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*The Raccoon Valley Radio Network has learned that tonight’s nonconference quadrangular dual meet at East Union High School featuring the Panorama Panther wrestling team has been cancelled.*

Forecasted winter weather is not something Panorama wrestling coach Jason Kirtley wanted to see today. “I see that there’s a storm forecasted for Thursday,” Kirtley said, “We want that to go away because we want a shot at Martensdale-(St. Mary’s). We need to try to take those guys out to prove we need to move up the rankings.”

The Panthers are scheduled to resume their dual season in Afton this evening, weather permitting. The nonconference quadrangular features grapplers from East Union, Southwest Valley, and Martensdale-St Mary’s. The Blue Devils of Martensdale-St Mary’s are currently ranked one spot higher than Panorama in the initial regional dual rankings handed out by the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association. The IWCOA has Martensdale-St Mary’s the 15th best dual team and Panorama as the 16th ranked squad.

Kirtley was a guest on this week’s Karl Chevrolet of Stuart Guthrie County PM Sports Page and said beating Martensdale-St Mary’s would validate their place in the rankings and could help them improve their spot in the next set. “We haven’t beat anyone that’s ranked yet, so we need that from a validity standpoint of who we are as a wrestling team,” Kirtley said, “It’s also the only time we’ll see (Martensdale-St Mary’s) until sectionals so we can pick up some sectional seeds there (as well).”

In their latest dual team rankings, the Predicament ranked Martensdale-St Mary’s as their No. 8 squad in Class 1A. The Blue Devils bring three ranked wrestlers into the dual including sophomore Cole Cassady (No. 8 113), junior Joshua Tibbits (No. 1 132), and Logan Schumacher (No. 1 182). Panorama’s only ranked wrestler is senior Gunnar Grunsted (No. 4 170). First grapples of the quadrangular are scheduled to start at 6 p.m. at East Union High School in Afton. Listen to the Raccoon Valley Radio Network for potential cancellation and delays of school and community events.