Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Ronnie Orres of St. Edmond competes at the state wrestling tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Wednesday. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

DES MOINES — Ronnie Orres and Sam Myer got their first experience of the state wrestling tournament here Wednesday morning.

Now, head coach Eugene Carlson hopes the St. Edmond duo are ready to get their first wins.

Orres and Myer dropped opening-round matches inside Wells Fargo Arena as the Class 1A section kicked things off. They will each need to score a win in their respective consolation bouts back here Thursday morning to remain alive for medals.

“Both guys really came out strong,” Carlson said. “They had good warmups and good focus and energy. Unfortunately, when you are down here at state, you are competing against very, very good kids.

“Now, we just have to focus on (Thursday) and coming back out stronger.”

Orres, a senior making his state debut at 120 pounds for the Gaels, was pinned in the second period by Baxter’s Ruger Kincaid. He faces Lincoln Edwards of West Branch, who was bested by Dawson Bergan of Edgewood-Colesburg.

“Ronnie went for a big move and it just didn’t work out,” Carlson said. “For Ronnie, I’d like to see him finish out strong. He’s a senior and this is his last chance.”

In his first state tournament, Myer came up short against Steve Brandenburg of Lake Mills, 19-3. The sophomore will take on Edwards’ teammate, Logan Christoffel, who lost to North Butler-Clarksville’s Tanner Arjes.

“I thought Sam actually wrestled a better match this time around (vs. Brandenburg),” Carlson said. “He needs to come back and establish himself for next year and the year after. He needs to do better moving forward and that starts with the next round.

“It’s there. You just have to learn from your mistakes.”

Brandenburg is the son of Lake Mills head coach Alex Brandenburg, a former leader at Twin River Valley who was a standout wrestler for Emmetsburg.

Orres and Myer are the first Gael qualifiers at state since 2019 and became the first multiple qualifiers since 2016. Orres was a district runner-up, while Myer won a district title.