Taylor Smith, Sports Editor
On Saturday, the Eagle Grove boys wrestling team continued their season at the Class 2A, District 7 tournament held at Humboldt High School. Three individuals brought home district runners-up or titles to punch their tickets to this week’s state wrestling tournament in Des Moines.
Hayden Schafer started his day with a 19-4 technical fall over Oliver Riehl of Southeast Valley. In the semifinals, the 157-pounder came out on the winning end of an overtime bout against a North Polk wrestler. Schafer was pinned by eighth-ranked Brent Dennhardt of Greene County in the first place match, but the EGHS junior became a two-time state qualifier after ousting Braden Downs of Humboldt in a wrestleback.
Fellow junior Jayden Kreitlow earned his second straight trip to the Well after pinning his way to the finals at 175. He lost a major decision to Landon Halverson of Humboldt, but redeemed himself with a 17-8 major decision over Mason Ackerman of North Polk.
Jesus Baez added a cherry on the top of his stellar EGHS career with a district title and state berth at 285. The heavyweight won by fall over Ayden Fiengo of Humboldt in the semifinals and defeated Narciso Hidalgo of Perry 4-1 in the first place match. Baez has a 34-22 record this season and will wrestle at Wells Fargo Arena for the first time.
Hunter Waldo-Martinez placed third at 126 for the purple and gold. Dylan Terwilliger (120), Jackson Babcock (132), Carter Bjorklund (165), and Reece Demuth (190) all finished fourth.
As a team, the Eagles placed fifth with 109 points. Humboldt won the district championship with a score of 191, followed closely by West Marshall (189) and North Polk (176.5).
