Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Matthew Crimmins of St. Edmond wrestles in a Class 1A consolation round match on Thursday in Des Moines. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

DES MOINES — The past two days have been part of a season-long learning experience for Matthew Crimmins.

The St. Edmond wrestler saw his freshman campaign come to an end here Thursday in the consolation rounds of the Class 1A state tournament inside Wells Fargo Arena.

Crimmins lost to Owen Scott of Westwood by fall, completing a 26-12 season.

After going 1-1 on Wednesday in his first state experience, Crimmins got his attack going early on Scott. He scored a takedown and worked it into a pair of near-fall points to take a 5-0 lead.

Scott got his own takedown in the second, though, to cut into the deficit. Crimmins quickly scored a reversal to go up 7-3 entering the third.

Midway through the final round, Scott got in on a takedown and turned it into the pin.

“We are all very proud of Matthew for what he accomplished as a freshman,” SEHS head coach Kaden McClintock said. “Things did not go our way (on Thursday), but he came out and wrestled hard. At the end of the day, it was a great learning lesson.

“Coming down and getting that (state) experience in as a freshman is huge when looking at the big picture. I know Matthew is already very excited to get to work this offseason and continue to get better.”

Crimmins captured gold at a tournament hosted by AGWSR earlier this year, along with a second at the Norsemen Invitational and a runner-up medal at districts. He also took third at the North Central Conference Tournament.

“It was a great experience, competing at state,” Crimmins said. “I didn’t quite get the results I wanted, but it gives me something to work toward for next year.”

Emmetsburg

Justin Wirtz earned a spot in the 175-pound semifinals with a convincing 10-1 major decision over Zach Robbins from Treynor.

Wirtz, who scored a fall in his second round match after receiving a bye, takes a 39-1 record into a showdown with Creighton Kelly of West Hancock on Friday.

Wirtz earned the No. 3 seed in the bracket and Kelly — a 25-1 senior — is the No. 2.

Looking to join him in the semis, Ryan Wirtz fell to Gatlin Rogers from Wilton at 190 pounds, 11-2. Wirtz, who is 32-5 on the season, will look to keep his medal hopes alive in the consolation round.

After staying alive with a fall in the consolations, Nick Saxton came up short in his next bout, falling to Logan-Magnolia’s Carson Edney. The junior, who earned a pin in 3:10 over Porter Shetler of Iowa City Regina, ended the year with a record of 38-12.

CJ Rodriguez came up short in the consolations, ending his tourney with a record of 23-15 after a major decision defeat to Ryan Fletcher from Underwood.

South Central Calhoun

It was a tough day for the Titans, as they went 0-3 overall.

Freshman Karson Wuebker dropped a major decision to top-seed Kaiden Belinsky of Don Bosco in the 106-pound quarterfinals. He will compete Friday in hopes of securing a spot on the podium.

Cooper Nattress and Jace Pedersen suffered defeats in the consolation rounds, ending their state tourney experiences. Nattress bowed out with a 41-16 record following a 5-2 loss to Caden Sykes from Colfax-Mingo.

Pedersen ended the year 21-6 after a defeat at the hands of Panorama’s Joel Cooper.

Manson Northwest Webster

Following a pair of falls on Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals at 215 pounds, Hendrik Puuraid suffered a second loss this season to Carter Wright from Woodbury Center.

Wright, who downed Puuraid in the finals of the Doug Wood Invitational in Manson earlier this winter, got in on a takedown in the first and scored two near-fall points. He followed that up with another takedown in the second that led to the pin.

Puuraid, a junior foreign exchange student from Estonia, will take a 32-4 record into the consolations on Friday as he looks to earn a win and a spot on the podium.

West Bend-Mallard

With two wins on the consolation side of the 106-pound bracket, Mason Knapp moved closer to earning a medal for the Wolverines.

Following a loss in the second round on Wednesday, Knapp bounced back in convincing fashion. He was awarded a forfeit over Bryce Gunderson of Sioux Central before taking out Justice Norman from East Union in just 1:38 with a fall to improve to 38-6 on the season.

North Union

With two wins in the consolations, Brennan Bollinger extended his senior year by another day. Bollinger scored a pair of falls, first pinning Sevy Redel of Alburnett in 1:20.

In the consolation third round, Bollinger improved to 48-5 on the year with a pin in 5:11 over Francisco Honts from Wilton.

Max Merrill suffered a loss to Kayden Baxter from AHSTW in the second round of consolations, knocking him out of the tournament. The sophomore went 35-19 for the season.

Pocahontas Area

William Lawson saw his state tournament run come to an end, as the junior suffered a loss to Keaton Gates of West Branch in the third round of consolations.

After going 1-1 on Wednesday, Lawson earned a fall in 5:05 over Wylie Brokaw of Lenox to stay alive before falling to Gates. He ends his season with a record of 37-5 overall.