Western Dubuque's pursuit of excellence leads to strong start

Western Dubuque entered the season with a specific theme.

The goal is to pursue excellence in the hopes it leads to a state trophy at the end of the season. Everyone in the program is striving to accomplish the feat.

'The pursuit is going through the process every single day, trying to get better,' Western Dubuque Coach Paul Cleary said. 'Then, excellence is what you want it to be. We want to be excellent every day.'

The Bobcats have ascended into the top five of both the tournament-team and dual rankings. They have produced an impressive start against the state's top competition. Western Dubuque travels to face Dubuque Hempstead on Thursday, starting at 7 p.m.

Western Dubuque is ranked fifth in dual rankings and fourth in the Class 3A state tournament ratings. The Bobcats own a 13-4 record, facing top-ranked teams in all three classes, the second-ranked team in 2A and Nos. 4, 6 and 7 in 3A. They finished fourth in the Battle of Waterloo dual tournament last weekend at Young Arena.

'It's added up to a lot of great competition in just a matter of two weeks,' Cleary said. 'Our guys have responded very well, and we know this is definitely going to help them when we get to the postseason.

'They will fear no one grinding against the best of the best and we're just looking forward to continuing to be a team, be a family and getting better.'

Western Dubuque has balance, fielding a competitive wrestler at each weight. It has allowed them to be successful despite missing a few starters.

'We have depth,' Cleary said. 'We've had our third string stepping up here and our second-string guy stepping up there, so if we can get everybody healthy I think we are dangerous dual-wise.'

The Bobcats have plenty of individual firepower, including two NCAA Division I recruits. Top-ranked 182-pounder Max Lyon is a defending state champion, two-time finalist and three-time medalist, wrestling at Purdue next year. Top-ranked heavyweight Aaron Costello was a state runner-up last season and has committed to Iowa.

'It's an incredible opportunity, getting to coach Aaron and Max,' Cleary said. 'They've put a ton of time in.'

They have more high-caliber talent. Bradan Birt (132) and Luke Kluesner (195) are ranked fifth. Jacob Close is sixth at 113. Birt has impressed Cleary.

'I think he's looking awesome, too,' Cleary said. 'He's had some really big matches. I think he has some big things he can accomplish this year.'

BRAND NEW LIONS DEN

Linn-Mar wrestling has benefited from recent school renovations, including a brand new wrestling room. The new facility is 38-by-120 feet, housing three full-size mats, and was completed in September.

'We were very fortunate they were thinking of us and obviously it's a great fitness and (Physical Education) facility,' Linn-Mar Coach Doug Streicher said about the wrestling, fitness and weight room. 'It's top notch in all areas. It's really nice.'

The old room limited what Streicher could do. More mat space means fewer of the 45 wrestlers sitting out during practice. They can train in three-person groups now, instead of four or five due to cramped quarters.

'We were sitting out more than we were wrestling,' Streicher said. 'It affected our shape. We had to do longer practices.'

Streicher had some input on the layout and amenities. The walls have tributes to former Linn-Mar preps and University of Iowa NCAA champions Jay Borschel and Matt McDonough. They also celebrate the program, hanging boards with its record holders and state qualifiers, and have a separate exterior entrance.

The room has eight cameras with two 55-inch televisions to record wrestlers, allowing them to dissect position and technique. At one end, they have exercise equipment and a rack for weights. Another area stores three more bikes, shelves for various medicine balls, a work station for managers and small bleachers to watch practice.

'We have great facilities in here with the weight room and the pullup bars are better,' Linn-Mar junior 220-pounder Isaiah Garman said. 'Everything is better.'

BECKMAN'S HAGEMAN REMAINS UNBEATEN

Dyersville Beckman junior Luke Hageman remained unbeaten, winning the 160-pound title at North Linn's Lynx Invitational on Saturday. Hageman improved to 11-0, defeating Solon's state runner-up and top-ranked Trevor Nelson, 5-3, in sudden victory.

Hageman is currently ranked second in Class 2A.

l Comments: (319) 368-8679; kj.pilcher@thegazette.com