Union’s Lincoln Mehlert tries to turn the corner on a single-leg takedown from Benton’s Clayton Sebetka. Mehlert won the match by fall and went on to defeat Kam Royster of Williamsburg for the sectional championship. Photo by Krystal Schmitz

INDEPENDENCE – The Union Knights took 12 wrestlers to compete at the Class 2A sectional tournament on Feb. 6 in Independence.

Five Knights finished in the top two of their respective brackets and will advance to the state-qualifying district meet at Williamsburg on Feb. 13. The team was hoping to get a trip back to the regional dual meet but fell just seven team points shy of second place Williamsburg, who qualified with 201 team points.

Advancing to the district round were sectional champions Lincoln Mehlert, Stone Schmitz, Hunter Worthen, Adam Ahrendsen and sectional runner-up Kolten Crawford.

Ahrendsen, Crawford and Schmitz will be seeking return trips to Wells Fargo Arena this month with Ahrendsen looking to capture another state title after winning the 170-pound championship last season.

On paper, the third-ranked Crawford looks to have one of the toughest district brackets Saturday. He’ll start off by facing No. 4 Logan Arp of South Tama and would project to see top-ranked Brandon O’Brien in the championship round.

Union’s Kolten Crawford (right) and Independence’s Brandon O’Brien (left) look toward the official during the 132-pound championship round. Crawford took a 9-0 loss to O’Brien. Photo by Krystal Schmitz

The only other ranked opponent the Union Knights could see at districts would be in Worthen’s 160 bracket. No. 3 Worthen will start against Logan Walton of East Marshall-GMG and could see No. 6 Landon Kirby of Grinnell in the championship round if he were to advance.

At 145, No. 8 Mehlert will start his district bracket against Dane Thompson of East Marshall-GMG. No. 8 Schmitz will take on Logan Aicher of BCLUW-SH at 152 and top-ranked Ahrendsen will face Kade Pekarek of BCLUW-SH at 182.

The top two finishers from each bracket will advance to the state tournament the following week. Wrestling begins at Williamsburg High School on Saturday at noon.

Union Sectional Final Place Results

113 – Ava Mehlert – 5th Place

Top-ranked Adam Ahrendsen flattens out Justin Wood of Independence during the sectional tournament on Feb. 6. Ahrendsen was the 182-pound sectional champion. Photo by Krystal Schmitz

120 – Caleb Olson – 3rd Place

126 – Keegan Ellsworth – 4th Place

132 – Kolten Crawford – 2nd Place

138 – Brady Hilmer – 3rd Place

145 – Lincoln Mehlert – 1st Place

Stone Schmitz works on top against Teegan McEnany of Independence during the championship bout of the 152-pound sectional bracket. Schmitz got the pin and advanced as the sectional champ. Photo by Krystal Schmitz

152 – Stone Schmitz – 1st Place

160 – Hunter Worthen – 1st Place

170 – Brock Ruzicka – 3rd Place

182- Adam Ahrendsen – 1st Place

195 – Dacoda Marvets – 4th Place

Hunter Worthen puts the pressure on Caden Larson of Independence at the sectional meet on Feb. 6. Worthen defeated Larson and Alexander Marovets of Williamsburg for the sectional title. Photo by Krystal Schmitz

285 – Gabe Hansen – 4th Place