NHS freshman ready for taste of 3A state action

Whether his stay is for two matches, three matches or all the way to the podium, Newton High freshman Gage Linahon is going to have fun at his first state wrestling tournament.

“I have nothing to lose. I’m going to have fun and take it all in,” Linahon said a day after finding out he would be competing in the 2017 Iowa Class 3A State Wrestling Tournament.

Linahon and the rest of the NHS Cardinal wrestling team and coaches walked out of the gymnasium at Waukee Saturday knowing no Cardinal had qualified for the state tournament. Linahon had finished third after Dowling Catholic senior Jacob Zachary pinned him in 56 seconds of the wrestleback second-place match at 220 of the Class 3A District 7 tournament.

Cardinal head coach Andy Swedenhjelm said the Iowa State High School Athletic Association

informed Newton late Monday afternoon Linahon will be competing. He said the state told them Zachary was unable to wrestle at the state tournament, but gave no reasons.

According to other reports, Zachary’s head coach said the wrestler would not compete because of personal reasons. With that, Linahon filled the vacant spot in the 3A 220-pound state bracket.

“It’s a crazy situation. We were a bit shocked,” Swedenhjelm said. “It’s great and Gage is a tough kid. He and I had a nice conversation Monday about going in and taking in the sights and experience then stepping on the mat to treat the matches like any other match.”

Linahon, who is only a third-year wrestler, said it was hard to get his mind around the fact he wasn’t then he is going to compete in the state tournament.

“I thought I was done (on Saturday), but it’s a nice feeling to know I’m going to state,” Linahon said. “My parents are very excited. I’m the first one in my family to have somewhat success in wrestling.”

Linahon(10-6) faces Boone senior Jacob Melton (26-5) in the opening round Thursday, which begins at 9 a.m. at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. The first round of consolation follows, and the 3A quarterfinals and second round of consolation matches begin at 9 a.m. Friday.

A opening-round win puts Linahon in the quarterfinals against the winner of 3A third-ranked senior Zach Haggstrom (33-8) of Glenwood and Cedar Rapids Xavier senior Alex Francois (22-16). The losing wrestlers in each opener face off in consolation.

There are eight of the top 10 ranked wrestlers in 3A’s 220-pound division in the state bracket. There are eight seniors and seven juniors competing along with Linahon.

Top-ranked Valley senior Rocky Lombardi (35-1) is the top seed and in the other side of the bracket from Linahon. Linahon met Lombardi in the district semifinals Saturday and was pinned by the Valley senior in 16 seconds.

In Linahon’s side of the bracket are No. 6 Jordain Buckland, a Iowa City High senior, No. 2 North Scott junior Wyatt Wriedt and No. 4 Waverly-Shell Rock senior Jacob Eggleston. In the top half are No. 7 Dubuque Hempstead junior Dylan Olson, No. 10 Norwalk junior Drake Leek and No. 5 Waterloo West senior Sam Gerst.

“Coach told me he wanted me to be very focused and get in some hard work this week going into state,” Linahon said. “I started wrestling my seventh-grade year and I went 20-0 as an eighth-grader. Stepping up to the high school level had been different, but I’ve learned a lot.”

Linahon has wrestled junior varsity and varsity matches this season for Newton. He said in the transition to varsity action, he just thought of the matches as any other match. Linahon said he was weighing around 215, competing in the 220 division.

“I went out there and did what I do, hoping for the outcome I wanted,” Linahon said. “Wrestling is fun. All the hard work pays off in the end. What motivates me? To stand on the podium at the end of the day.”

The top eight finishers in each weight division in each class are awarded state medals.

Swedenhjem said he thought Linahon matches up well with his first-round opponent — Melton of Boone.

“The Boone kids is a good wrestler, but Gage goes out and works hard every match. We talk a lot as a team about in big matches, you can’t be afraid. You go out with confidence and compete hard.”

The Class 3A semifinals and third-round consolation matches are in Friday’s 2:30-5:45 p.m. session at Wells Fargo Arena. On Saturday, the consolation semifinals and finals begin at 10 a.m. for all three classes. The championship matches for all three classes begin at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com