2A: CP-U's Rathbun starts path toward 'redemption'

DES MOINES – Center Point-Urbana's Brock Rathbun was so close, but a state title remained a distant dream.He fell short of a goal and that feeling has gnawed at him ever since he left the Wells Fargo Arena floor at the end of his freshman season.Fueled by that finish, the top-ranked 113-pound sophomore took a step closer to making a championship a reality with a first-round win at the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 2A state wrestling tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.“The feeling of last year in the finals eats at me,” Rathbun said. “I definitely don't want to feel that again.”Rathbun improved to 43-0 with a decisive 16-2 win over Independence's Mitch Evens. He devoted much of his time in the offseason, sweating and improving in the hot summer months so he would be at his best for the winter season.“Over the summer I practiced four times a week,” Rathbun said. “I trained to win.”This year, the approach has been different. He has taken the mat with a more confident and aggressive manner. His style generated a takedown, three reversals and a whopping eight nearfall points in his opening bout.“Last year, I felt like I wrestled to not lose,” Rathbun said. “Now, I wrestle to dominate.”CPU Coach Scott Slifka said Rathbun has been dialed in for this tournament. All the hard work and dedication has been geared to four wins here.“He's been completely focused,” Slifka said. “We've been after this since last year.”Rathbun faces West Delaware state champion and No. 2 ranked Pat Woods, who pinned Rathbun in the 106-pound state final last year. Woods recorded a fall Thursday morning to set up the second-round battle. Rathbun beat Woods, 8-3, in the Wamac Conference tournament championship, but this one is more important with a chance to soothe the sting of last year.“It is redemption,” Rathbun said about the upcoming opportunity. “It's my turn.”Woods (43-1) was one of three West Delaware winners and four Hawks alive in the tournament. Sam Phillips (126) and Brent Lammers (170) also advanced to the quarterfinals. Lammers' victory was more dramatic.The fourth-ranked Hawk trailed 3-2 in the final 30 seconds, but reversed Hampton-Dumont's Grant Lehmann to his back for a 7-3 victory in his state tournament debut.“It's awesome,” Lammers said. “I think I only won like two matches through third to eighth grade at AAU state, so it was a pretty big accomplishment for me.”Lammers attended a scrambling camp this summer, improving his mat awareness and wrestling on the mat. He applied what he learned and it paid dividends.“A guy showed us if he gets deep on your leg and you need something to do just grab the ankle and roll,” Lammers said. “It happened to work out this round for me.”Like Lammers, Dyersville Beckman's Cody Naber and Independence's Kyle Fank made successful state tournament debuts. Sixth-ranked Naber (42-3) pinned Sergeant Bluff-Luton's Cain Blenderman in 3:44 at 138. Naber was concerned with doing his best and not on the potential outcome.“I wanted to come out strong (and) score points,” Naber said. “I wasn't worried about winning or losing.”He fought off nerves and took care of the task at hand, benefitting from watching older brother, Tony, wrestle here in the past.“I got the feel for it,” Naber said. “There's always going to be a little bit but you have to tune those out and focus.”Fank has anxiously awaited his chance to compete on the state's biggest stage. He opened with an 8-2 decision over MOC-Floyd Valley's Stefan Kinsinger at 182. It was all he expected it to be.“It was everything I dreamed of,” said Fank, who improved to 47-1. “I waited three years to get down here.“It was loud with the crowd … It was an awesome experience.”Fank received some words of advice from older brother, Ryan, who was a state champion for Independence in 2010. The message boiled down to relax, stay calm and avoid distractions.“It was not my best, but you'll have that the first time down here,” Fank said. “I'll be more relaxed in the second round.”Fank was one of three Mustangs to advance to the quarterfinals, joining top-ranked 145-pounder Chase Straw (48-0) and No. 9 Matt McMillan at 195. McMillan (40-9) beat No. 7 Seth Maitlen, of Creston-OM, 5-3, with a takedown in sudden victory overtime. Union Community has three quarterfinalists and pushed its way to third in the team race after day 1 with 18 points. Davenport Assumption is first with 25, leading top-ranked Mediapolis by 4 ½.The Knights received falls from two-time state champion Max Thomsen (138), Derek Holschlag (106) and 160-pounder Jacob Holschlag. They also went 2-2 in consolations.“I'm happy,” Union Coach Pat Hogan said. “They are wrestling hard. That's all I can ask of them.”Solon and Mount Vernon each have two quarterfinalists. Mount Vernon's Trey Ryan (170) and second-ranked 220-pounder Josh Cannon recorded falls.Ryan (44-4) finished off Clarinda's Dusty Swindler in the first period.“It's pretty big to get going and start off the tournament well,” Ryan said. “Just keep pounding through it.”He has done it before, placing sixth as a sophomore and second last year. The loss in last year's championship match has powered him in his final season.“It's always hard losing a close one like that but it's pushed me through this year and made me work harder and achieve my goals so I'm hoping on getting back to the finals and winning it this year,” Ryan said. “I feel good. I feel ready to go. Just have fun and see what happens.”The Spartans have three alive, including top-ranked 220-pounder Lance Evans and heavyweight Logan Linderbaum. Both earned falls. Solon's Louis Gnida won his consolation match at 120.