Three members of the Adel-Desoto-Minburn Tigers wrestling team will compete at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines later this week. Five Tiger wrestlers traveled to Harlan Saturday for the Class 2A District 4 tournament including Andrew Flora (113), Nolan Harsh (152), Charles Craigmile (182), Leo Tauke (195), and Kaden Sutton (220). Flora, Harsh, and Sutton ended the day atop the podium at the district tournament, qualifying the threesome for the Class 2A State Wrestling tournament this Thursday. ADM wrestling coach Chris Hatchitt said making the state wrestling tournament is among the most prominent accomplishment in these young men’s lives. “They may be 16-17-year-old young men at this point but this adventure we’ll be going on is among the most important aspects of their life that they’ve lived so far,” Hatchitt said, “We’re going to make the most of it, we are going to coach and prepare them for this.”
Flora needed one match win to ensure his third straight appearance at Wells Fargo Arena. After receiving a bye in the semifinal round, Flora registered a first-period pinfall in the district title match against Creston-OM’s Kaden Bolton (1:55) to win the 113-pound weight division.
Harsh will also make his third appearance at the Iowa State Wrestling tournament. His semifinal grapple against Atlantic-CAM’s Payton Fewson lasted all of 30 seconds before ending in a pinfall win. He won the district championship at 152 pounds with a 4-0 decision win over Red Oak’s Justin McCunn.
Sutton will make his initial high school wrestling appearance at Wells Fargo Arena this week thanks to a pair of decision victories. His first came against Red Oak’s Colton Kinnison by a 7-2 final score. Sutton clinched the district championship with a 5-0 decision win over Shenandoah’s Tyler Courtier.
The high school wrestling career of ADM senior Leo Tauke ended with a fourth-place finish at districts, losing by first-period pinfall in both of his grapples against No. 2 Nick Foss of Harlan (2:17) and Shenandoah’s Tyler Courtier (0:47).
Craigmile placed third at last week’s sectional tournament but due to an injury forfeit in his weight class allowed him to compete in the district tournament. He opened the tournament with first period pinfall loss to Shenandoah’s Nick Dickerson (1:28). Craigmile avenged a sectional loss in the third place match against Creston-OM’s Sam Chapman, winning a 7-4 decision. Champman beat Craigmile last week by a 7-5 decision. ADM’s 182 pounder wrestled in a true second-place match against Red Oak’s Thomas Bentley, losing by second-period pinfall (2:37).
Listen to the Raccoon Valley Radio Network this Thursday through Saturday for live coverage of the 2018 Iowa State Wrestling tournament.