Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Tyce Ruffridge of Pocahontas Area wrestles Manson Northwest Webster’s Nathan Thoma on Saturday in Manson. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

MANSON — When Tyce Ruffridge heard a pop at the Twin Lakes Conference wrestling meet, he thought his season was over.

On Saturday at a 1A sectional tournament, the Pocahontas Area 120-pounder took the mat despite not being at 100 percent and advanced to the district tournament as a sectional runner up.

Ruffridge (28-5) earned a fall in his quarterfinal match, then a 4-0 decision over Manson Northwest Webster’s Nathan Thoma in the semifinals.

In the finals, Ruffridge fell 8-0 to No. 9 Kellen Smith of West Hancock. In his wrestleback match, though, he was able to pick up a 9-2 decision over Sioux Central’s Kaben Morrow and clinch a spot in Saturday’s district tournament at Sioux Central/Sioux Rapids.

“All I wanted was a chance,” Ruffridge said. “I made the most of it by advancing. I took a tough loss in the finals, but put it behind me and had a really good wrestleback to seal the deal. I get to keep my season going, and I’m heading into districts with a lot of confidence. I’ll be prepared for what comes my way.

“I put in a lot of time working on my conditioning, and working out over at Team Valley last summer and all fall. One of the most important words to me from my dad is ‘opportunity.’ I was fortunate to get that and took advantage of it.”

Weeks earlier, Ruffridge’s season was in doubt.

“In the third period of the match I felt and heard a pop in my knee,” Ruffridge said.”I finished the last 30 seconds and got my hand raised, but I couldn’t walk myself off the mat. The athletic trainer on site told me he thought I may have a torn meniscus, and that he was shutting me down for the day.”

Ruffridge did have a torn meniscus. He had surgery on Jan. 21 to remove the tear.

“It was really hard because I thought my season was done,” Ruffridge said. “Surgery went well, and they told me I had a really good chance to be back for sectionals.

“I was able to get a bunch of biking in that following week, which also helped keep my weight down.”

The following week, Ruffridge went through rehab. This past Monday he was able to go live on the mat, but according to Ruffridge, it was painful.

“On Tuesday at practice was when I was able to clear that mental hurdle, and finally was confident knowing sectionals was a real possibility,” Ruffridge said. “I kept feeling better as the rest of the week progressed.”

Ruffridge will be joined by PAC teammates Brandon Lenz (132), Ryan Sommerlot (145), Alex Welander (182) and second-ranked Dane Johnson (285) at the district tournament.

Welander (23-10) cruised to the district championship with three falls — all in the first period, two of which under 40 seconds.

Johnson (32-2), who finished fifth at state last year, had a fall in 25 seconds and in 2:33 for the title.

Lenz (31-9) lost in the championship match to fourth-rated Chris Ferguson of Sioux Central, but advanced by rule.

Sommerlot (20-24) lost in the semifinals, but earned a fall and then picked up a major decision to advance.

Manson Northwest Webster

Third-ranked Brodie Anderson (195) and Ian Kohen (160) advance to districts as runner-ups.

Anderson (38-2) suffered a 5-2 setback to second-ranked Matthew Francis (35-0) of West Hancock in the finals. Anderson advanced by rule. He picked up a major decision in the semifinals.

Kohen (38-3) lost a 6-0 decision to ninth-ranked Bryer Subject of West Hancock. He had a fall in the quarters and a decision in the semis. Kohen advanced by rule.

West Bend-Mallard

Third-ranked Donavon Hanson (113) remained unbeaten on the season, picking up three wins — two falls, a major — to advance to the district tournament. Hanson pinned Eagle Grove’s Kaden Pritchard (2:48) in the finals.

Teammate Creytan Grimm (170) advanced as champion with two falls. Grimm (28-6) pinned West Hancock’s Justin Ausborn in 5:18.

Eagle Grove

Dustin Dawson (126) claimed a sectional championship, and Pritchard (113) advanced as a runner up.

Dawson (20-12) picked up a major decision over Pocahontas Area’s Joel Carranza (14-3) in the finals. He also had a major decision.

After his loss to Hanson, Pritchard (17-5) advanced by rule. He had two falls on the day.

North Union

Gavyn Morphew (106), Dalton Tobin (138) and Trevor Kruse (285) advanced as runner-ups.

After losing in the finals, Morphew (22-20) pinned Mack Morgan of Eagle Grove to advance.

Tobin (34-15) lost in the finals, but pinned West Bend-Mallard’s Garrett Fehr to move on.

After losing to Johnson in the finals, Kruse (40-6) advanced by rule. He had a fall and decision in the first two rounds.