The path to qualifying for the state wrestling tournament for Okoboji/H-M-S wrestler Nick Bronstad got off to a good start on Saturday but was then nearly derailed.

Wrestling at 285 pounds, the junior was in control of his opponent in the district semifinal match at Humboldt when he suffered a leg injury. He was able to complete that match but had to forfeit the first place contest. Even so, Bronstad finished second and qualified for state for the first time.

He is the first wrestler from H-M-S to qualify for the state tournament since 2015 when Dakota Drenth finished fourth at 152 pounds in his second trip to Des Moines.

During the semifinal match, Cole Jeffries of Osage led 2-1 at the end of the first period. After a scoreless second period, Bronstad took Jeffries down and scored three near-fall points to go ahead 6-2. The match was then stopped for an injury timeout. Once action resumed, Bronstad kept Jeffries on the mat to earn the victory.

The Okoboji/H-M-S wrestler went onto the mat for the first-place match against Aaron Graves of Southeast Valley. But immediately after the whistle sounded, the match was stopped and Graves was awarded the win.

Since Jeffries won the third-place match, Bronstad did not have to wrestle again to determine a true runner-up.

The other Pioneer to wrestle at the district meet was Noah Strantz. He won his semifinal match at 152 pounds, lost by fall in the first-place match and was pinned attempting to wrestle back for second place.

Osage won the District 4 team title with 145 points. Okoboji/H-M-S scored 21 points to finish eighth among the 11 teams represented.

• State tournament begins Thursday

The traditional state tournament will begin Thursday, Feb. 18, at Wells Fargo Arena. Class 2A first-round and first-round consolation matches will begin at 6 p.m.

According to the Iowa High School Athletic Association, Bronstad (11, 33-12) is paired against Chance Malone (12, 36-3), of Columbus/WMU, the 285-pound champion of District 5. The winner moves on to the quarterfinals at 2:30 p.m. on Friday to face Jordan Ver Meer of West Lyon (12, 39-2) or Rudy Papakee of South Tama County (10, 24-9).

Semifinal matches and consolation rounds will also be wrestled on Friday. Remaining consolation round matches will be held Saturday morning and the championships are scheduled for Saturday evening at 6 p.m.

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 4

MIKE PETERSEN/SENTINEL-NEWS

Nick Bronstad prepares to take Cole Jeffries of Osage to the mat during the district wrestling tournament at Humboldt.

152: Semifinals – Noah Strantz won decision over Bryce Allen (CGD), 4-3; 1st Place Match – lost by fall to Zach Jensen (SLP), 3:34; 2nd Place Match – lost by fall to Joey Potter (Osage), 2:56.

285: Semifinals – Nick Bronstad won decision over Cole Jeffries (Osage), 6-2; 1st Place Match – lost by injury default to Aaron Graves (SEV), 0:02.

Team Scores: Osage 145, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 83, Spirit Lake Park 80, Emmetsburg 65, Humboldt 54, Forest City 45, Southeast Valley 44, Okoboji/H-M-S 21, Algona 20, Estherville-Lincoln Central 14, Clear Lake 12.