Wrestlers Cayden Van Meer and Joel Cooper at the state tournament. Photos by Betty Cooper
By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette
Cayden Van Meer (175) and Joel Cooper (285) both won their first round matches at the Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament in Des Moines on Wednesday. Cooper saw his season end later in the consolation bracket on Thursday, while Van Meer is still alive after a run of wins that could see him finish as high as third.
Van Meer won his first-round match against Kody Jacobson of Ridge View, 6-1, to advance, where he faced Creighton Kelly of West Hancock, Britt. Van Meer lost the bout, 5-1. Van Meer moved to the consolation bracket where he faced Brock Kleitsch of Wapsie Valley, defeating him, 6-4, to advance. Van Meer then battled Jordan Martin-England of Lennox, winning that match, 5-3. Van Meer will face Jayden Dickerson of Shenandoah today.
Joel Cooper eased past Postville’s Antoni Solovi in the first round, 10-0. In the second round, he met ACGC’s Payton Jacobe, losing, 5-2, after going into the final period tied, 1-1. Cooper then faced Steven Perkins of Shenandoah in the consolation bracket where he would win that match, 12-4. His next opponent was Tyler Sulsberger of Westwood, Sloan, who he lost to, 5-0.
