Stone Schmitz works his way to a win by fall over BCLUW-SH’s Kade Pekarek in the 160 pounds champion match on Saturday, Feb. 5 in Independence at the Class 2A Sectional 10 wrestling tournament. Schmitz took down his Storm opponent in 1:58. Photo courtesy Krystal Schmitz

The Knights boys’ wrestling team continued to excel in the postseason this past Saturday, advancing seven wrestlers out of the Class 2A Sectional 10 tournament in Independence to next Saturday’s District 5 Tournament in New Hampton – the state tournament seemingly a mere heartbeat away now.

Last season the team qualified five wrestlers for districts, head coach Bart Mehlert said in a text based interview on Sunday, before adding, “I believe all [seven this year] have a good shot at punching their ticket to the state tournament.”

Union wrestlers who took first place in their respective weight brackets in Independence – thereby securing their trip to districts – include Jace Hedeman, Brayden Bohnsack, Caleb Olson, Hunter Worthen, Stone Schmitz, and Dacoda Marvets.

Runner-up (138) Keegan Ellsworth will also move on to the district tournament.

Just ahead of sectionals, freshman Hedeman moved up in the IAwrestle rankings to No. 1 in Class 2A in the 106 weight class after the previous week’s No. 1 — Kade Blume of Roland Story — made the decision to remain at the 113.

Caleb Olson puts his North Fayette Valley opponent in a cradle while on his way to the 132 pounds champion title at the Class 2A Sectional 10 wrestling tournament in Independence on Saturday, Feb. 5. Photo courtesy Krystal Schmitz

On Saturday Hedeman received a bye in the quarterfinal match, won by fall in the semifinal, and then won by technical fall over Independence’s Tanner Wilson for the champion title.

Freshman Bohnsack followed a similar path to the championship as Hedeman, receiving a bye in his opening match, winning by fall in the semifinal before winning by decision 13-10 over Independence’s eighth ranked Kaden Kremer for the 113 pounds champion title.

“[Bohnsack] is a very sound technical wrestler for a freshman,” Mehlert said in response to a question about the unranked Bohnsack’s sectional win over a ranked wrestler, “so it is no surprise to me on that win.”

After a bye in the quarterfinal, ninth-ranked sophomore Olson won by fall in the semifinal before pinning Caden Kerr of North Fayette Valley in 1:46 for the 132 pounds champion title.

Ranked seniors Worthen (No. 4) and Schmitz (No. 5) dominated the mats for their respective champion titles. Both wrestlers took byes in their opening rounds. In the quarterfinals, Worthen won by fall over Kenny Kerr of North Fayette Valley, while Schmitz won by decision 6-2 over Gavin Rings of New Hampton/Turkey Valley.

No. 1 Jace Hedeman shows why he sits atop the 106 pounds Class 2A rankings in his technical fall win for the championship over Independence’s Tanner Wilson on Saturday, Feb. 5 during the Sectional 10 Tournament. Hedeman along with six of his Union teammates will move on to districts next Saturday in New Hampton. Photo courtesy Krystal Schmitz

In the 152 pounds champion round, Worthen pinned Independence’s Dalton Hoover for the title, while Schmitz did the same in the 160 pounds champion round – winning by fall over BCLUW-SH’s Kade Pekarek for the title.

Rounding out the parade of sectional champions for the Knights, Marvets won by fall in the 195 pounds semifinal match before pinning Isaac Howe of New Hampton/Turkey Valley in 1:56 for the champion title.

The seven wrestlers advancing to districts next Saturday will again face wrestlers from Independence, North Fayette Valley, and New Hampton/Turkey Valley in addition to wrestlers from the Sectional 9 Tournament including Aplington-Parkersburg/Grundy Center, Charles City, Crestwood, Decorah, and Waukon.

In their respective weight classes, Hedeman, Olson, and Schmitz will face no other currently ranked wrestler (as of publication).

Four of Union’s wrestlers may encounter ranked wrestlers from the No. 7 Crestwood team.

Photo courtesy Krystal Schmitz

Ellsworth is set to face Crestwood’s No. 1 Carter Fousek in his opening match, while Bohnsack, Worthen, and Marvets may see action in their second round matches against the Cadets’ ranked roster.

“We will prepare [this week] the same like we always do for the postseason,” Coach Mehlert said of the seven Union wrestlers continuing to move along the path to state, “hardwork and finetune some techniques this week.”

The Class 2A District 5 tournament begins on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 11:00 a.m. in New Hampton. The road to state wrestling continues.

The seven Union wrestlers who qualified for districts are pictured in Independence last Saturday, Feb. 5. Photo courtesy of Krystal Schmitz