DeVilbiss faces familiar foe

DES MOINES - South Winneshiek's Jayden DeVilbiss is quite familiar with his next opponent.After DeVilbiss made quick work of Treynor's Adam Schmidt with a pin in 2 minutes, 34 seconds, the Warrior senior 171-pounder hurried to the stands to watch Aplington-Parkersburg Jacob Everts win his first round match of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 1A state wrestling tournament Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena. With both winning, it sets up a quarterfinal bout today between top-ranked DeVilbiss and No. 2 Everts (39-1).DeVilbiss, along with teammates Nick and Matt Schmelzer, traveled to Parkersburg youth club practice in grade school. DeVilbiss recalls training with Everts.“I've known him since sixth-grade,” DeVilbiss said. “I've never wrestled him head-to-head. In practice he used to hand it to me pretty good. I've improved a lot since pee-wee (wrestling).”DeVilbiss (38-1) scouted his acquaintance. He has an idea of what to do for a win.“Control neutral position and not let him get in on any shots,” DeVilbiss said. “Stop his legs (on top).”DeVilbiss placed fourth at 160 pounds last year, which taught him the mental focus needed to win and physicality of the competitors.“Being down here already once gave me a lot more confidence,” DeVilbiss said. “I knew the level of competition that would be down here.”The sights are set on one thing. DeVilbiss wants to close out his prep career with a state title, but that path has a familiar roadblock.“I know what I want. I know what I need to do to get it,” DeVilbiss said. “I just hope all the hard work I've put in the last 14 years pays off.”