The Union Knights boys wrestling squad earned five district championships last weekend at the Class 2A District 5 state qualifier held in Independence. The five grapplers who punched their tickets to the 2024 IHSAA State Championships include (l-r) reigning state champ Brayden Bohnsack, first time qualifier Kaydin Jones, first time qualifier Coy Mehlert, three-time state qualifier Caleb Olson, and two-time, reigning state champion Jace Hedeman. PHOTO COURTESY OF LISA MEHLERT/FACEBOOK

INDEPENDENCE – Five was seemingly the magic number for Union wrestlers last weekend.

The Knights came out on top in five brackets during Saturday’s Class 2A District 5 state qualifier held at Independence High School, ending the day with not just five tickets punched but also five separate district championships including freshman Coy Mehlert (106), junior Brayden Bohnsack (113), sophomore Kaydin Jones (120), junior Jace Hedeman (126), and senior Caleb Olson (150).

Mehlert was ranked sixth by IAwrestle heading into the tournament. He went 3-0 on the day taking down Jayden Muschick of BCLUW-SH by fall in under 30 seconds in the quarterfinal; Adam Fish of Indee by decision 6-2 in the semifinal; and No. 11 Gavin Knutson of Decorah by fall in two minutes, 36 seconds for the title.

Bohnsack was ranked first ahead of districts. After taking a first round bye, he won by pinfall over Lucas Cayler of Clarion-Goldfield-Dows in 39 seconds in the semifinal, followed by a win by decision 6-2 over No. 3 Jayson Stevens of Hampton-Dumont-CAL for the championship.

Jones also received a bye in the first round. In the semifinal he won by pinfall over East Marshall/GMG’s Jordan Meling in one minute, 47 seconds. For the district title he beat Ryan Hartwig of Clarion-Goldfield-Dows by decision 4-3.

Top-ranked Union wrestler Coy Mehlert, top, works to flip Adam Fish of Independence during the 106 pounds district semifinal last Saturday in Independence. Mehlert beat Fish by decision 6-2. In the title bout, he pinned No. 11 Gavin Knutson of Decorah for his first trip to the state tournament this week. PHOTO COURTESY OF REBECCA LYN DAVIS/FACEBOOK

No. 1 Hedeman also received a first round bye before winning by pinfall in the semifinals against Decorah’s Michael Clement in 23 seconds. In the title bout, he pinned No. 9 Charlie Showalter of Hampton-Dumont-CAL in 44 seconds.

Rounding out Union’s district title tally, Olson – ranked second by IAwrestle – took a bye in the first round before slamming down pins over Hampton-Dumont-CAL’s Ryder Strother in 21 seconds in the semifinal, and Decorah’s Kollin Henry in the final.

Both Olson and Hedeman have only lost one match this season.

Also at districts, Union’s Cooper Davis took fourth at 138; Keegan Ellsworth took bronze at 144; Brock Bergmeier took fourth at 157; and Brock Ruzicka took bronze at 165.

State tourney brackets, opening rounds

Union wrestler Brayden Bohnsack has his hand raised by the official after beating No. 3 Jayson Stevens of Hampton-Dumont-CAL for the 113 pounds district championship last Saturday at the Class 2A District 5 state qualifier in Independence. Bohnsack is the reigning 2A state champion at 106 pounds and will be going for his second state title this week in Des Moines. PHOTO COURTESY OF REBECCA LYN DAVIS/FACEBOOK

Heading into the state tournament which began Wednesday this week, first-time qualifier Coy Mehlert was seeded seventh at 106 pounds and will receive a bye in his first round before facing the winner of the bout between No. 10 Bryce Oostenink of Sioux Center (28-10) and No. 23 John Amos of Clear Lake (24-14) for a Thursday trip to the quarterfinals.

Brayden Bohnsack – the reigning 2A state champion at 106 pounds – is seeded No. 1 in the 113 pounds bracket. He will receive a bye in the first round and then face either No. 16 Jacob Nelson of Columbus/WMU (40-9) or No. 17 Jayden Mara of Waukon (20-5).

First-time qualifier Kaydin Jones was seeded 12th at 120 pounds. He will face No. 21 Owen Mayall of Humboldt (31-10) in the opening round on Wednesday for a chance to take on No. 5 seed Emmitt Newton of Davis County (42-4).

Jace Hedeman – the two-time returning state champion at 113 pounds – is seeded No. 1 at 126 pounds and will receive a bye in the first round, after which he will face either No. 16 Elijah Wilhite of Algona (29-16) or No. 17 Tytan Frohlich of Harlan Community (22-13).

Senior Caleb Olson is seeded No. 3 at 150 pounds. After his opening round bye, he will face either No. 14 Nile Sinn of Williamsburg (35-16) or No. 19 Darren Adams of Osage (35-16).

Senior Knights grappler Caleb Olson, top, pictured during his championship match with Decorah’s Kollin Henry last Saturday at the Class 2A District 5 state qualifier in Independence. Olson pinned Henry for the title and his third trip to the state tournament this week. PHOTO COURTESY OF REBECCA LYN DAVIS/FACEBOOK

The Telegraph will feature full coverage in next week’s edition of the Knights’ run at the 2024 IHSAA State Championships which concludes Saturday evening at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.