
Junior Mason Hulse (39-3) was the first grappler from Boone, in his first match, he was set to square off against Preston Terry (44-1), a sophomore from Burlington. The match started off slow but soon picked up. Hulse was the first to score getting a takedown and scoring two points. After the first period, the score was 2-0 in favor of Hulse.
Terry then scored a point from an escape and then successfully completed a takedown for two points. At the end of the second, the score was 3-2 for Terry. In the final period of Hulse’s first match, he would start in the down position. Hulse again got another two points by takedown but gave up one by and escape. The score being locked up at 4 near thirty seconds left in the match.
With both wrestlers fighting for the win, Hulse shot with eight seconds left. He completed the takedown, securing the win and a spot in the quarterfinals. The final for the match was a 6-4 win for Hulse (40-3) by way of decision. The next opponent due up for Hulse would be senior Drew Sams (39-2).
The next Boone wrestler due up, senior Jacob Melton (26-5), would be in the 220-pound weight class. Melton originally pulled senior Jacob Zachary from Dowling Catholic High School, but because of personal reasons, Zachary had to pull out. Melton’s new opponent would be Gage Linahon (10-6).
The match was a fast one as Jacob Melton secured a throw and defeated his opponent within the first period. He would win by way of fall in 1:25 in the first period, also putting himself into the quarterfinal round. Melton (27-5) would wrestle a common foe from earlier in the season, number three ranked 220 pounder and senior Zach Haggstrom (34-8). Both wrestlers would finish on top of their game for the day returning the next with two tough matches.
On the second day of the Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament, both wrestlers were still fighting for their chance to be a state champion. Again the first wrestler up was Hulse in the 145-pound division. His opponent, Sams would be one of the toughest foes of the year.
The first period would end in a 2-0 lead for Sams. The second period would go back and forth ending at 4-3, Hulse’s lead. The final period Hulse started down and got reversal points late, tying the match late at 6. The match would eventually go into overtime where Hulse would win with a final-second takedown taking the match 8-6. Hulse’s next opponent would be the two-time state champion Zach Barnes (43-3), later that day.
Melton would wrestle Haggstrom in his quarterfinal matchup. The match was back and forth at the start of the first period, but after Haggstrom completed a takedown, he would later pin Melton. His next opponent later that day would be junior Carter Sergeant (24-15) from Pleasant Valley.
After losing his first match on the second day, Melton was pretty well motivated to get the next one. With ease, the 220-pounder had no problem pinning his man in one minute and fifteen seconds. The final was Jacob Melton winning by way of fall. His next opponent would be a senior Jordain Buckland (29-2).
The 145 pounder from Boone would find himself in a semi-final matchup against Barnes, later that day. The match did not go the full distance of three periods, but with a good fight from Hulse, he fell to a tough opponent with a final of 25-10 at 5:37 by way of technical fall. The Boone Wrestlers once against survived the second day of wrestling.
At the start of the third day of state wrestling, both Boone boys had lost their chance at a state championship, but that would not stop them from making podium appearances. Hulse would take the mat first with Nick Graham (23-1), a sophomore from Johnston. Hulse would struggle again with this grappler and would lose by way of decision 8-5. He would then wrestle for 5th place against Trevor Anderson (42-6), a junior.
Hulse held his own against Anderson but would lose by way of decision 9-7. Hulse would finish at 6th on the podium, and his final record would be (41-6).
Melton would be the final wrestler from Boone to wrestle Alex Francois (24-19), a senior from Xavier. The high scoring back and forth match ended with Jacob Melton winning by way of decision 15-10. Melton would finish off his high school wrestling career on the podium placing 7th out of 16 wrestlers. His final record of the year would be (29-7).