers. Albia is second with Davenport Assumption third.
West Delaware is fifth, one spot in front of Wamac rival Independence. The two programs tied for the conference team title last weekend. The Hawks have four ranked wrestlers, including No. 2-ranked Pat Woods (113), who is a returning state champion, and No. 2 Jake Voss at 160. Independence’s Chase Straw is top-ranked at 145 and Kyle Fank is third at 182.
Union is ranked seventh with three ranked wrestlers, including two-time state champ Max Thomsen, who is top-ranked at 138.
