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Springville's Luke Lansing turns school's first day at state into a second
Lansing is the Oriole’s first-ever state qualifier
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DES MOINES — As the stream began, the young eyes lit up.
The entire Springville school district — students from kindergarten to 12th grade — had gathered in the cafeteria to view the historic event, and finally, Luke Lansing took center stage in his first-round bout at the Class 1A boys state wrestling tournament.
Psst, he’s kind of a big deal.
Lansing, a senior 190-pounder, is the Orioles’ first-ever state qualifier, and on Thursday, he pinned his first foe, nearly pinned his second before getting pinned himself, and won by injury default in his consolation semifinal at Casey’s Center.
“It’s been an amazing ride,” said Springville head coach Tyson Jacobi, who restarted a program that had been dormant for more than a decade in 2022. “It’s been a wild ride for Luke. What it’s done for the sport of wrestling in Springville is gonna be amazing. There (are) pictures from home, and it almost gets me a little bit teary-eyed thinking about it. They took all the kids from school — small town, right? (They) put them in the cafe and my daughter (Rowan) is a senior there, and she said, ‘Dad, it was unbelievably loud.’”
The joyful noise seemed a fitting accompaniment for Lansing’s stirring journey from raw wrestler in that first season of the wrestling program’s reboot, to now, when he’s still standing, arm raised, as an orange-hued trailblazer. Jacobi said Lansing went 9-17 as a freshman, starting piling up more wins as a sophomore and junior, and found another gear at a meet in Marion early this season before winning a district title.
“Great experience,” said the ninth-seeded Lansing, who is slated to meet 17th-seed Dawson Boileau of Iowa City Regina in Friday’s consolations. “I’m just enjoying it and taking it all in.”
Lansing nearly had first-time state qualifying company, but two of his teammates fell narrowly short at districts, finishing third and fourth. But the wrestling revival continues apace at Springville — a school already known for its basketball prowess.
“It’s changing the culture of Springville,” said Jacobi, whose daughter, Rowan, stars on the Orioles’ girls basketball team and has committed to play Division I hoops at South Dakota. “And as a wrestling coach, you love to hear that culture change.”
Lansing’s been a big part of that, and still could add to his list of firsts by continuing to wrestle back for two more wins, and ascend the medal stand. Just enjoying that realistic possibility is unprecedented in Springville, where Lansing got a rousing send-off replete with a fire truck-led parade.
So he’s not only a big deal. He’s a symbol of things to come.
“I just told him believe in the program, believe in the process and you’re gonna be somebody,” said Jacobi, who wrestled for Hall of Fame coach Al Billings at Belle Plaine as a prep. “And here we are today in Casey’s (Center) wrestling at the state tournament, and made it to the second day. I couldn’t be more proud of that kid right there — and the (assistant) coaches (Eric Cizmadia and Jon Trumpold). They have been a tremendous help.”
Lisbon roars back
Lisbon finished the first day of the Class 1A state wrestling tournament in third place. The Lions amassed 38 points with some come-from-behind heroics.
Seniors Cade Happel (126) and Jackson Knapp (144) provided rallies to advance to Friday’s quarterfinals.
Happel posted a thrilling 13-12 decision over Missouri Valley’s Owen Becerra. He erased a six-point deficit in the second period, tallying three takedowns in the final 2:02 of the match.
Knapp trailed MMC/RU’s No. 3 Parker Glassmaker, 7-2, in the second. Knapp responded with a reversal, four-point nearfall and notched the pin in 3:48.
They were joined in the quarterfinals by teammate Jack Gogel at 113 pounds.
Comments: robgray18@icloud.com
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