Newton grapplers come up short of medals at state

DES MOINES — Newton High senior Blayden Rhone didn’t enter the Iowa High School State Wrestling Championships as a ranked wrestler. But he showed in his quarterfinal match that he belonged in the conversation.

Rhone went toe-to-toe with Class 3A third-ranked Brandon Tessau of Waukee. The difference in the 182-pound match was a third-period escape point by Tessau as he advance to the semifinals with a 3-2 win.

Unfortunately for Newton’s trio of wrestlers, there weren’t any state medals for them at the 2018 meet.

After Rhone’s quarterfinal loss to Tessau, the Cardinals went 0-3 in their wrestleback matches. Tessau went on to lose in the finals.

Rhone (31-15) was defeated 5-2 by ninth-ranked Braxton Bolden (13-3) of Cedar Rapids Jefferson in his consolation wrestleback. Bolden went on to finish eighth.

“He was right there in both matches,” Newton wrestling coach Andy Swedenhjelm said. “He knows his gameplan and knows what he wants to do.”

Before Rhone’s match with Bolden was complete, Newton junior Jaise Gulling got eliminated by a fall on another mat.

Gulling (32-12) was pinned by seventh-ranked Triston Licht (18-7) of Fort Dodge. Licht wound up eighth.

Iowa City High’s Jacob Dykes, who defeated Gulling in the first round, was the eventual state champ at 195.

Sophomore Gage Linahon needed a win at 220 to avoid the 0-4 round, but he suffered an overtime loss to LeMars’ Travis Theisen.

The match was 1-all early in third period after both wrestlers scored escape points.

Ninth-ranked Linahon (35-11) nearly pulled off the win when he scored a takedown in the final 15 seconds. Unfortunately, Theisen rolled him over for the reversal with 1 second left on the clock to force an extra session.

Theisen (37-11) got a takedown early in overtime and put Linahon to his back for the pin. Theisen went on to finish eighth.

“That’s a young guy mistake. That’s something he’ll learn from,” Swedenhjelm said. “Next time he’s in that spot and he feels pressure, he’ll just push him away and win the match.

“He had a fantastic season. He took a big step forward.”

Swedenhjelm says goodbye to Rhone but both Gulling and Linahon return.

“All these kids mean the world to me. Blayden has been in that room for four years and did everything he could for us,” Swedenhjelm said. “He’s been a great kid that does everything you ask. It was great to see him finish his career down here.

“I am really excited to get the two returners back in the room, doing some freestyle and see what they can do next year.”