In Day 1 of the Section 3AA individual wrestling tournament, Marshall came away with six wrestlers that qualified for the championship semifinals of their respective weights Friday in Dawson.
"We wrestled really well," said Tigers head coach Justin Bouwman. "We got some good matchups (Saturday), too, so things are looking up."
Qualifying for the semifinals for Marshall were Kesmond Willert (106 pounds), Brent Breczinski (120), Riley Roth (126), Campbell Hofstetter (182), Justin Varpness (220) and Austin Nath (heavyweight).
Normally wrestling at 170 pounds, the Tigers bumped up the junior Hofstetter to 182, hoping to increase his odds at a first state tournament berth.
"Campbell wrestled at 182 early on in the year, and I think that's his more natural weight," Bouwman said. "He's quick and strong enough there to really be competitive."
Willert and Breczinski each have to face No. 1 seeds in their respective weight classes, but Bouwman is hoping to get someone to claw through the ranks and make it to state next week at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Last year, only one Tiger, Derek Varpness, made it to the state tournament.
"All six of them got some good shots, it's hard to pick just two or three that will make it through," Bouwman said. "Campbell's got a really good shot. The kid he has to wrestle first (Saturday) he's already beaten twice. And Austin and Riley have good shots."
The Section 3AA individual tournament resumes at 10 a.m. today at the Dawson-Boyd Community Center in Dawson.