Lisbon looks to add to rich tradition

LISBON - The reminders of Lisbon's rich wrestling tradition are not limited to the wrestling room where the current Lions train.

The hallway directly outside the high school's gymnasium is lined with stocked display cases opposite numerous photos of state titlists and medalists.

They are examples of when state titles were not just a goal but a given. The home of 17 state championship wrestling teams has not produced one since 1993.

'We walk into the locker room, then we get out of the locker room and walk down the hall,” Lisbon senior 138-pounder Chase McLaughlin said. 'The entire wall is filled with state champions and state trophies. It's a constant reminder and we have a chance to do it again.

'This chance hasn't been here for a really long time. This is the year.”

The Lions are seeded second in the Class 1A State Duals tournament Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, beginning at 9 a.m. Eight teams in each of the three classes will compete for duals crowns before the start of the traditional state tournament Thursday.

'I feel good about the state tournament,” said Lisbon's Hall of Fame head coach Brad Smith, who has 10 traditional state team titles and is one short of the record held by former Waterloo West great Bob Siddens. 'If we can continue to wrestle like we have been and with the intensity we have been we'll be tough to beat. We'll be in good shape.”

The Lions (22-4) return from last season's runner-up State Duals finish, losing to Alburnett on criteria. They face No. 7 Wapsie Valley (22-4) in the quarterfinals. The Lions emphasized the phrase 'Close the deal” after close seconds in both tournaments a year ago.

'We talk about finishing it out,” sixth-ranked 170-pounder Bryce Werderman said. 'We have to make sure to score points. Don't give up any team criteria points so we can win a title.”

Smith said the wrestlers are well aware of the history. Dominant teams earned national recognition while capturing 17 total state titles, including 14 traditional titles from 1973-93 and three State Duals championships. The last dual title was in 1991, which was the last year of Smith's first tenure before going to Iowa City High. He briefly retired only to come back before the 2012-13 season.

'These kids know the tradition and how important it is and so do our fans,” Smith said. 'We want to keep them happy, too.”

Smith coached the Lions to seven of those tournament titles and all three in the duals format, sweeping state titles in 1988. Lisbon has more ranked wrestlers in the traditional field and its only dual setback to a 1A team was a 36-30 road loss to top-seeded Don Bosco.

'I think we have a chance at both,” Smith said. 'We wrestled Don Bosco a couple weeks ago. We lost a couple matches … if we can turn a couple around we'll be in good shape. We have to get there first.”

Smith helped resurrect the wrestling culture at the school. It didn't take long to take hold and the staff is a good reason why. Most of the coaches wrestled for Smith, winning state titles as individuals and contributing to championship teams.

Assistants Greg Butteris, Dean Happel, Brian Hall, Shane Light and Jeff Clark were all Lisbon state champions, contributing to championship teams. Happel and Hall also served as previous head coaches.

'It's really fun for them to share the knowledge,” top-ranked 113-pound freshman Cael Happel said. 'And, they share what it's like to have won traditional and dual titles in Lisbon's prime.”

There is a balance between motivation and pressure. McLaughlin said the team receives a boost from coaches who walked the walk.

'It's very encouraging,” McLaughlin said. 'The coaches always tell us this hasn't happened for a while and (we) are good enough to do it. There's that reminder there and they would know.”

Cael Happel is trying to make his own mark on the program. His father, the assistant coach, was a three-time state champion (1982-84). Carter Happel became Iowa's 25th four-time state champion last season, joining Light (1987-90) and Scott Morningstar (1977-80) to make Lisbon the only school with three. Carter Happel also set a school record with 209 victories.

Those are big shoes to fill and large footsteps to follow. The younger Happel is unfazed.

'There's not a lot of pressure I put on myself,” said Cael Happel, who is 49-3. 'I go out and wrestle my match and my style. It would be fun to win four, like Carter, but I'm going to take care of myself first.”

Lisbon has seven ranked wrestlers, including second-ranked Cobe Siebrecht (106), No. 3 Cooper Siebrecht (132) and McLaughlin, who is fifth. Seventh-ranked Kaden Kilburg gives them six ranked wrestlers in the traditional field.

The Lions were dominant in the postseason, winning the sectional and district tournaments. They had 11 district qualifiers with nine advancing to state. They rolled through regional duals to get here as a team. The question is whether they are ready to peak at the right time.

'I think so,” Smith said. 'We've continually gotten better every week and we'll get better for this weekend as well.”

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