Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Ryan Duckett of St. Edmond wrestles in the Gael gym during the regular season.

LAKE MILLS — St. Edmond sophomore Ryan Duckett will get his chance to compete at the state tournament, earning a Class 1A district runner-up title here Saturday.

Duckett downed Emmetsburg’s Nic Lowe in a true-second match via major decision, 14-2.

The state tournament begins Thursday in Des Moines at Wells Fargo Arena.

In the first period of his rematch with Lowe, Duckett scored a takedown and turned that into a two-point near-fall to secure a 4-0 lead. He secured another takedown midway through the second and followed with a three-point near-fall this time to go up 9-0.

Lowe got on the board with a takedown in the third, but Duckett earned an escape and his third takedown of the match moments later. He added another two-point near-fall to complete the match and punch his state ticket.

“It means a lot making it to state after missing last year,” Duckett said. “I felt a lot of pressure going into the last match because I knew I had to win to benefit our wrestling program.”

Duckett picked up a fall just as the second period ended vs. Cael Wollner of Mason City Newman to advance to the district final. He was pinned by Central Springs freshman Clayton McDonough and forced into the true-second match vs. Lowe.

Lowe, who was pinned by McDonough in the semifinals, bested Wollner by fall to force the decisive match. McDonough is ranked seventh overall.

“It’s nice to get Ryan down to state,” said SEHS head coach Eugene Carlson. “That is defintely the hardest thing to do in wrestling (coming back after a loss at districts). To wrestleback for true second, just like at state, you have 55 minutes to get it back together. Those are the toughest moments in a wrestler’s life.

“Wrestling someone for a third time (in a season) is always tough especially with so much on the line. He did what he had to do.”

Last week at sectionals, Duckett earned a fall vs. Lowe in 1:48 in Manson for the title.

“Lowe is a very good wrestler and I knew I had to stick to my game plan with him,” Duckett said. “Once I did that and wrestled my match, it went smoothly.”

Duckett will carry a record of 25-8 with him to state, as he is now 53-21 overall in his St. Edmond career. He advanced to districts last year as a ninth-grader before coming up just short of qualifying.