Wrestlers Compete at Districts!
Launch the media gallery 1 playerMorgan Bunner Qualifies for State!
By: Paige Kurpgeweit, a freshman at Leigh High School
On February 11-12 the Clarkson-Leigh Patriots wrestling team traveled to Oakland-Craig for their district competition. All their hard work throughout the season all came down to these two days!
This was the first year Patriot wrestling has been in Class C. Other teams in their district included Logan View, Falls City, Malcolm, Milford, Central City, St. Paul, Norfolk Catholic, Wilbur-Clatonia, Norfolk-Catholic, Oakland-Craig, Wakefield, Sutton, Winnebago, and Tri-County Northeast.
Weigh-ins began at 2 pm on the 11th and wrestling began at 4. On Saturday weigh-ins were at began at 9 am with the competition beginning at 10.
All the wrestlers battled to the best of their ability, and sophomore Morgan Bunner qualified for the state competition!
Morgan placed 4th overall in his weight class by beating Kaleb Zulkoski from Falls City, losing to Drew Garfield from Central City, beating Christopher Burbach from Malcolm, and losing to Cooper Rea from Milford.
Jacob Koehn, Morgan Bunner, James Grotelushen, Jackson Koehn, Bryce Jurgensen, and Cooper Vance all made it to the heartbreak round. This means they were all one match away from making it to state.
Sophomore James Grotelueshen said, “District wrestling went pretty well. There were a few matches that could have been won, but weren't. It was good for Morgan to get to go to state. We all worked very hard all season and would have liked for more of us to make state, but it is what it is, and this will just fuel us for next year.”
Coach Tyler Reeves said, “Morgan had a huge win over the #4 wrestler in the quarter finals to make his way to qualifying for state easy. The boys all wrestled hard, and it was not easy to leave Bryce, Jacob, Jackson, and Cooper at home after losing in the heartbreak round. The two seniors closed a chapter in their life that they didn't want closed yet, but that's how life is and another chapter starts. Learn, grow and keep moving forward.”
Milford won the district competition and Central City finished runner-up. As a team, the Patriots finished 12th.
District Wrestling Records:
Morgan Bunner (113-lb): 3-2; Bryce Jurgensen (120-lb): 3-2; Isaac Baumert (132-lb): 1-2; James Grotelueschen (138-lb): 1-2; Jaden Stoklasa (145-lb): 2-2; Jacob Koehn (152-lb): 3-2; Jackson Koehn (182-lb): 3-2; Cooper Vance (285-lb): 3-2
Overall Season Records:
Morgan Bunner: 20-18; Bryce Jurgensen: 22-16; Isaac Baumert: 13-18; Dylan Higby: 19-6 (did not wrestle at districts); James Grotelueschen: 11-16; Jaden Stoklasa: 18-22; Jacob Koehn: 23-17; Jackson Koehn: 26-15; Cooper Vance: 18-8; Dillan Mapel: 10-20
Caption:
Sophomore Morgan Bunner defeated Kaleb Zulkoski from Falls City in one of his four matches of the day at the district competition.
Photo by Paige Kurpgeweit, freshman at Leigh High School