Currier advances to State wrestling

(Above) Tyler LeFevre was defeated in his first match at Saturday’s District meet, but came back strong to finish third at 132-pounds.

by Marianne Gasaway

It’s on to State for one Clear Lake wrestler.

Max Currier will be making his second trip to State and will compete in the 126-pound weight class.

The junior won his opening match by major decision over Ethan Traub, from Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, 14-2.  The win set up a rematch with his Sectional opponent, Tucker Stangel, of Osage.  Stangel came out on top in a hard-fought 12-9 semi-final.  Both wrestlers advance to State.

State competition for Class 2A begins at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 17.  Currier (25-6) is scheduled to take on freshman Abe Bushong (40-6), of Winterset.  Currier was ranked seventh in his weight class by IAwrestler in their latest ratings.  Bushong was ranked eighth.

Tyler LeFevre and Kaleb Hambly also represented Clear Lake at the District Meet held Saturday in Webster City.  

LeFevre was pinned in his opening match at 132-pounds by Tyce Ruffridge, of Pocahontas Area, but responded with an exciting win over Parker Duitsman, of Estherville Lincoln Central.  The match went to sudden victory, where LeFevre prevailed, 7-5, to earn third place.

Hambly was pinned in his opening match at 182 by Deontez Williams, from Pocahontas Area, in 3:15.  In the third place match James Gellerman, of Okoboji/HMA, was a winner by major decision, 9-0.

“Both of them had great seasons and grew a lot, especially in the second half of the season,” said Coach Evan Johnson.