March 29, 2024

Wrestlers, clear the mats

This and That

One of my favorite state tournaments to cover is the Iowa High School State Wrestling Championships at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

The last few years, I have been the one person from my publication in charge of providing content of area wrestlers competing at the tournament.

That will again be the case this year.

“Wrestlers, clear the mats” is the popular phrase shouted by the public address announcer before each round begins. And it’s just one of those moments in this business that sticks with you.

Growing up in Earlham in the 1990s, the sport of wrestling wasn’t an option for athletes in my school. You played basketball in the winter or you simply did not play a sport.

So I never really understood the ins and outs of the sport until I became a sports journalist. And I learn more and more every year.

Wrestling is unlike any other sport. There is more discipline — mentally and physically — than any other sport.

Being able to make weight is stressful. It would be even more stressful for me if I didn’t get to enjoy the foods I like to eat. So, I give props to all the wrestlers that have ever had to avoid the consumption of something for a long period of time.

I covered West Marshall’s Dale Hilleman at another publication last year. He wound up winning the Class 1A 170-pound title. And during the final interview of the weekend, Hilleman was drinking a Red Bull.

Didn’t sound like that big of a deal until he told me that it had been six months since he had one.

That is the type of stuff I am referring to.

The wrestlers who aspire to be elite have to give up so much just to

compete at the highest level. Things they enjoy out of season go nowhere near their mouths during the season.

Four wrestlers from the area will compete in this year’s state meet. Action begins at 9 a.m. Thursday.

That means the first run of the “Chicken Dance” blares loudly across Wells Fargo Arena at around 8:30. By Saturday, the sports writers who have witnessed every session are about sick of that song. In fact, not hearing that song at all this week would be a true gift.

Prairie City-Monroe’s Tristan Clark has been ranked in the top 10 at Class 2A 126 all season long. He has only three defeats and got a great draw with only one other ranked wrestler on his side of the bracket. Expect him to find his way onto the podium Saturday.

The other area wrestlers — Newton junior Duncan Lee, Collins-Maxwell/Baxter junior Charles Robertson and Lynnville-Sully freshman Josh Dunsbergen — will have tougher paths to the medal stand.

Lee has the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked wrestlers on side of the 3A 195 pound weight bracket.

Robertson faces 1A No. 2 Clay Meinders of AGWSR in his first match at 220 pounds and also has top-ranked and defending state champion Ryan Parmely on his side of the bracket.

Dunsbergen has the No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 ranked wrestlers on his side of the 1A 106-pound bracket.

But like Robertson told me Monday night, records and rankings are just numbers. Both wrestlers still have to step on the mat and get the job done.

I witnessed one of the biggest upsets in Iowa state tournament history when former Iowa City West standout Derek St. John lost his first-round match of his senior year at the state meet.

Don’t know who he is? St. John was ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 1 nationally that year. He went on to win a national champioship at Iowa a few years later.

So upsets can and do happen. And this year won’t be any different.