As expected, Arlington's three senior wrestlers advanced past the Class C1-B Subdistrict Tournament and into the Class C1 District event.
Trevor Cooley, Hunter Gilmore and Josh Miller reached the finals of their brackets last Saturday in North Bend and will contend for one last state appearance next Saturday in Albion.
“They've been around the block a time or two,” Eagles coach Doug Hart said.
The senior trio will be joined by Trey Hill, Kolton Gilmore and Will Eppenbaugh in Albion as well after the underclassmen claimed top-four finishes. Together, the six Eagles pushed their team to a fourth-place subdistrict finish, while St. Paul claimed the tourney title.
Hunter Gilmore won two 145-pound matches before a forfeit in the finals gave him a bracket title Saturday. Miller, meanwhile, took first at 170 with back-to-back pins.
Cooley entered the 126 finals with a first-period pin of Madison's Dakota Gullicksen before dropping his finale to 31-9 St. Paul grappler Owen Sack.
Hart said those experienced Eagles — who have eight combined state qualifications already — will continue to focus practice in all positions going deeper into the postseason.
The three less-experienced Arlington wrestlers, meanwhile, will take their subdistrict success and apply it to the next tournament on the schedule.
“Hopefully it builds confidence,” Hart said.
Hill earned third at 106 pounds with a first-period pin during his final match in North Bend. He was 1-1 in contested matches prior to that.
Kolton Gilmore, meanwhile, reached the finals of the 132-pound bracket with a last-second win against Madison's Eddy Pedraza. He then lost the finale by first-period pin, however.
Eppenbaugh, too, reached his finals match, losing the 152-pound finale by first period pin. He reached it with a second-period pin in the semifinals.
Next, the Eagles will try to claim top-four finishes in Albion to earn state trips to Omaha.
