Zuercher gets 100th win; no Pirates advance

By Lindsay Mueller
SECTIONALS- This past weekend wrestlers from 8 schools competed for a chance to move on to districts.  Team scores from Sectionals are as follows:
Nashua-Plainfield 263, Turkey Valley 173, Riceville 165, Saint Ansgar 159, South Winn 121, Valley 84, Postville 81, and Rockford 63.  Although no Pirate wrestler will be advancing, the team and individuals put in some great effort all season long said their coach after competition on Saturday.
"Our kids wrestled hard in every match.  There were many tough teams in the tournament with Nashua-Plainfield and Turkey Valley each ranked in the state.  There were also many state ranked wrestlers in the tournament from other teams, which made it very tough trying to qualify for districts.  It was definitely the toughest sectional that I have seen in my 14 years of coaching.  It was also the first time that I haven't got to coach at districts in my career, and the kids were very disappointed as well," commented Head Coach Tracy Decker.
"Many of the weight classes were stacked with tough kids.  A few outstanding wrestlers jumped out of their normal weight class in order to have a better chance at going to districts.  There were also many weight classes that are as tough as I would normally see at districts, but not at the sectional level," added Decker.
Senior, Abe White was in one of the toughest weight classes at 171 pounds and wrestled very aggressively at this position all year.  Coach Decker comments that he was great and will be missed next year. 
Another senior, Chris Zuercher received his chance to be honored with 100 wins!  Zuercher won his 100th career win in his final match of the day pinning Frana from South Winn. 
Chris's weight class was also filled with state quality competition.  Zuercher pinned Bruess from Turkey Valley in the first round.  Chris then lost a 1-point match in the semifinals after riding his Saint Ansgar opponent for the final four minutes of the match.  Chris stayed in his weight class and knew that it would be very tough to make it out of sectionals this year.  Zuercher has already been to districts twice before and this was his best chance at making it to State. 
Alex Berns, senior, who had been injured during the season, came out well at sectionals.  Berns (215) wrestled Nickerson of St. Ansgar in the first round and came out with a pin.  Berns then lost in the semifinals to Kriener from South Winn the eventual champion.  Alex did receive a wrestle-back after winning his third place match.  Glaser of Nashua-Plainfield defeated Berns 3-1 to end the last chance for a Postville District qualifier. 
"Alex went out shooting his double leg takedown, but just could not make it work for him," said Coach Decker.
Sophomore, Kollin Berg (112) made a quick first round appearance pinning Jeffries of Riceville in 25 seconds.  Berg was leading his match in the semifinals for a short time before being pinned by Zwanziger of Nashua-Plainfield, the eventual second place finisher at 112. 
Cory Miner (135) lost a 1-point match the first round, but then came storming back with two pins over Valley and Turkey Valley on the consolation side of the bracket. 
Chris Dibble also lost in the first round and then finished the day with two wins and numerous takedowns. 
Asa Waters was defeated the first round and then did not get to wrestle as some teams were running from #1 ranked Norton from Nashua-Plainfield leaving the weight class with just five wrestlers.
Travis Donlon lost the first round, but finished the day with a pin over Steffans of Valley.
Bryan Mueller also was defeated in the first round and then came back with two pins over South Winn and Riceville.
The coach added that Mitchell Schultz, Ethan Snitker and David Pfister also wrestled well, but just couldn't get a win.    
"Our kids had our best week of practice this season.  We went into the tournament with a good attitude, and most of our young kids got some good experience.  Hopefully our younger kids know what it requires to take our wrestling a couple of steps further, and they will be wrestling in the state tournament next year.  We have some great potential for next year.  The best in the state are going to keep lifting weights and wrestling in tournaments during off-season, so we need to do the same," said Decker
Congratulations to Chris Zuercher for his 100th career win and to all the Pirate wrestlers for a great season!
How the Pirates finished:
112- Kollin Berg 4th
125- Chris Dibble 5th
130- Chris Zuercher 3rd
135- Cory Miner 5th
145- Asa Waters 5th
189- Travis Donlon 5th
215- Alex Berns 3rd
275- Bryan Mueller 5th