One of the surprise grapplers heading to the Class 1A District 2 tournament at Interstate 35 High School is West Central Valley junior Rush Rowan. The Wildcats heavyweight wrestler entered the Class 1A Section 3 tournament in Guthrie Center last Saturday with a 12-20 overall record, earning the fifth seed in his bracket. Rowan won three of his four matches Saturday by a first-period pinfall, advancing to this weekend’s state qualifying round with a runner up finisher. The Raccoon Valley Radio Network spoke with West Central Valley first year head wrestling coach Ben Strandberg about Rowan’s performance at last Saturday’s sectional tournament. He says Rowan’s a prime example of someone who improved from previous setbacks on the mat this season. “A kid coming in seeded fifth in the tournament, some people can write him off,” Strandberg said, “He was able to get a win (in) the first round, which punches him into the main bracket. Then he rattled off a couple more wins against people he’s been beaten against earlier in the season.”

Rowan avenged two earlier losses at the sectional tournament in Guthrie Center. His varsity quarterfinal match against Ogden’s Bryant Dutcher saw Rowan win by pinfall 1:16 into the first round; Dutcher topped him by a 3-1 decision in their West Central Activites Conference dual on January 10. The next reversal came in the true second-place match against AC/GC’s Gage Buttler. Rowan, who was pinned by Buttler in 1:19 on November 29, won by pinfall 53 seconds into their district-qualifying match. Joining Rowan at this weekend’s state qualifying tournament includes junior Justin Garcia (126), senior Cole Sackett (152), and senior Carson Wadle (195). The Class 1A District 2 tournament begins at noon Saturday from Interstate 35 High School in Truro.