Griswold, East Mills gain experience at state wrestling

DES MOINES—The Griswold and East Mills wrestling teams fell short of having qualifiers place in the top eight at the state wrestling tournament in Des Moines last week.

For Griswold, both Zach Vance and Tanner Potter were eliminated on the first day of the tournament. Vance (126-lbs.) lost in the first round to Lane Nichols of Woodbury Central via technical fall. Vance was eliminated in the consolation round by Colby McIntire of Central Lyon via an 8-4 decision.

Potter (138-lbs.) was sent to the consolation round when he lost in the first round to Jason Crosby of Eddyville-Blakes-Fre via pinfall. In consolation, Potter lost a 13-4 decision to Alex Yedlik of Lone Tree.

East Mills wrestler Josh Hopkins (152-lbs.) picked up the lone win at the state tournament. Hopkins won in the first consolation round against Meliek Meyer of Lynnville-Sully via an 11-9 decision. Hopkins lost in the first round of the championship bracket to Tanner Arnold of West Marshall via an 8-4 decision. In the second consolation round, Hopkins lost via pinfall to Grant Henderson of Alburnett.

Colton Story lost both of his matches in the 195-lbs. tournament. Story lost to Chris Brincks of South Winneshiek in the championship round and to Blake Sappingfield of Lawton-Bronson in the consolation round.