Foster, Kirby and Prior all win wrestlebacks to close out the historic day for the Raiders
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WILLIAMSBURG — It’s hard to argue the day could have gone any better for the Williamsburg boys wrestling team as they hosted a Class 2A District Saturday.
The Raiders sent a whopping 10 of their 14 wrestlers to the finals, crowned four champions and advanced a program-record 11 total to the State Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines Wednesday through Saturday.
“I’m extremely proud of these guys,” Williamsburg coach Grant Eckenrod said. “We had 11 qualifiers, but it took all 36 of our guys to train together, fight together and sacrifice.”
That “sacrifice” has led the Raiders to quite the season — double-digit State qualifiers and a fourth-place finish at State Duals.
The Raiders’ team togetherness was at its peak in the Raiders’ three wrestlebacks for second-place.
All three Raiders won those matches to push the Raiders total qualifiers from eight to 11.
The first came from freshman Charlie Foster.
Foster won by a 8-4 decision over Knoxville’s Hunter Lund.
The crowd reached its loudest decibels of the day as Coach Eckenrod and Foster’s teammates embraced him after the victory.
“It’s awesome, I honestly don’t have a lot to say,“ Foster said as he was somewhat speechless after being one of 11 Raiders qualifiers.
Foster is one of four Raiders freshmen that qualified, highlighting that the future is bright for this team beyond this year.
“Those freshmen have done everything we’ve asked, and our upperclassmen have taken them under their wing,” said Eckenrod.
The crowd erupted again after Sawyer Kirby pinned one-seed Mason Howe of Mid-Prairie in just 40 seconds at 144 pounds.
Kirby had a moment with his father, an assistant coach, after the match victory.
“My Dad has coached me, and I’ve been doing this sport, since probably I was four years old,” Kirby said. “I do it for him, the team and the crowd.”
Lastly, Ethan Prior won a 4-2 decision over Washington’s Blaine Rees at 165.
“Those wrestlebacks are heart-wrenching,” said Eckenrod. “Those are high pressure, and our kids know they trained the right way and knew they were prepared for that moment.“
The Raiders’ four champions were Hayden Albaugh at 120, Nile Sinn (150), Brady Grier (157) and Cael Moore (190). Two are freshmen, and two are seniors.
Other finalists and State qualifiers were Riker DeWitt (106), Lincoln Schropp (126), Carson Grier (215) and Trenton Davies (285).
Now the Raiders turn their focus from qualifying as many as possible to medaling as many as they can in the Class 2A field at State.
“We’re not done yet,” Kirby said.
“We can’t be satisfied, we got to keep going,” said Foster.
Team Scores
Teams (State qualifiers in parentheses) — 1. Williamsburg 213.5 (11), 2. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 195.5 (8), 3. Solon 156.5 (4), 4. Mount Pleasant 114 (0), 5. Knoxville 66.5 (1), 6. Mediapolis 65.5 (3), 7. Washington (IA) 59 (1), 8. Mid-Prairie 36 (0)
State qualifiers
106 pounds — 1. Slater Thomas (EBF), 2. Riker DeWitt (Williamsburg); 113 — 1. Simon Bettis (EBF), 2. Charlie Foster (Williamsburg); 120 — 1. Hayden Albuagh (Williamsburg), 2. Garrett Pumphrey (EBF); 126 — 1. Gage Spurgeon (EBF), 2. Lincoln Schropp (Williamsburg); 132 — 1. Brett Johnson (EBF), 2. Aaron Boone (Washington); 138 — 1. Landen Davis (EBF), 2. Charlie Karam (Solon); 144 — 1. Jordan Schmidt (Solon), 2. Sawyer Kirby (Williamsburg); 150 — 1. Nile Sinn (Williamsburg), 2. Mason Johnson (Mediapolis); 157 — 1. Brady Grier (Williamsburg), 2. Peyton Johnson (Mediapolis); 165 — 1. Blake Johnson (EBF), 2. Ethan Prior (Williamsburg); 175 — 1. Kyler Crow (Mediapolis), 2. Jackson Feuerbach (Solon); 190 — 1. Cael Moore (Williamsburg), 2. Logan Gardner (EBF); 215 — 1. Lucas Feuerbach (Solon), 2. Carson Grier (Williamsburg); Hwt. — 1. Regan Roberts (Knoxville), 2. Trenton Davies (Williamsburg)