Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Tyce Clarken of Humboldt moved into the Class 2A quarterfinals with a win on Wednesday in Des Moines. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

DES MOINES — The fourth time was the charm for Cyler Cirks.

After winning his first match on Wednesday in Class 2A state wrestling competition, an opponent that he had struggled against against stood in the way of a quarterfinal spot for Cirks (33-8).

Cirks, the 11th seed at 132 pounds, faced sixth-seeded Charlie Showalter (43-5) of Hampton-Dumont/CAL and turned the tide to advance into the elite eight.

Senior Tyce Clarken (138) and sophomore Broedy Hendricks (190) will join Cirks in the quarters.

The North Central Conference foes had met three times this season, with Showalter earning a 10-6 decision and a fall (5:36). Cirks then lost 11-8 to Showalter in the conference championship match.

This time around, Cirks wouldn’t be denied, picking up a 10-3 victory to advance into the quarterfinals.

“Cyler and Showalter are two very talented kids,” said HHS head coach Chad Beaman. “Cyler had a great week of preparation and stuck to his gameplan.

“Getting those takedowns was huge. He finished periods scoring.”

In his opening round match, Cirks earned a 19-0 tech fall over Jon Rasmussen (23-18) of Audubon.

Cirks will now square off with fourth-seeded Steele Diericks (31-6) of Davenport Assumption.

Clarken advanced to the quarterfinals with a fall in 4:26 over Ben Kusar (28-7) of Perry.

Clarken (38-5), the four-seed this season who placed eighth a year ago, will face fifth-seed Cadyn Wild (29-5) of Davenport Assumption in the quarterfinals.

Hendricks (43-3), a second-team IFCA all-state defensive selection in football, keeps his hopes alive for another trip to Saturday night. A state finalist last year, Hendricks pinned Caysen Curran (41-9) of Mount Vernon in 1:22 on Wednesday.

The Wildcats’ fourth-seed will now take on fifth-seed Thomas Sexton (39-5) of Decorah in the quarterfinals.

Senior Landon Halverson (42-9), a second-team IFCA all-state defensive selection in football, dropped a heartbreaker in his first tournament appearance. The Wildcat 175-pounder fell to Max Dalton (42-10) of Woodward-Granger, by a 4-3 score in TB-1.

Halverson, the 15th seed, will now face 16th-seeded Austin Boege (32-8) of Nevada.

“Great first day for these young men,” Beaman said. “Landon is ready to get to work on the consolation side.”