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Alburnett's Jaymus Wilson checks off a goal, one more to go
K.J. Pilcher
Feb. 16, 2018 10:53 pm, Updated: Feb. 16, 2018 11:17 pm
DES MOINES — Alburnett's Jaymus Wilson turned to his corner and made a subtle gesture with his hand.
The junior 106-pounder made a motion with his finger, resembling a check mark. Wilson was marking off one of his goals.
'I got my ticket,' Wilson said. 'I have to go make a statement in the finals.'
Wilson posted his second shutout of the tournament, blanking Nashua-Plainfield's Brock Dietze, 6-0, in the semifinals of the Class 1A state wrestling tournament Friday night at Wells Fargo Arena. He is one of seven finalists from the Tri-Rivers Conference, including four from team leader Lisbon, which is looking for its second straight team title.
Wilson placed third last year and was fifth as a freshman.
'Winning this match was pretty important,' Wilson said. 'I'm proud but I have one more match. I'm ready to get it.'
The semifinals were a stumbling block a year ago. Falling short of the finals for the second straight year provided fuel to the fire, leading up to this season and this tournament. Wilson exorcised those demons and has a chance for a title.
'It's been eating me alive since freshman year,' Wilson said. 'I just kept working, digging and got to it.'
Alburnett teammate Tanner Sloan captured a state title in 2016. Like Wilson, Sloan lost in the semifinals to finish third last year. He has been waiting for an entire year to make amends. Sloan declared at the start of the year he wanted to prove he is the best in the state and is one victory from making it true.
'It's been a long time,' Sloan said. 'Last year, I fell a little short. I'm back and contending for a title now.'
Top-ranked Sloan rolled to the semifinals, racking two pins in a total of 1:15. He handled Lake Mills' Gabe Irons, 11-0, in the 195 semifinals, continuing a dominant performance.
'I'm not even tired,' Sloan said. 'I can go another six minutes.'
The Pirates brought two wrestlers to Des Moines and both will wrestle after the hallowed Grand March.
'It's their expectation to be here and thrive off this environment and be in the finals,' Alburnett Coach Clayton Rush said. 'Not just be there but they want to win it.
'Lots of hard work and sweat. It turns into results.'
Lisbon stormed back to take the team lead with an impressive day. The Lions won 5 of 7 quarterfinals and nearly ran the table in the semifinals, overtaking Don Bosco. Lisbon has 106 points, 17 ahead of the second-place Dons.
State champion sophomore Cael Happel reached the finals with a fall over Interstate 35's second-ranked Casey Baker in the quarterfinals. He followed it with a third-period fall over Don Bosco's Cael Frost. Bryce Werderman (170) also beat a Don Bosco foe in the semifinals, scoring a takedown with 51 seconds left to beat Thomas Even, 3-1.
'The kids were ready to go,' Lisbon Coach Brad Smith said. 'Cael started it out with a fall. Cobe (Siebrecht) had a tough kid. We're wrestling six minutes tough (and) that makes a difference.
'Bryce Werderman had a battle that could have gone either way but he sucked it up and got the takedown when he needed to. It was huge.'
Cobe Siebrecht (126) earned his second straight finals appearance, but this time he will have a familiar face competing with him. Older brother, Cooper Siebrecht, reached the title bout for the first time in four medal-winning finishes.
They are believed to be the first Lisbon brothers to wrestle in the finals of the same year since Ike and Zach Light each won championships in 1992.
'It's really neat,' Smith said. 'They've earned it because they put the time in to be there. They are real close. It will be neat for them.'
Cobe beat Mason City Newman's Jacob McBride, 10-3. Cooper followed with a 7-1 victory over Logan-Magnolia's Garret Thompson in the 145 semifinal.
Cooper Siebrecht remembered watching the state finals on television and seeing brother tandems compete for titles. They were able to achieve their goal and join that group.
'We've been wanting to be in the finals together for a long time,' Cooper Siebrecht said. 'It's special.'
Cooper Siebrecht notched a huge victory in the quarterfinals, beating returning state champion Chance Throndson, of Riceville, 9-2.
'I've been scoring a lot of points and staying on my offense,' Siebrecht said. 'When I get up and get a first period takedown, I'm not slowing down. Just keep wrestling and scoring points on my feet.'
North Linn's Brady Henderson advanced to the 132 finals. He was put to his back and trailed 3-0 briefly in the third before rolling through and putting Martensdale-St. Marys' Joshua Tibbits on his back for a reversal, two nearfall and a 4-3 semifinal victory.
Iowa Valley's Garet Sims completed a dominant day with a 1:24 pin of Panorama's Trevor Carey at 182. Sims placed fifth a year ago.
Jesup top-ranked heavyweight Brian Sadler remained unbeaten. He pinned Belmond-Klemme's Cameron Beminio in 3:24.
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