Iowa City Regina’s Jared Brinkman taking route to state title in stride

DES MOINES - Iowa City Regina's Jared Brinkman can feel it. The target on his back looms pretty large on the biggest stage of the season, but he's kept himself even-keeled.

'I just try not to think about it,” Brinkman said. 'I just try to think each guy is going to be pushing me to my limit. I just take it from there.”

The 285-pound junior respects each necessary step in the state tournament and embraces the challenges, but getting a dominating win in the first match to protect his No. 1 ranking was a big help in zeroing in on his goal.

Brinkman pinned AGWSR senior Michael Young in 3:27 to push his record to 39-0 on the season and advance to Friday's Class 1A quarterfinal round. Besting the No. 8 ranked wrestler in the first round is certainly a measuring stick for where he is physically and mentally in the chase for a state championship.

Getting on the podium as a sophomore helped Brinkman acclimate himself easier to this year's tournament and Regals coach Adam Martensen thought that experience showed in Thursday's opening match.

'In that first match it looked like he's sticking to what he's been doing and what's been successful for him all year,” Martensen said. 'He's got two or three shots that he really likes getting to and he was able to get to them right off the bat.”

Brinkman is hoping to become the first Regina state champion since Daniel Gaffey won the 220-pound title in 2013 with a No. 2 ranking. Friday's quarterfinal pits Brinkman against No. 2 Luke Worden (46-1), a senior from Belmond-Klemme, so quickly refocusing is all he's concerned about.

The 'one step at a time” mentality might be cliché, but when you're taking on two top-10 opponents in an effort to win a state title, it's the only way Brinkman wants to think.

'I've got tough matches ahead, so I've just got to take it one by one but I'm feeling pretty good right now,” Brinkman said. 'I'm in good shape and my shots were feeling good so hopefully I can keep this going.”

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