Confidence.

Gasca came up one win shy of the Class 2A podium when he dropped a consolation second-round match to sixth-ranked Jake Nieman of OA-BCIG inside Wells Fargo Arena, but a 1-2 week sets him up to have a successful senior campaign next winter, WCHS head coach Chad Hisler said.

“We’re hoping this can motivate Nick because we’ve always seen this in him,” Hisler said. “We’re just hoping he can keep building and keep working for the future.”

Gasca (26-12) reached the blood round with a win by fall Thursday night, but Nieman was a little too much to handle with a medal on the line. Nieman, who went on to place fifth, built an 11-2 lead before getting the fall in 2:55.

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Jack West of Winterset, who beat Gasca in the first round on Thursday, placed seventh.