The 2022 state wrestling tournament in Des Moines provided Okoboji/HMS qualifier Nick Bronstad with opportunities to improve upon his eighth-place finish as a junior as well as record some personal accomplishments.

The three-day event at Wells Fargo Arena opened with Bronstad losing to a familiar foe in the opening round and closing with the H-M-S senior defeating that same opponent to finish seventh among the Class 2A 285-pound competitors.

In between, Bronstad also became the fourth wrestler from H-M-S to place at least twice at the state meet and the 12th to win at least 100 matches in his career.

The 2A 285-pound pairings pitted Bronstad against Daniel Chavez (37-11) of Clarion-Goldfield-Dows in the opening round on Feb. 17. The two had faced off in the sectional title match, which was won by Bronstad, and the district finals, which went to Chavez.

Bronstad scored first with a second-period escape, but a takedown and an escape in the third period gave Chavez the 3-1 win.

During an interview following Thursday's matches, video of which was posted on the H-M-S Facebook page, Bronstad said he knew the first-round match with Chavez would be tough.

"It's always hard to game plan for the same guy for the last three weeks," he admitted.

Bronstad then wrestled in the first-round consolations against Colton Schupbach of North Fayette Valley (22-13). A takedown and a three-point near fall in the first period put Bronstad on top 5-0. A takedown in the final minute of the third period sealed a 7-0 win.

"I knew I had to win to get to the next day, and I didn't want to lose," Bronstad said in the interview.

The Okoboji/HMS wrestler faced Gannon Callahan of Mid-Prairie (24-5) in the consolation second round on Friday. After two scoreless periods, Bronstad scored a reversal and was awarded a penalty point to earn the 3-0 win.

Cameron Geuther of West Delaware (33-16) was Bronstad's opponent in the consolation third round. A first-period takedown gave him a two-point lead. Geuther scored escapes in the first and second periods, and then a takedown to go in front, 4-2. After another takedown in the third period, Geuther pinned Bronstad at the 4:54 mark.

That set up a final confrontation with Chavez, who had moved into the consolation bracket after a quarterfinal loss to eventual champion Easton Fleshman of West Lyon. Chavez scored first with an escape in the second period, but Bronstad gained the upper hand with a takedown and three near-fall points. Another takedown set up Bronstad's seventh-place match win by fall in 5:34.

Bronstad finished his senior season with a record of 39-9. His seventh-place finish gave Okoboji/HMS a total of eight team points, which were good for 49th place in Class 2A.

INA POOL PHOTO

Nick Bronstad beat Daniel Chavez of Clarion-Goldfield-Dows on Saturday to place seventh in the Class 2A 285-lb weight class.

Place finishes and scores for area 2A teams include Sioux Center, 18th, 30; West Lyon, 26th, 24; Sheldon/South O'Brien, 32nd, 19.5; MOC-Floyd Valley, 38th, 15; Spirit Lake Park, 45th, 10; Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, 64th, 1.0; and Central Lyon/GLR, 65th, 1.0.