Alex Bumba’s offseason fueled improvements for strong varsity campaign

CEDAR RAPIDS — Alex Bumba dedicated his time in the offseason to become a better wrestler.

Added mat time in the spring and summer paid dividends, making gains in technique, resilience and confidence.

Bumba is reaping the rewards of his hard work and so are the Hawks. His victory with two matches remaining helped No. 15 Prairie drop Cedar Falls, 40-26, in a Mississippi Valley Conference dual Thursday night at Prairie.

“This offseason, I felt like I got better mentally, not just in wrestling but mentally,” Bumba said. “Last year, I’d go out there and I wouldn’t be confident. This year, you just believe in yourself and go out there and do it. You’ve got guys around you that believe in you. Coaches believe in you. I just feel like it’s a lot easier to go out there when you have confidence in yourself and believe in your training.”

Bumba qualified for the Junior Nationals at Fargo, N.D., in freestyle. He wanted to put in the extra work and had strong teammates at Big Game Wrestling Club to push him.

“It was fun to go in every day, putting in a lot of work there,” said Bumba, a state qualifier a year ago. “Everyone there is training to be the best, so you hop on the train and go do it.”

Prairie Coach Derick Ball said Bumba is part of the group of Hawks who devoted time to wrestle outside of the high school season. They are making an impact on the team’s success.

“This is a sport if you choose to do it from November to February you will never maximize your potential or be the wrestler you can be,” Ball said. “We have a cultural shift where guys want to wrestle in the offseason. We had seven to 10 guys who wrestled a ton of freestyle and those are the guys who are carrying us right now.”

Bumba posted a hard-fought 5-4 decision over the Tigers’ Kane Shimp. The eighth-ranked 126-pounder scored a takedown in the opening period, but trailed 3-2 and 4-3 in the second and third, respectively. Bumba scored a go-ahead takedown with a little less than a minute left and closed with a rideout to secure the win.

The way he finishes was indicative of the strides in toughness and maturity from last season.

“That shows his progress and growth as a wrestler,” Ball said. “There’s this shift where he’s going to battle in hard spots. It’s not only important in the sport of wrestling but important in life.”

Bumba said, “I’m believing in myself more and understanding that you’re right in the match regardless of the score. You have to keep grinding ... You have to stay in and fight for your team. Just keep going.”

The Hawks junior went 1-2 at state last year.

“I’ve got to sharpen up on everything really,” Bumba said. “My goal is to place top-five at the state tournament. When you go into practice every day, think of that goal. When times get tough, just think of that goal and where you want to be. The goal will drive you to where you want to be.”

Bumba’s victory was part of a four-match Prairie win streak to pull away for the win.

Two-time state finalist Blake Gioimo (120) sparked the late run, pinning Keller Wilson in 3:44 for a 28-26 lead. After Bumba’s decision, the Hawks’ No. 12 Tyler Lee secured the win with a 9-2 decision over Brayden Wiles at 132. Wyatt Vlasek capped the dual with a first-period fall at 138.

Casey Kelley (145) opened the dual with a major decision and Collin Velky added a pin at 195 for the Hawks (16-5).

AT C.R. PRAIRIE

C.R. Prairie 40, Cedar Falls 26

145 pounds - Casey Kelley (CRP) major dec. Conner Doyle, 14-4; 152 - Henry Koehn (CF) dec. Logan Redig, 6-1; 160 - Gerald Norton (CF) pinned Jake Umstead, 3:39; 170 - Noah Backes (CF) dec. Cole Smith, 6-2; 182 - Drew Gerdes (CF) major dec. Tate Joens, 12-1; 195 - Collin Velky (CRP) pinned Ian Bohnenkamp, 2:50; 220 - Drew Campbell (CF) pinned Hayden Stockdale, :42; Hwt. - Carter Dawley (CRP) won by forfeit; 106 - Dylan Munson (CRP) won by forfeit; 113 - Evan Simpson (CF) major dec. Teagan Kendall, 11-3; 120 - Blake Gioimo (CRP) pinned Keller Wilson, 3:44; 126 - Alex Bumba (CRP) dec. Kane Shimp, 5-4; 132 - Tyler Lee (CRP) dec. Brayden Wiles, 9-2; 138 - Wyatt Vlasek (CRP) pinned Eric Malaise, 1:22.