It would be easy for South Hamilton’s 2020 state medalist and second-ranked 170-pounder to be thinking about what could happen at next week’s state wrestling tournament. But he knows he’s got to get there first, so analyzing the seeding process and dreaming of a state championship will have to wait.

He has business to take care of at the Class 1A District 4 tournament first.

“The only thing we’re focused on right now is that (district) semifinal match,” South Hamilton head coach Dan Brodie said. “If you win that first match, it puts you in the driver’s seat. You lose that, then you’ve got to rely on somebody else.”

Swenson will be one of five Hawks on the mats at Clarksville High School on Saturday. Joining him in search of state berths will be Keyton Remsburg (113), Brent Greenfield (182), fourth-ranked Trevor Thompson (195) and Colton Willis (220).

South Hamilton junior Brent Greenfield (left) gets in deep on a shot against Greene County’s James Currier during a 182-pound bout at the HOIC tournament last month in Jefferson. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

The top two finishers at each weight will advance to state next week in Des Moines.

Swenson (37-1) will open up against Logan Hageman (27-8) of South Winneshiek, with a potential finals bout against a familiar foe — Kaden Jacobsen (45-5) of Central Springs. Swenson knocked off Jacobsen at the Panther Round Robin Tournament, 7-3, on Dec. 12. It was one of the few times Swenson has been challenged this season.

“If we get to that point, Jacobsen is a really strong kid and knows what he’s doing,” Brodie said. “If we’re going to get him a second time, Lane’s going to have to wrestle his best. But Hageman is no joke. We’ve got to be ready for that match.”

A district title could vault Swenson into a high seed at state next week.

Thompson (28-3) will also go in search of his second straight state tournament appearance. Injuries to his ankle and knee have slowed the senior over the past month, but they didn’t stop him from knocking off ninth-ranked Blake Brocka (34-4) of Tripoli, 5-3, at the sectional last week. Thompson will have to get through Tony Greve (25-15) of South Winneshiek in the semifinals before any potential rematch.

“Trevor’s had a good week and he’s getting more and more confident with things,” Brodie said. “(Greve) is no joke either. He’s got to go out and wrestle well.”

Greenfield (35-6) and Willis (28-9), who joined Swenson and Thompson as sectional champions, will both square off against ranked opponents in the district semifinals.

Greenfield drew No. 2 Elijah Wagner (29-2) of Lake Mills, a fifth-place state medalist a season ago. Wagner injury defaulted out of last week’s sectional final against No. 5 Drew Fox (29-1) of Riceville, who sits on the opposite side of the bracket.

Facing ranked individuals is nothing new to Greenfield though, and Brodie says his training partner will prepare him for the challenge.

“It’s a bear of a bracket, but his workout partner (Swenson) is going to be just as tough as anybody he wrestles in the state,” Brodie said. “He wrestles Lane every day and gets better because of it.

“(Wagner) is obviously solid, but Brent is wrestling really well too, so I wouldn’t count him out of anything.”

Willis will tangle with No. 8 Sage Hulshizer (34-6) of St. Ansgar, who dropped a 4-3 decision to 2020 state medalist and No. 4 Damon Meyer (15-1) of South Winneshiek at sectionals.

“Colton just needs to stay sharp and attack opportunities,’ Brodie said. “He’s got to be willing to go for all of it.”

Remsburg (22-12) has already seen the best of what his bracket has to offer. He lost to second-ranked and 2020 state bronze medalist Garret Rinken (40-0) of Nashua-Plainfield at sectionals, which put him in line to face fellow freshman Christian Michels (24-5) of St. Ansgar in the district semifinals.

“Freshmen in general are wildcards, but Keyton has had such a good week of practice, and these last two weeks he’s put it on another level,” Brodie said. “If he stays sharp, I think he’s got a really good chance.”

What: Class 1A District 4.

When: Saturday, noon.

Where: Clarksville High School, Clarksville.

Teams: AGWSR, Belmond-Klemme, Central Springs, Lake Mills, Nashua-Plainfield, Mason City Newman, North Butler-Clarksville, Northwood-Kensett, Riceville, St. Ansgar, South Hamilton, South Winneshiek, Tripoli, West Fork.

Semifinal Round Matches

(South Hamilton weights only)

Ranked wrestlers

by The Predicament noted

113 — Christian Michels (24-5), St. Ansgar vs. Keyton Remsburg (22-12), South Hamilton. Lucas Humphrey (18-9), Lake Mills vs. No. 2 Garret Rinken (40-0), Nashua-Plainfield.

170 — Kaden Jacobsen (45-5), Central Springs vs. Cole Negen (21-8), North Butler-Clarksville. Logan Hageman (27-8), South Winneshiek vs. No. 2 Lane Swenson (37-1), South Hamilton.

182 — No. 5 Drew Fox (29-1), Riceville vs. Kolben Miller (27-5), North Butler-Clarksville. No. 2 Elijah Wagner (29-2), Lake Mills vs. Brent Greenfield (35-6), South Hamilton.

195 — Holden Hensley (27-7), Mason City Newman vs. No. 9 Blake Brocka (34-4), Tripoli. Tony Greve (25-15), South Winneshiek vs. No. 4 Trevor Thompson (28-3), South Hamilton.

220 — No. 4 Damon Meyer (15-1), South Winneshiek vs. Max Beminio (9-5), Belmond-Klemme. No. 8 Sage Hulshizer (34-6), St. Ansgar vs. Colton Willis (28-9), South Hamilton.