DISTRICT RUNNER-UP LUKE ESTLUND works against an opponent during a Class 2A district meet on Saturday in Webster City. (DFJ photo by David Borer)

Luke Estlund and Cody Elliott secured second-place finishes here Saturday to advance to the Class 2A state wrestling tournament.

Estlund and Elliott helped Webster City place fifth overall, as North Central Conference rival Clarion-Goldfield/Dows captured the team title a week after placing third at state duals.

“I thought all of our guys fought hard and wrestled well,” WCHS head coach Drake Doolittle said. “Everyone had a great week of practice and showed up ready to compete. We had multiple guys with opportunities to make it to state…some came up just short, and others were able to get the job done.

“It’s a bittersweet day, seeing some guys reach their goal of making it to state and others falling short of the goals they worked so hard for all year.”

Competing at 165 pounds, Estlund — who had been sidelined by a serious injury during the fall football campaign — used his semifinal round win over Ryan Busch of BCLUW/SH to earn silver with a 2-1 day. He pinned Jake Carroll from Woodward-Granger in just 26 seconds before besting Busch, 10-8.

After falling to Ryland Morgan of Clarion-Goldfield/Dows in the finals, Estlund was awarded second place thanks to his previous win over Busch.

“Luke’s a special individual,” Doolittle said. “You’re not going to find many — if any — kids that tear their ACL midway through football season and find a way to come back and compete at districts for a chance to wrestle at the state tournament.

“He put in a lot of work this offseason, and although he may not have had the senior season he originally planned for, I know making it back to the Well means a lot to him. I can’t think of an individual more deserving to go.”

Elliott followed the same path as Estlund, knocking off Traesyn Cope of Clarion-Goldfield/Dows at 215 in the quarterfinals before besting Lew Textor from Dike-New Hartford in the semis, 9-2. Elliott lost to Kane Mahler-Moreno of Woodward-Granger in the championship round, using the win over Textor to advance with a record of 26-8 on the year.

“Cody gets better every time he goes out on the mat,” Doolittle said. “We knew his semifinal match was going to be a big one for him, and he took care of business like he always does.

“Cody wrestled a very strategic match and found ways to score when he needed to. He’s proven to everyone that he deserves to be at the state tournament, and we’re all excited to see what he can do there.”

Dawson Bertran had a chance to earn his spot at state, but the 138-pounder was bested in his true second place match, finishing 18-16 overall and 3-2 on the day with two falls and a major decision. Tristan Mason also placed third, losing his true-second to finish 26-18 and 2-2 on the day.

Carson Bertran was third overall, going 3-2 with 40- and 43-second falls. His loss in the semifinals, though, kept him from earning a wrestleback and shot at state. Eli Estlund gave Webster City another third after a 3-2 day, losing his true-second match after picking up a fall and a major decision.

Ty Bingham and Tariq Burton were fourth for the Lynx, while Lincoln Brookshire, Carson Burtnett, Gavin Wynkoop, Ridge Berninghaus, Briggs Peppel and Cael Alexander were all in action as well.