Blood pressure: Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Cael Smithhart overcomes severe bloody nose for high school wrestling win against North Scott

CEDAR RAPIDS – Blood and guts.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Cael Smithhart has displayed plenty of both during his wrestling career, but nothing like Thursday night.

“I’ve never had it that bad,” Kennedy’s senior 150-pounder said. “I bleed a lot. It never got that low on blood time, especially since I’ve never bled that much before. That was something new.”

Smithhart suffered a bloody nose that forced multiple stoppages and nearly erased his five minutes of blood time allowed for cleanup. With a nose packed with cotton and a face wrapped in stretch tape, he broke open a scoreless match and persevered with a third-period pin in No. 24 Kennedy’s 43-24 loss to No. 22 North Scott at home.

Smithhart decked Evan Ralfs in 4:44, improving to 15-7 this season and record one of six Cougars wins.

“I’m proud of his effort,” Kennedy Coach Nick LeClere said. “The way he ended that match was great to see.”

The outcome seemed in doubt as an early blow to the face created a deluge of blood in the first half of the match. First, Smithhart’s right nostril started to bleed. Training staff plugged it. Then, blood began to stream from his other nostril. They plugged both, but drainage caused the blood to flow into his mouth.

“It became a mess,” Smithhart said. “It was really frustrating. I just want to wrestle. I felt bad for other people behind me, watching everything.”

Concentration was fixed solely on the match. Despite the interruptions that prevented a flow to the action, Smithhart kept his mind on what he needed to do to win.

“It’s something in your way that you can’t think about,” Smithhart said. “You have to keep the match in the front of your head and that’s all I really focused on. Just continue wrestling.”

LeClere estimated five to six timeouts left about 46 seconds of blood time for Smithhart before having to default. LeClere said he has never seen anything like it, especially the horizontal band of tape through the middle of Smithhart’s face. It made it difficult to breathe.

“I’m just happy he was able to finish that match because blood time was running down,” LeClere said. “It was pretty low.

“Not ideal. Obviously, taping up your nose is not fun.”

After his last blood timeout, Smithhart strung together an escape and takedown for a 3-0 lead after the second period. He was able to turn Ralfs and settled in for the fall.

“I knew I had to go,” said Smithhart, who beat Ralfs 10-6 at Cedar Falls’ Keith Young Invitational on Dec. 2. “I just had to flip the switch and go get the win for the team.

“Couldn’t risk any more blood time.”

Leclere said, “He caught him in that wing and was able to get it over with a fall, so that was huge for him.”

The excessive bleeding during the match was done by the dual’s end. It is minor compared to the injuries Smithhart has experienced. He has hip dysplasia, which led to surgery to repair a torn labrum in the same hip each of the last two years. He met procedures and about nine months of recovery with resolve and resilience.

“I’ve had to repair that twice now,” Smithhart said. “I can’t wrestle for quite a few months so I can’t get any work in the offseason.

“It’s just adds another step in the road to overcome.”

Smithhart credited wrestling with forming toughness to push through adversity. LeClere recalled Smithhart coming up to him during a dual last season, explaining his injury, his plans for another surgery and that he had been wrestling through the pain. Another example of Smithhart dealing with misfortune.

“He was wrestling through it,” LeClere said. “It’s been a long road for him to get back out on the mat.

“He’s a senior leader that leads by example. He’s probably our hardest worker in the room. He never complains about anything.”

The first half of the season has been decent, despite missing crucial offseason training and competition. Smithhart is glad to be able to compete and has his sights set on a state tournament medal.

“I’ve been working really hard this season,” Smithhart said. “It’s a definite possibility for me. I’ve started the season pretty well. If I keep it rolling, I can achieve my goal.”

Kennedy (4-5) couldn’t climb out of a big hole thanks to a five-match Lancer win streak that consisted of three pins, a technical fall and major decision. Will McDermott’s major decision at 144 made it 39-9 with four bouts remaining and sealed the dual win for North Scott (9-4).

Colin Falck (165) needed just 21 seconds for the Cougars’ other pin. Austin Raue (215), Alex Harger (106), 113-pounder Max Panosh and Louden Bloxham (157) added decisions for Kennedy.

AT C.R. KENNEDY

North Scott 43, C.R. Kennedy 24

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

190 pounds – Jace Tippet (NS) pinned Sam Adams, 1:14 (1,0); 215 – Austin Raue (CRK) dec. Jay Lightle, 2-1 tiebreaker-1 (0,0); Hwt. – Dawson Rheingans (NS) pinned Logan Johnson, 3:53 (0,0); 106 – Alex Harger (CRK) dec. Max Davis, 7-3 (3,1); 113 – Max Panosh (CRK) dec. Cole Bruck, 4-2 (2,0); 120 – Matthew Williams (NS) pinned Colton Smithhart, :58 (1,0); 126 – Tanner Yates (NS) pinned Jack Olesen, 2:29 (1,0); 132 – Gabrie Ulloa (NS) tech. fall Sam Myers, 15-0 (2,0); 138 – Cole Green (NS) pinned Caden Growth, 3:20 (2,0); 144 – Will McDermott (NS) major dec. Jake Oostendorp, 10-1 (1,0); 150 – Cael Smithhart (CRK) pinned Evan Ralfs, 4:44 (1,0); 157 – Louden Bloxham (CRK) dec. Ben Lightle, 8-5 (3,0); 165 – Colin Falck (CRK) pinned Kade Kelly, :21 (1,0); 175 – Trey Feist (NS) major dec. Christian Gasper, 13-5 (3,1).

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns – North Scott 12, C.R. Kennedy 11. Reversals – North Scott 2, C.R. Kennedy 2. Escapes – North Scott 9, C.R. Kennedy 5. Nearfall points – North Scott 28, C.R. Kennedy 0. Penalty points (awarded) – North Scott 3, C.R. Kennedy 1. Total match points – North Scott 68, C.R. Kennedy 32.

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