Newton High freshman Gage Linahon will be competing in the 2017 Iowa Class 3A State Wrestling Tournament, which opens Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Cardinal head coach Andy Swedenhjelm said the Iowa State High School Athletic Association informed Newton late Monday afternoon Linahon will be competing. He said the state told them Dowling Catholic senior Jacob Zachary was unable to wrestle at the state tournament, but gave no reasons.
Zachary pinned Linahon in the second-place match at Saturday’s Class 3A District 7 tournament. Linahon (10-6) finished third in the district tournament. The 3A state 220-pound bracket has eight seniors and seven juniors in it.
Linahon faces Boone senior Jacob Melton (26-5) in the opening round Thursday, which begins at 9 a.m. The first round of consolation follows, and the 3A quarterfinals and second round of consolation begins at 9 a.m. Friday.
A opening-round win puts Linahon in the quarterfinals against the winner of 3A third-ranked senior Zach Haggstrom (33-8) of Glenwood and Xavier senior Alex Francois (22-16). The losing wrestlers in each opener face off in consolation.
Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com