For the second straight season, Wayne Johnston will represent Knoxville at the State Wrestling Meet this week. He along with four others, Chaz Graves, Luke Spaur, Trenton Kingery and Daniel Gorskikh will all hit the mats starting Wednesday. Johnston, for the second straight year, had to endure a wrestle back to claim his runner-up spot Saturday at Ballard. Johnston tells KNIA/KRLS Sports he was relieved to get to the State Meet for the second straight season, and hopes to finish better than last year.

Johnston: “I was pretty excited. The wrestle back wasn’t what I wanted to do originally but I got the pin. I want to get on the podium on Saturday night.”

Johnston received the 18th seed and will take 15th seed Gage Allen of Humboldt in a first round match. Other matchups for the Panthers are, 22nd seed Trenton Kingery at 220 pounds taking on tenth seed Sam Pas of Okoboji, at 152 pounds, 12th seed Chaz Graves will battle 21st seed Kooper Huss of MOC Floyd Valley, at 138 pounds Luke Spaur drew the #2 seed and has received a first round bye, at 160 pounds Daniel Gorskikh received the tenth seed and will take on Rhett Hedrick of Ballard. The class 2A first round matches will be Wednesday starting at 1:30.

Photo from Knoxville Wrestling Facebook