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The Lake Mills wrestling team this weekend won the Class 1A district title and advanced as a team to the state wrestling tournament. Pictured, in front, from left, are Lloyd Heggestad, Lucas Oldenkamp, Case Casperson, Royce Peterson, Carter Christianson, Carter Helgeson, Steve Brandenburg and Caleb Skogen. In back, from left, are assistant coach Alex Martinson, coach Alex Brandenburg, assistant coach Brady Schmidt, Wyatt Hanna, Josiah Kjeldahl, Andrew Grundhovd, Austin Stene, Cory Cox, assistant coach Chris Helgeson, Hayden Helgeson, assistant coach Cole Bergo and assistant coach Brad Helgeson. Photo courtesy Lory Groe

Qualifying for state as individuals were, from left, Lucas Oldenkamp at 113 pounds, Wyatt Hanna at 215, Royce Peterson at 126, Cody Cox at 165, Hayden Helgeson at 157 and Steve Brandenburg at 144. Photo courtesy Lory Groe

Steve Brandenburg won a district title by defeating 2nd-ranked Caleb Swedin of GTRA, 16-4. Photo courtesy Lory Groe

Lucas Oldenkamp pinned Evan Jensen of GTRA in the District finals at 113 pounds. Photo courtesy Lory Grroe

Hayden Helgeson won Districts by winning his finals match by a score of 1-0. Photo courtesy Lory Groe

Cody Cox won his semifinal match 5-1 to advance to state. Photo courtesy Lory Groe

Royce Peterson won his wrestleback match by a first period pin to qualify for state. Photo courtesy Lory Groe

Wyatt Hanna won his district by pinning Brennan Bollinger of North Union. Photo courtesy Lory Groe

The Lake Mills and Northwood-Kensett wrestling teams took part in their respective district tournaments Saturday to determine who would punch their ticket to the state tournament.

When the dust settled, six Bulldogs and one Viking were left standing, earning a trip to the tournament in Des Moines.

The Bulldogs, who wrestled in the district tournament in Emmetsburg, qualified senior Lucas Oldenkamp at 113 pounds, junior Royce Peterson at 126 pounds, junior Steve Brandenburg at 144 pounds, senior Hayden Helgeson at 157 pounds, senior Cody Cox at 165 pounds and senior Wyatt Hanna at 285 pounds.

Oldenkamp took first place, dominating his way through the bracket with two pinfalls in the semifinals and finals. Peterson came in second after pinning his way to the finals before falling in a 19-3 tech fall. He won his wrestleback match via another pinfall.

Brandenburg also cruised to a first-place finish with pinfalls in the quarter- and semifinals before winning in a 16-4 major decision in the finals.

Helgeson won first place in a variety of finishes, beginning with a pinfall in the quarters and following up with a tech fall in the semifinals and a close 1-0 decision in the championship final.

Cox took second place with a pinfall and 5-1 decision win leading to the finals, where he lost a high scoring 19-16 decision.

The Bulldogs’ final qualifier, Hanna, won first place with three-straight pinfalls, two of which came in the first period.

Four Bulldogs were close to qualifying as third-place finishers. Caleb Skogen (150), Austin Stene (175), Andrew Grunhovd (190) and Josiah Kjeldahl (215) all wrestled tough but lost tough, decisive matches.

“We were on the verge of having 8-10 qualifiers, which would have been unbelievable,” noted Brandenburg. “Sometimes the breaks don’t go your way, but we are proud of how hard our kids all wrestled today despite some heartbreak.”

The team also won the district title, amassing 198.5 team points, with Graettinger-Terril/R-A finishing a distant second with 151.5.

“It was really exciting to win a district title today,” said Brandenburg. “It has been several years since we won a district tournament.”

The Vikings, wrestling at the district tournament in Osage, qualified junior Alex Tiedemann at 165 pounds.

Tiedemann received a bye in the quarterfinals before winning a 6-3 decision in the semis and a first period fall in the first minute of the finals.

All seven wrestlers begin their journey Wednesday afternoon with the first session of the Class 1A individual state tournament at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

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