The state high school wrestling tournament is uderway in Des Moines. With construction on the Iowa Events Center underway next door officials for the first time expanded the tournament to four days in part to eleviate the congestion in and around Vets Auditorium and while it was not full this afternoon, a large crowd still witnessed the opening round matches in class 3A. Defending champ Lewis Central and Cedar Rapids Kennedy are two of the contenders for the team title so a head-to-head matchup carries added weight. The first went to the Cougars. In a battle of ranked foes at 125-pounds, Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Kyle Blood edged Gabe Rostermundt of Lewis Central 6-4 in double overtime. He says it was a great match to be in with the roar of the crowd and all the interest. He says, “it’s the state tournament baby, there’s no other way to describe it.” Blood says while it is an exciting win he has to look ahead to the next match. Tonight action shifts to the opening round in Class 2A where Emmetsburg/Armstrong-Ringsted will be in search of a fourth consecutive title.
