Cedar Rapids Washington’s Wyatt Young sets sights on state wrestling return

CEDAR RAPIDS — Wyatt Young possesses a vision.

Cedar Rapids Washington’s junior 190-pounder has his sights set on returning to the state wrestling tournament and standing upon the hallowed awards podium. If Young accomplishes his goal, he will have a supporter in his corner in his assistant coach and stepdad, Scott Halapua.

Young and Halapua share a passion and have strengthened their bond through sports, especially wrestling.

“I’ve grown closer with my stepdad, for sure,” Young said. “I’ve always thought of wrestling as a solo sport. He’s not lacing up the wrestling shoes, but he’s coaching me along the way.”

Young was one of the few bright spots for the Warriors Thursday night. He recorded one of just two victories in a 63-11 loss to host Cedar Rapids Kennedy in a Mississippi Valley Conference boys’ wrestling his dual. Young improved to 22-7 this season.

“It’s pretty big,” said Young, who has 67 career wins. “I want to get to 100, but that takes steps. So, we’re going to take it one match at a time.”

Young needed just 55 seconds to stick Sam Adams. The result propels him into Saturday’s MVC Super Meet at Dubuque Senior. Halapua enjoys seeing Young’s success and reaping the rewards of his effort.

“It’s awesome because he’s put in the work,” said Halapua, who was a state qualifier for Cedar Rapids Regis-LaSalle in the late 1990s. “That’s one of the things I’ve seen and he knows about wrestling. If you put the work in, things are going to be there. If not, you’ve got to put more into it.

“It’s nice to see him get what he wants out of it. He knows he needs to take some more steps to get where he wants to be. His work ethic is there and it’s awesome.”

Young and Halapua probably discussed the performance on the way home, like they do daily — in and out of school, in the car and sometimes at the dinner table.

“It’s just fun to talk about,” Young said. “We both love wrestling.”

“We’ve figured out the rides home are the times to talk about it,” Halapua said. “Once we get to the driveway, it usually stops. It’s pretty one-sided but he does everything I ask of him.”

Washington Coach J.P. Graham has seen the interaction between the two in practice and competition. He mans Young’s corner with Halapua. The stepdad/stepson dynamic is a good one.

“Pretty much,” Graham said about their stronger connection through wrestling. “It’s a pretty good relationship.”

Young won 31 matches last season and qualified for state at 170. He has been ranked for part of the season and is projected as a Class 3A state qualifier by IAwrestle.com. Young won’t be satisfied until he gets his name stenciled next to past state placewinners inside the Warriors’ wrestling room.

“That’s all we’re looking at,” Young said. “Coaches talked about it in the preseason. That’s all I’ve wanted, dreamed about and prayed for. Get my name on that wall.”

The dual was dominated by Kennedy, which celebrated its annual Senior Night. The Cougars had seven bonus-point victories, leading from start to finish. Kael Millsap (144), Cael Smithhart at 150, Colin Falck (165), 175-pounder Christian Gasper and Aidyn Roman at 132 had pins for Kennedy. The Cougars’ Alex Harger (106) and Louden Bloxham (157) won by technical fall and major decision, respectively.

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Cedar Rapids Kennedy 63, Cedar Rapids Washington 11*

AT C.R. KENNEDY

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

144 pounds - Kael Millsap (CRK) pinned Ayden Sasek, 3:27 (1,0); 150 - Cael Smithhart (CRK) pinned Rolend Stewart, 3:44 (3,0); 157 - Louden Bloxham (CRK) major dec. Aaron Butikofer, 10-2 (3,1); 165 - Colin Falck (CRK) pinned Sam Holub, 1:35 (5,0); 175 - Christian Gasper (CRK) pinned Leo Stoffel, 3:31 (2,0); 190 - Wyatt Young (CRW) pinned Sam Adams, :55 (1,0); 215 - Austin Raue (CRK) won by forfeit; Hwt. - Logan Johnson (CRK) dec. Robert Stoffel, 2-1 (0,0); 106 - Alex Harger (CRK) tech. fall Sam Brennan, 17-1 (3,0); 113 - Max Panosh (CRK) won by forfeit; 120 - Colton Smithhart (CRK) won by forfeit; 126 - Jack Olesen (CRK) dec. Laird Hanna, 6-5 (1,1); 132 - Aidyn Roman (CRK) pinned James Thomas, 1:15 (1,0); 138 - Nick Foreman (CRW) pinned Jake Oostendorp, :39 (1,0)

* - C.R. Washington was deducted a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct.

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns - C.R. Washington 4, C.R. Kennedy 19. Reversals - C.R. Washington 1, C.R. Kennedy 1. Escapes - C.R. Washington 9, C.R. Kennedy 4. Nearfall points - C.R. Washington 0, C.R. Kennedy 21. Penalty points (awarded) - C.R. Washington 1, C.R. Kennedy 1. Total match points - C.R. Washington 20, C.R. Kennedy 66.

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