Fifth-rated Clark gets favorable draw at state wrestling tourney

Tristan Clark had high expectations for his return trip to the Iowa High School State Wrestling Championships before he knew what the Class 2A 126-pound bracket looked like.

But after seeing the draw he was given by the state Saturday night, the expectations may have gotten a little easier to live up to.

Clark, a Prairie City-Monroe senior who comes into his second state tournament as the fifth-ranked wrestler at 126 pounds, won’t have to face another ranked wrestler until at least the semifinals. And seven of the ranked wrestlers in the field are positioned on the other side of the bracket.

“The draw was about as good as we could have asked for,” PCM coach Cory Waddell said. “The sky’s the limit for Tristan. I truly expect him to be wrestling for a spot in the finals on Friday night.”

Clark’s first-round opponent is Perry’s Gisaveri Niyibizi, who is currently unranked but has been ranked this season. Niyibizi (34-9) upset Roland-Story’s Parker Witthuhn, 6-4, in the district finals. Clark (41-3) has beaten Withhun three times this season.

The other two area wrestlers competing at the state meet later this week weren’t so fortunate with their draws.

Collins-Maxwell/Baxter junior Charles Robertson will face second-ranked and undefeated Clay Meinders of AGWSR in the opening round, while Lynnville-Sully freshman Josh Dunsbergen drew fourth-ranked Blake Bauer of Southeast Warren.

Robertson (24-8) also has top-ranked, undefeated and defending state champion Ryan Parmely of Maquoketa Valley on his side of the 1A 220-pound bracket along with fifth-ranked Tate Vandyne of Southeast Warren, seventh-ranked Dustin Brown of West Lyon and 10th-ranked Jared Brinkman of Iowa City Regina.

Aside from facing the fourth-ranked Bauer (48-3) in the opening round, Dunsbergen (21-12) also has fifth-ranked Gable Fox of Don Bosco and sixth-ranked TJ Schott of Iowa City Regina on his half of the 1A 106-pound bracket.

If Clark gets past the junior Niyibizi on Thursday, he would face either Decorah junior Devin Stortz (30-9) or Spirit Lake freshman Adam Skopec (34-11) in Friday’s quarterfinals. Then, the semifinals later that night could pit Clark against second-seeded Brice Everson of Camanche.

Everson (40-4) and top-ranked Ryan Leisure (43-1) of Clear Lake are the favorites to emerge as a state champion.

Clark and Niyibizi have common opponents. Niyibizi went 1-1 against Withhun, while Clark was 3-0. Niyibizi defeated Gilbert’s Brock Harris 12-4, but Clark pinned Harris three times. Clark also pinned Saydel’s Devon Van Houten earlier this year, while Niyibizi won 4-2 at sectionals.

“On paper we should win,” Waddell said. “(Niyibizi) has a good double-leg takedown but isn’t as good on the mat. The matchup is what we want. He is a tough kid, but they are all tough at the state tournament.”

Meinders, Robertson’s opening-round opponent at 1A 220, is 40-0 this year and was third a year ago. Win or lose, Robertson will not face a ranked opponent in his second match. That bout will be against either Panorama senior Marcus Boldy (36-8) or Southwest Iowa senior Bret Blackburn (34-6).

Other than that, every other wrestler Robertson could face on his side of the bracket will have a ranking before his name.

“Record is only a number. What it comes down to is how it works out on the mat,” Robertson said. “My expectations for that first day is to go out there and wrestle hard and see where that takes me.”

Dunsbergen’s draw was not near as challenging as Robertson’s but still comes with a certain degree of difficulty.

Like Robertson, win or lose in the opening round, and the next opponent will be unranked. That bout will be against either Logan-Magnolia freshman Wyatt Crocker (35-11) or South Winneshiek senior Cody Fisher (21-12). West Lyon sophomore Justin Severson (27-23) and Panorama sophomore George Appleseth (30-12) also are on Dunsbergen’s half of the bracket.

The first round and first-round consolations for all Class 2A wrestlers, including Clark, will begin at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. The 2A and 3A quarterfinals second-round consolations kick off at 9 a.m. Friday and the 2A semifinals and third-round consolations are at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Dunsbergen and Robertson begin their first state-tournament runs at 6 p.m. Thursday. The 1A quarterfinals and second-round consolations begin at 2:30 p.m. Friday and the 1A semifinals and third-round consolations kick off at 8:45 p.m. Saturday.

All placing matches take place Saturday. The consolation semifinals and finals begin at 10 a.m. and all championship matches start at 6 p.m.