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Iowa boys’ state wrestling notes: ‘The ceiling’s unlimited’ for Union 2-time champ Jace Hedeman
Plus: A 3-time state champion falls in the semifinals
DES MOINES — A long time ago and far, far away from the Iowa high school state wrestling tournament, Union Community’s star 126-pounder Jace Hedeman doubted himself.
Not always, but just enough to prompt the two-time and counting state champion to create an internal script that vanquished any of those concerns, and build a foundation of unshakable confidence.
“I used to not have too much belief in myself,” said the top-seeded Hedeman, who won by decision, 8-1, Friday to advance to his third straight Class 2A state tournament final. “So I had to tell myself that I’m a man. I’m a dog. Nobody here can outwork me.”
And nobody has.
Hedeman’s made it clear since his powerful surge to the state crown as a freshman that he’s determined to become a four-time champion. It’s not a wish, nor a boast. It’s a fact — and so far, no one in his class has bested him on the mat even once.
“I love wrestling,” said Hedeman, who’s the third wrestler in Knights’ history to make three or more state finals. “So whatever it takes to win a match is what I’m gonna do.”
Hedeman will face second-seeded Carson Doolittle of Webster City in Saturday night’s championship round.
“I’ve never wrestled him,” said Hedeman, a junior who is 138-0 against 2A foes. “I’m just gonna go wrestle my match and hopefully it goes my way.”
It almost always does. Hedeman’s lone defeat as a high school wrestler came against two-time Class 3A champion Koufax Christensen of Waukee Northwest early last month at Benton Community’s 50th annual Bobcat “Jerry Eckenrod” Invitational. The score: 1-0. The upshot for Hedeman: Work even harder.
“Physically, he’s been forged in the fire,” said Union assistant coach Max Thomsen, who is currently the Knights’ lone four-time state champion. “Super strong. Fast. Technical. Works extremely hard and to make that next step is all mental and that’s a step we’re seeing him take right now. When you really decide that you're not just a state champion, you want to be the best in the tournament and you want to climb the national ladder, that’s the mindset you’re gonna have to take.”
Hedeman said working with Thomsen has been a blessing. Thomsen’s external motivation dovetails with his internal drive and the results speak for themselves.
“Before every match, he makes sure I’m locked in,” Hedeman said. “He tells me I’m a man and I’m the best 2A wrestler here. He helps me a lot in my mental space.”
Now Hedeman stands one win from completing the first three legs of his longstanding state tournament mission. And there’s no doubt in his mind that he’ll successfully take that next step.
“The ceiling’s unlimited for him,” Thomsen said. “He can go as far as he wants to go and I’m just fortunate I get to sit in the corner and watch.”
City High No. 15 seed Jake Mitchell medals
Jake Mitchell of Iowa City High came into the state meet seeded 15th, but he’ll leave with a medal.
Mitchell, who is wrestling icon Dan Gable’s grandson, will face Ty Solverson of Boone in the Class 3A seventh-place match.
State wrestling 4-timer watch
One wrestler’s quest for a fourth state title continues, while another’s came to an end.
Top-seeded Class 3A 138-pounder Carter Freeman of Waukee Northwest staved off a late charge by Cody Trevino of Bettendorf to advance to the finals, 6-5. Freeman will try to become the 33rd Iowa high school wrestler to win four titles on Saturday night.
Top-seeded 3A 175-pounder Maximus Magayna of Waterloo East — a three-time Class 1A state titlist at Waterloo Columbus — lost in the semifinals, 7-5, to fourth-seeded Asa Hemsted of Carlisle.
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