West duo commit to college wrestling programs

Iowa City West senior Jack Hathaway used to snowboard when his family lived in Idaho.

Iowa doesn't have many opportunities for snowboarding but he will be able to resume that activity soon.

Hathaway verbally committed Tuesday evening to wrestle for coach Jim Zalesky at Oregon State next season. He made up his mind about earlier in the day and informed the school by dinner.

"I really liked the campus there," Hathaway said. "I like the people. I love the weather there."

The mild temperatures mesh well with his love for the outdoors. His family has always been fans of the West.

"It's an hour away from the mountains and there are mountains around it," Hathaway said about Corvallis, Ore. "It's an hour away from the ocean. It's pretty well located."

Hathaway, ranked 19th in the country at 126 pounds according to Wrestling Insider News Magazine, selected Oregon State over University of Northern Iowa and North Dakota State.

Hathaway owns a 146-12 career mark, winning the Class 3A 125-pound state title in February. He placed third at 112 and 103 his first two years. He was a runner-up at FILA Junior Nationals, qualifying for the U.S. FILA Junior World Cup team.

Hathaway said he projects to wrestle 133 or 141 in college. His ability to train at Oregon State for wrestling outside of college attracted him as well.

"I really like the place because it also has the Olympic (Regional) Training Center," Hathaway said. "The guys that are in the club went to Worlds this year, so it kind of helps make the decision and I always wanted to go on after college."

West defending state champion Phillip Laux committed to wrestle at University of Wisconsin on Saturday. Laux won the the 3A 103 pound state title as a junior. He is 106-9, placing third at 103 in 1A for Pekin as a sophomore. Laux is the country's top-ranked at 113 by WIN, and likely will be a 125-pounder throughout college.

Laux joins teammate Justin Koethe, who has also committed to wrestle at Wisconsin. West's Dakota Bauer previously committed to wrestle for Iowa State.