By: Kyle Ocker

DES MOINES — In just under 24 hours, Iowa's best wrestlers will compete for a state title. Centerville's Riley Denny is one win away from being one of those wrestlers.

Denny will first have to wrestle Ballard's Alex Macki in Friday's final session of the day in the semifinal round. The Class 2-A semifinals are slated to begin at 9:35 p.m.

A win over Lance Evans of Solon punched Denny's ticket to the semifinal round. Denny pinned Evans in 1:28.

As of the end of session five, Denny can finish no lower than sixth place in the tournament.

Denny's teammate Tanner Cowan didn't fare so well in the quarterfinal matches Friday evening. Cowan was pinned by Kyle White of Central Springs in 2:09.

The loss moved Cowan to the consolation side of the bracket. Cowan would win by 10-1 major decision over Chase Goodman of South Central Calhoun.

Cowan will be facing Tony Devriese of Assumption, Davenport Friday night. As of the fifth session, Cowan could still finish as high as third place in the tournament. He would need three more wins to finish third. With his latest win over Devriese, Cowan will finish no lower than eighth in the tournament.

In the Class 1-A third round consolation matches, Moravia's Briar Cochran picked up a win while his teammate Dylan Conley picked up a loss.

Cochran beat Dylan Muckey of Woodbury Central, Moville by 8-5 decision. 

Cochran will wrestle Don Bosco, Gilbertville's Jordan Schmitz in the first session on Saturday, which will begin at 10 a.m. A win would put Cochran in the running for third place later in the session on Saturday afternoon. Cochran can finish as high as third and as low as sixth, as of the end of session five Friday night.

His teammate, Conley, fell in third round consolation match. Cody Thompson of Graettinger-Teri/Ruthven-Ayshire. Conley will wrestle Luke Bird of Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Saturday morning at 285 pounds. He will finish the tournament either seventh or eighth.

2013 IAHSAA State Wrestling Tournament
at Wells Fargo Arena
Des Moines, Iowa
Friday, Feb. 15, 2013
Class 2-A

Championship Round 1

126 — Tanner Cowan (Centerville) def. Adam Benzing (Waukon) 7-1 dec. 132 — Jordan Challen (Greene County) def. Brad Irwin (Centervile) 3:50 pin. 195 — Riley Denny (Centerville) def. Cale Stork (Harlan) 1:54 pin.

Consolation Round 1

132 — Aaron Schultz (Williamsburg) def. Irwin (Centerville) 3:45 pin.

Quarterfinal

126 — Kyle White (Central Springs) def. Cowan (Centerville) 2:09 pin. 195 — Denny (Centerville) def. Lance Evans (Solon) 1:28 pin.

Consolation Round 2

126 — Cowan (Centerville) def. Chase Goodman (South Central Calhoun) 10-1 maj. dec.

2013 IAHSAA State Wrestling Tournament
at Wells Fargo Arena
Des Moines, Iowa
Friday, Feb. 15, 2013
Class 1-A

Championship Round 1

106 — Briar Cochran (Moravia) def. Sheldon Ealy (English Valleys, North English) 18-3 tech. fall. 285 — Dylan Conley (Moravia) def. Cole Jensen (Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto) 7-3 dec.

Quarterfinal

106 — Taylor Curtis (Underwood) def. Cochran (Moravia) 1:16 pin. 285 — Dillon Suhr (Guthrie Center) def. Conley (Moravia) 0:52 pin.

Consolation Round 2

106 — Cochran (Moravia) def. Colton Dietrick (Jesup) 17-2 tech. fall. 285 — Conley (Moravia) def. Drew George (Durant) 2:00 injury default.

Consolation Round 3

106 — Cochran (Moravia) def. def. Dylan Muckey (Woodbury Central, Moville) 8-5 dec. 285 — Cody Thompson (Graetinger-Terril/RA) def. Conley (Moravia) 3-1 sudden victory.