DES MOINES - Cody Thompson came up with a big first-round win in his first time at the Class 1A State Wrestling Tournament Thursday morning.
Taking on 10th-ranked Dalton Lape of North Fayette, the Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire sophomore started on the bottom in the second period.
According to GT/RA coach Mike Jensen, Thompson escaped midway through the period. Lape then tried a headlock and Thompson countered and "pancaked" Lape (36-8) to his back with the pin coming in 3:45.
Article Photos
GTRA heavyweight Cody Thompson won his first match at state, pinning North Fayette’s Dalton Lape.
Photo courtesy Dan Voigt, E’burg Publishing
Thompson (36-10) takes on another ranked foe today in Clarion-Goldfield's Mitch Gambrill (23-8).
"he's a small heavyweight, otherwise I don't know much about him," said Jensen.
Gambrill won his first match with an 8-6 sudden victory over ninth ranked Cody Van Dee of Iowa Valley.
The winner of today's match will either Dylan Conley (38-8) or fourth-ranked Dillon Suhr (49-2) of Guthrie Center in the semifinals. The loser will head to the consolation bracket to meet Garrett Johnson (40-12) of Panorama, Panora.