The first round saw #3 Dustin Caldwell and #9 Dillion Chase stake their first wins of the 2013 Iowa State Wrestling Tournament. While #5 Hunter Genco, #3 Alex Caldwell, and Justin Guilliams fell in their first match, with Genco and Caldwell coming back with wins in the wrestleback.
Hunter Genco
Hunter's match vs. #3 John Giofreddi was an intense, action filled match. Early on both wrestlers fought hard for position and hand control. Shots were traded, and then both scored a series of takedowns and escapes.
Late in the third period, Hunter got caught flat footed in a shot, scrambled, but gave up a takedown with eight seconds left on the edge of the mat in front of the Indianola coaches. With three seconds to go, Genco shot up to a caution. After a restart Genco again got to his feet, but could not free his leg to score the tying escape. He lost 9-8 in a battle of highly ranked wrestlers.
Alex Caldwell
At 145 pounds Alex Caldwell took on #4 Austin Boyd of Burlington. The action in the first period was tough. Both wrestlers used heavy hands to try to gain an angle. Alex caught daylight first and had a great high crotch to a double, but the takedown was ruled out of bounds much to the dismay of the Clinton fans.
Later in the second period Boyd was applying pressure on Caldwell's arm to work a tilt, causing Caldwell to call out in pain. He was immediately attended to by training staff and coaches. After taking nearly all of his injury time, he continued the match, but did not look like the same wrestler.
Alex gave his best effort, but wrestling with one hand against a highly ranked opponent was too much. He fell to Boyd 9-0.
Dustin Caldwell
The 152 pound match featuring #3 Dustin Caldwell and Jake Steffen of Dubuque Senior. From the first whistle Dustin set the tempo. He wrestled his match, using his ties and set ups to take down Steffen and put him in danger. Dustin was in control regardless of the position and situation.
The second period found Dustin on bottom. Caldwell got to his feet, scored another takedown and continued his methodical approach.
The third period found Caldwell turning Steffen with a cradle and continuing to control the match. He rode Steffen turning him again and ended up scoring ten points, winning by major 10-1.
Dustin on today's match: "Walking out and seeing all the people, the mats, and taking it all in was great. After I scored the first takedown my confidence was through the roof."
Dillion Chase
Dillion Chase had the match of the round against Connor Larson of Webster City. Dillion was taken down in the first and could not escape.
Dillion opened the second period with a big takedown of his own. He was reversed one minute into the second period. Chase earned a stalling call on Steffen as timed expired in to end the second period.
Dillion chose down in the third. After getting to his feet and pushed out of bounds four times, Coach Eric Lueders expressed his discontent with the officials. Chase had a sixth and a seventh attempt to get to his feet and was pushed out of bounds each time.
Chase's persistance paid off. With time running out in the match, Dillion went for a gramby roll, followed by a big scramble, but the hold was ultimately called a stalemate. Finally with fifteen seconds remaining Chase hit a roll for a reversal, and then locked up a tilt for two back points to score the 6-4 decision.
Dillion on today's match: "All I could think about is to keep moving. I needed a last move to get teh reversal. I hit the roll, he landed in my lap and I locked up back points. My first win at state...it was the best feeling of my life."
Justin Guilliams
Freshmen Justin Guilliams took on #1 Marcus Harrington. Guilliams fought ties and hands with the muscular senior Harrington, but was taken down. Guilliams was turned over, but fought hard to regain his base. Harrington then locked up cradle, but Justin fought out to take the match into the second period.
Justin took the top position to try to lock up a cradle. He nearly had it, but Harrington scored the reverse and tied up Guilliams to score the fall.
The wrestlebacks saw Hunter, Alex, and Justin fighting to stay alive.
Hunter Genco
Hunter came out on a mission. He scored a takedown off an under hook and promptly locked up a cradle. After settling in and adjusting the hold, Genco scored the fall in 46 seconds.
Hunter on today's matches: "I had more spark in my last match. I wasn't ready to go in my first match, but there is nothing I can do about it now. I just have battle."
Alex Caldwell
Alex brought the same intensity to the mat in his second mat. With his elbow heavily taped, he hit a high-crotch, finished, and then transitioned to a cradle much like Hunter before him. He settled in and scored a fall in 59 seconds.
Alex on today's matches: "I wanted to keep my second match as quick as possible. My elbow was still sore and I knew he was inexperienced at state. I just took what was there and seized the opportunity for the fall."
Justin Guilliams
Justin came out with a great flurry against Newton's Ray Schroder. He had great hand fighting, and nearly scored on a throw-by. After a determined throw-by and a double leg that couldn't log points, the period ended with no points being scored.
Schroder chose down and escaped. Justin continued to attack and got in on a deep double. Guilliams got to his feet and was driven out of bounds. After the restart, he got to his feet and scored an escape. Justin continued to use good ties and hand fighting and go in deep on another double. Schroder battled off the attacked and scored a take down. Guilliams would not stop, and he hit a gramby roll to score an escape and bring the score to 5-2. Justin fired off three more good doubles, but could not finish. The match went into the third with the score still 5-2.
Justin chose the bottom position and Schroder jumped the whistle to get hit with a caution. Guilliams worked to his feet and scored a stand up to bring the match to 5-3. Just was in on another deep double, but lost his knee drive and was scored on again. He escaped again, took another double, but could not finish. Schroder fought off a final shot by Guilliams to take the 7-5 victory. It was a hard wrestled match by the River King freshman.
Justin on today's matches: "It was a big lesson wrestling the top wrestlers in the state. It makes me want to work to be better. I'm excited for next year. I plan on using this experience and build on it next year."
Overall, the first day was a whirlwind. The athletes that lost had the dreams of being a state champ vanquished, but each came back with a determination and focus that was exciting. While only two are still on the path to be a champion, the remaining two athletes can come all the way back to take third on the awards stand.
The Bob Lueders' Mental Toughness Match
This section will recap the match and it's turning point that lead the River King wrestler to display the mental toughness taught by Hall of Fame coach Bob Lueders.Dillion Chase, in the last 15 second of his 1st round match. After seven failed attempts to finish his stand up or draw a stalling call, Dillion continued to work. With just under 15 seconds left, he hit a front roll, grabbed his opponents ankle, worked up and scored the tying reversal. Dillion wasn't finished. He hit a tilt to score the two point nearfall to win the match.
Gutsy performance and a great display of mental toughness.
Five Things I Think
1) I think even though it wasn't the start they had hoped for, every athlete came out and wrestled tough. The fact that two wrestlers came back and won the wrestleback matches by fall showed some grit. I was impressed by Justin not backing down from two older athletes, one of which is predicted to win the whole thing.
2) I think the lime green shirts were a great idea. It was really easy to find the Clinton fans amongst the thousands cheering with their school colors on.
3) Speaking of cheering, I take my hat off to the Clinton cheerleaders. I don't know how they can hold those cheer rhythms amongst the other squads and the thousands of screams.
4) I think the team ended the day with some good momentum. The coaching staff has to be proud of the way the consolation round wrestlers came out and competed.
5) I think having a press pass is awesome. No one questions me and I get right on the mat. If you could only hear what I hear!
The Why Would You Wear That in Public, Let Alone to the State Meet Award:
Winner: The young man who was the mat table worker today. I hope that those shorts were the result of a lost bet, and not an attempt to bring back Dazed and Confused style coaching fashion.
Runner-up: The wrestler with the fire-engine red hair. We are all watching you (the wrestlers) anyway, so why do that?
Coach Lueder's Thoughts:
"I was happy with the way we battled today. It showed a lot of guts to come back after a loss and win. Even though Justin got beat out, he still wrestled tough and could have beaten Schroder. The biggest thing he'll take away from this is the experience, and that will help him for next year. I'm excited, we have two shots at a state champion and two shots at placing. Four out of five still alive after day one and being in 11th place- I'm excited. We definitely have a shot at four medals, with the ultimate goal placing as high as possible. It was a good day of battling. Overall, the kids are absorbing the journey and are not just being here. I can't wait for tomorrow.
Tomorrow's Match-ups
Championship Round:
#3 Dustin Caldwell vs John Milani (So. 28-10)
#9 Dillion Chase vs. Markram Ibraheem (Jr. 25-17)
Consolation Round:
Hunter Genco will take on the loser of #8 Justin Kaltved (Fr. 27-3) vs. #9 Shane Gill (Sr. 42-7)
Alex Caldwell will take on the loser of #1 Joel Northrup (Sr. 48-0) vs. #6 Matt Victor (39-5)
Tomorrow's session starts at 9:00am and continues until 1:30pm. I will be updated on KROS at 10:17am, 11:17am, and 12:17am. I will be doing a taped recap at 4:30 that should play throughout the evening.
Thanks for taking the time to read the tweets, this blog, and most importantly supporting the journey of these young men. It's been a riot and we are only just getting started! Tune in tomorrow and follow me on twitter @kellenschnee and check back on the blog!
Thanks again!
KRS
Photos from the day:
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