Three potential state medalists will be housed in the same 106-pound bracket at Saturday’s Class 2A District 6 wrestling tournament inside the New Hampton High School gymnasium, but only two will advance on to chase that dream of standing on the podium next week in Des Moines.

Buckle up those headgears tight, boys.

Third-ranked Carson Doolittle (31-3), a Webster City freshman, will face arguably the toughest district bracket, as he and six of his teammates set to go to battle. He’ll be joined at the district by top-ranked Cam Phetxoumphone (113), Reece Sadler (126), Chase Rattenborg (132), Austin Mason (138), 10th-ranked CJ Hisler (182) and Trey Shannon (220).

Seven chances to reach the state tournament. And not a single one of them will be a cake walk.

WCHS senior 220-pounder Trey Shannon (top) smothers Dike-New Hartford’s Isaac Carpentier and collects three back points during the semifinal round at the Class 2A sectional tournament in Iowa Falls last Saturday. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

“I think everybody on paper has a shot, but we’re going to have to battle and we’re going to have to wrestle to our abilities,” WCHS head coach Chad Hisler said. “Is it doable? Yeah, it’s doable.”

The first- and second-place finishers at each of the 14 weights will advance to state next week.

Doolittle will face a hammer right out of the chute — sixth-ranked Nathaniel Bigalk (23-2) of Crestwood, the eighth-place medalist at the lightest weight at the 2020 state tournament. On the other side of the bracket sits fourth-ranked Kade Blume (38-1) of Roland-Story, who nipped Doolittle at sectionals last week, 6-4. Doolittle handed Blume his only setback a week earlier, 2-1.

Bigalk certainly has the experience on the rest of the four-man bracket, but Doolittle has been in enough big settings to be undeterred.

“He knows there are good kids, but he’s a good kid too,” Hisler said.

CJ Hisler (top) looks for near-fall points against Emmetsburg’s Ben Saxton at 182 pounds during Tuesday’s Class 2A regional duals in Osage. Hisler, ranked 10th, is 27-3 this season. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Phetxoumphone (29-0), the 2020 state champion at 106, takes a 72-match winning streak into the tournament, and he’s had just two six-minute bouts this season. He’ll face Edgar Nunez (20-9) of New Hampton/Turkey Valley in the semifinals with third-ranked Anders Kittelson (24-0) of Crestwood waiting in the wings for a likely finals match-up. Kittelson is one of the state’s premier freshmen with the ability to challenge Phetxoumphone.

A district showdown is nothing new to Phetxoumphone though. He had state bronze medalist Cole Nelson of Humboldt in his bracket a year ago, and he says he’s excited for the potential brawl.

“I feel pretty good because I’ve got good partners in the wrestling room pushing me every day,” Phetxoumphone said. “I known that I’ve beaten good kids in the past and that gives me confidence.”

As dominant as Phetxoumphone has been over the last two seasons, he and Hisler both know nothing is a given.

“Nobody is unbeatable, so you’ve got to keep pushing and he’s smart enough to know that,” Hisler said of Phetxoumphone. “He’s fun to watch, he’s a gamer, and he’ll be ready.”

Rattenborg (27-7), CJ Hisler (27-3) and Shannon (28-4) all face their own difficulties.

Rattenborg, a sectional runner-up, moved up one rung in the bracket after eighth-ranked Brody Hoversten of Iowa Falls-Alden was forced to pull out of districts with a shoulder injury. He’ll be replaced by seventh-ranked Jakyb Kapp of Hampton-Dumont/CAL, who Rattenborg pinned in the wrestleback round at sectionals.

Rattenborg will now open up on Saturday against Brady Stille (18-10) of Decorah.

CJ Hisler will tangle with Keenan Tyler (21-5) of Decorah, and 2020 state qualifier Kale Rodgers (33-7) of North Fayette Valley is on the other side of the 182-pound bracket.

Shannon (28-4) drew Tino Tamayo (23-12) of Charles City. Two-time state qualifier and 2020 state medalist Treyton Burnikel, ranked No. 5, is also at 220.

“Chase can beat anybody in that bracket, CJ can beat anybody in that bracket, and Trey can beat anybody in that bracket,” Chad Hisler said. “But they’ve got to believe it and go out and wrestle well.”

Sadler (11-20) will face the steepest semifinal climb against top-ranked and two-time state champion Carter Fousek (24-0) of Crestwood. Mason (17-17), a sophomore and first-time district qualifier, will tangle with fourth-ranked Chase Thomas (16-3) of Crestwood in his first bout.

What: Class 2A District 6.

When: Saturday, noon.

Where: New Hampton High School, New Hampton.

Teams: AP-GC, Charles City, Crestwood, Decorah, Dike-New Hartford, Hampton-Dumont/CAL, Iowa Falls-Alden, New Hampton/Turkey Valley, North Fayette Valley, Roland-Story, Waukon, Webster City.

Semifinal Round Matches

(Webster City weights only)

Ranked wrestlers

by The Predicament noted

106 — No. 6 Nathaniel Bigalk (23-2), Crestwood vs. No. 3 Carson Doolittle (31-3), Webster City. Kollin Henry (22-12), Decorah vs. No. 4 Kade Blume (38-1), Roland-Story.

113 — No. 3 Anders Kittelson (24-0), Crestwood vs. Ben Sarver (21-8), Roland-Story. Edgar Nunez (20-9), NH/TV vs. No. 1 Cam Phetxoumphone (29-0), Webster City.

126 — No. 1 Carter Fousek (24-0), Crestwood vs. Reece Sadler (11-20), Webster City. Lane Rolfs (18-15), Decorah vs. Dylan Ohrt (20-8), Dike-NH.

132 — Cole Butikofer (21-4), Crestwood vs. No. 7 Jakyb Kapp (20-4), Hampton-Dumont/CAL. Chase Rattenborg (27-7), Webster City vs. Brady Stille (18-10), Decorah.

138 — No. 4 Chase Thomas (16-3), Crestwood vs. Austin Mason (17-17), Webster City. Austin Wilkins (22-11), Decorah vs. Mason Kent (28-7), Iowa Falls-Alden.

182 — Kale Rodgers (33-7), North Fayette Valley vs. Eli Thorson (11-4), Roland-Story. Keenan Tyler (21-5), Decorah vs. No. 10 CJ Hisler (27-3), Webster City.

220 — No. 5 Treyton Burnikel (20-2), Crestwood vs. Nic Warrington (24-12), Iowa Falls-Alden. Tino Tamayo (23-12), Charles City vs. Trey Shannon (28-4), Webster City.