DES MOINES - Xavier senior Josh Gerke beat his nemesis at the state wrestling tournament Friday and will be aiming for third place when  the meet ends Saturday in Des Moines.

Gerke has lost three matches to Caleb Conway of Marion this season, but he trimmed Conway 5-3 in a consolation match Friday at 145 pounds and will finish ahead of Conway at the state tournament.

Gerke also defeated Drew Sams of Oskaloosa, 4-1, in a consolation match Friday at Wells Fargo Arena. If Gerke beats Trevor Anderson of Glenwood Saturday, he'll wrestle for third place. If he loses to Anderson, he'll wrestle for fifth place.

Gerke, a senior, placed fifth at the state meet last year and has compiled a 41-4 record this season, with three of those losses to Conway.

Xavier senior Alex Francois (24-18) split his two consolation matches  Friday at 220 pounds and will wrestle for seventh place Saturday. Francois beat Drake Leek of Norwalk, 13-3, and was pinned by Jacob Eggleston of Waverly-Shell Rock.