Spenser Mango caps stellar Greco-Roman career in front of Carver-Hawkeye Arena crowd

IOWA CITY — Spenser Mango has been a constant on the country's Greco-Roman wrestling team.

Even he saw the end was near, but he didn't think it was going to be quite this soon.

Mango participated in one of wrestling's emotional and lasting traditions when he walked to the center of Mat 2 and left his shoes after a semifinal loss Saturday during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The ritual signifies his last competitive match.

Jesse Thielke defeated Mango, 8-0, at 130 pounds, ending a string of eight years on the U.S. World and Olympic teams. He had been on the U.S. national team since 2007.

'I knew this was going to be my last year,' Mango said. 'I didn't know this was going to be my last day. I was expecting to be getting on a plane to Mongolia next week (for an Olympic qualifier). This one hurts.'

Mango placed fifth at the 2013 and 2014 World Championships. He was eighth in the 2008 Olympics and ninth in 2012, winning the trials here at CHA.

The 2006 World University champion graduated from high school in 2004 and then attended Northern Michigan to take up Greco-Roman, despite never competing in the discipline. It resulted in a successful career.

'In (2008), I was young, ready to explore the world and get a bunch of experience,' Mango said. 'Now, I've been all over the world. I've been to every tournament I've wanted to go to. I never thought I would see this day coming, but it's been a while now. I guess it's inevitable for any athlete. You can't do it forever.'

Mango said the last 12 years have been a blast, doing what he loves. He will transition into a coaching role with World Class Athlete Program, which was the group he competed with and provided his best memories.

'Just the great people I've met along the way,' Mango said. 'These tournaments, you get medals and I put them away. I never really look at them. The bonds that I made, especially with my Army teammates, I spend more time with them than my actual family, so they are my family. It's something I'll always cherish.'

Jermaine Hodge, who also wrestles for the WCAP, also ended his career with the removal of his shoes, going 1-2 at 130.

WATTERS PROUD OF PERFORMANCE

Ballard High School senior Rachel Watters was the youngest wrestler in the entire field at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials this weekend.

The 18-year-old finished the tournament with a 3-2 record, competing at 152 pounds.

'I have a lot of things to work on but overall a good tournament,' said Watters, who was born Oct. 24, 1997. 'I need to work on finishing my shots, but other than that I got in on them and was competing at a high level. I'm proud.'

Watters, a Junior National team member, has battled senior level wrestlers in the past. She placed third at the 2015 U.S. World Team Trials. She recorded two 10-0 technical falls and a one-point win, advancing into the top five.

'It seems pretty similar,' Watters said. 'I wish I would have had as high of a performance ...

It is how it is.'

IOWA CONNECTIONS

Former University of Iowa three-time All-American and Hawkeye Wrestling Club member Bobby Telford and former Waverly-Shell Rock and Grand View champion Eric Thompson both went 2-2 at 275 pounds, finishing in the top five.

U.S. Greco-Roman team member Jordan Holm, a former Northern Iowa wrestler, was the top seed at 187. He won his first bout, falling in the semifinal and the following consolation match.

At 128 in women's freestyle, Lauren Louive and Megan Black each went 1-2. Louive is the first female representative of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club. Black, a national runner-up for McKendree (Ill.) University, was Iowa's first female state medalist, placing eighth for Eddyville-Blakesburg in 2012.

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