All gas, no brakes fuels Western Dubuque’s Joe Hirsch for senior wrestling season

CEDAR RAPIDS – Western Dubuque Coach Paul Cleary recalled Joe Hirsch waiting for his final state match last season.

Before he won the fifth-place bout, he turned to coaches and offered up the mantra for this year’s senior poster – All gas and no brakes.

“He came up with that and said that's what we should do, coach,” Cleary said. “And he wrestles all gas and no breaks. It fits into our philosophy of heart and intensity.

“So, we love the intensity he brings to practice room and the dual meets, too.”

Hirsch performed on full throttle, tallying 20 points in a technical fall victory at 157 pounds and helping Western Dubuque defeat Cedar Rapids Xavier, 46-34, in a boys’ wrestling dual Thursday night at Ron Thillen Gymnasium. The Bobcats also won the girls’ dual, 56-15.

Hirsch’s win came in the middle of a four-weight win streak that included a technical fall by Will Casey at 150, a pin from Brady Rissman at 165 and Macklin Penner’s forfeit at 170 that gave Western Dubuque its first lead of the dual with three weights remaining.

“I know our team really needed it,” Hirsch said about the bonus-point win. “Actually, Will Casey set off a good example of that. As soon as he got that win, I knew I had to get fired up a little bit because we were down by a score or two. I trusted my training and I knew I could get it done for the team.”

Hirsch has high aspirations for his final season. The three-time state qualifier and defending Mississippi Valley Conference champion is determined to parlay his hard work and avoid settling for anything less than his best.

“My goal is to win a state championship,” Hirsch said. “I set my goals high, obviously. I don't ever want underestimate myself. The goal is just focus on small things every day in practice.

“I had a couple of mistakes in my match tonight. I let him get on my legs a couple times, so I'll focus on the small details tomorrow and I'll fix what I did wrong.”

Hirsch is already showing signs of expanding his arsenal that produced his 83rd career victory. Cleary said Hirsch has a good fireman’s carry and has added a snap down that resembles the technique used by former three-time NCAA Division I champion Stephen Abas and his brother and four-time All-American, Gerry Abas. Cleary called it a new tool and it makes Hirsch more offensive and dangerous.

“He has incredible motion and feel,” Cleary said. “He's got some of the best feel and wrestling that I’ve seen. His hips are amazing.”

Hirsch credits his Grandpa Robby for helping train him from youth wrestling through junior high. He still works out in his grandfather’s garage that includes a wrestling mat and some workout equipment. Somethings were made by his grandfather’s hands. Hirsch and his brother grew his repertoire with his grandfather during the summer.

“I live right next to him,” Hirsch said. “It's kind of nice.

“He always told me to focus on the basics and get better each day. You don’t have to do anything fancy to win a match. Just keep the pressure on and focus on the small things.”

Hirsch racked up six takedowns, including four in the opening period, and added a reversal. He almost scored a pin but the match was terminated with a 15-point lead before the fall.

“He had great effort out there,” Cleary said. “Proud of his leadership there and definitely looking forward to him having an awesome senior year.”

Ethan Schlichtmann (113), Kellen McKenna (132) and 215-pounder Alex Gassman added pins for the Bobcats (1-0, 1-0). Gassman’s fall came in the penultimate weight, securing the dual victory.

Xavier (0-1, 0-1) won five of the first eight matches. Anakin Deppe (106), Miguel Astorga (120) and Elliott Gnewuch (126) and 138-pounder Kelso Brueck all won by pin and Atley Coyle added a major decision. The Saints led 28-17 at the midway point. Xavier MVC champion Dusty Cook recorded a second-period fall at 197, tying the dual at 34-34 with two weights left.

“Glad to get a win, but we're look looking to do better,” Cleary said. “Tons of respect to Coach Chambers and the Xavier wrestling program. They wrestled hard. They have a good team.”

WESTERN DUBUQUE 56, XAVIER 15 – The Bobcats won 11 of 14 weights to capture the girls’ dual. Western Dubuque received pins from Savana Sharkey (125) and Landry Rauen (135) and Elli Casey (105) and Khloee Schmidt (140) posted technical falls. Carly Knapp added a major decision at 155 for the Bobcats.

Emily DeMeulenaere won by fall at 190 and Aly Flack scored a decision at 145 for Xavier. Megan Talyat received a forfeit for the Saints.

AT C.R. XAVIER

BOYS’ RESULTS

Western Dubuque 46, C.R. Xaver 34

106 pounds - Anakin Deppe (CRX) pinned Cole Dunkel, 4:30; 113 - Ethan Schlichtmann (WD) pinned Phenix Liberty, 3:23; 120 - Miguel Astorga (CRX) pinned Caden Gotto, 1:24; 126 - Elliott Gnewuch (CRX) pinned Isaiah Streif, 3:11; 132 - Kellen McKenna (WD) pinned William Montgomery, :54; 138 - Atley Coyle (CRX) major dec. Bryce Kelly, 13-0; 144 - Kelso Brueck (CRX) pinned Jordan Jasper, 3:01; 150 - Will Casey (WD) technical fall Bryce Naber, 18-3; 157 - Joe Hirsch (WD) technical fall Calvin Hacke, 20-5; 165 - Brady Rissman (WD) pinned Brady DeCamp, 2:45; 175 - Macklin Penner (WD) won by forfeit; 190 - Dusty Cook (CRX) pinned Daniel Kenneally, 3:24; 215 - Alex Gassman (WD) pinned Andrew Renner, 1:50; Hwt. - Joe Klostermann (WD) won by forfeit.

GIRLS’ RESULTS

Western Dubuque 56, C.R. Xavier 15

100 pounds - Double forfeit; 105 - Elli Casey (WD) pinned Alicia Burgos-Guzman, 15-0; 110 - Lexi Vogel (WD) won by forfeit; 115 - Brynn Meyer won by forfeit; 120 - Ella Digmann (WD) won by forfeit; 125 - Savana Sharkey (WD) pinned Rae Moses, 2:39; 130 - Megan Talyat (CRX) won by forfeit; 135 - Landry Rauen (WD) pinned Astin Hong, :58; 140 - Khloee Schmidt (WD) technical fall Elliana Casey, 16-1; 145 - Aly Flack (CRX) dec. Delila Knepper-Ludovissy, 4-1; 155 - Carly Knapp (WD) major dec. Hannah Pfab, 14-0; 170 - Ava Pfab (WD) won by forfeit; 190 - Emily DeMeulenaere (CRX) pinned Shaylynn Knapp, 3:18; 235 - Grace McCarthy (WD) won by forfeit.

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