Rush to the top

CEDAR RAPIDS - For the last two seasons, Clayton Rush has been on a higher level than anyone at his level.

The Coe senior has been almost untouchable by other NCAA Division III wrestlers, as he has built a 60-3 mark the previous two years.

Rush will try to continue that trend at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships hosted by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on Friday and Saturday at the La Crosse Center. Competition begins at 11 a.m. Rush will begin his pathto defend the 125-pound national title with a match against the winner of Central's Kalen Greiner (17-12) and Wisconsin-Platteville's Mack Drees (31-14).

"He's a fierce competitor," Coe Coach John Oostendorp said. "He's been a huge impact on our program. He's everything you look for in an athlete."

Rush has made his mark on the Kohawks program and is likely considered the best to come through the program. Rush became the first Kohawk to win three Iowa Conference titles and just the 39thin conference history. He enters the national tournament with a 122-11 career mark, including a 28-1 record this season.

He will try to become Coe's first two-time NCAA champion and earned his fourth All-American honor, placing second as a freshman and fifth as a sophomore. Rush said the time between the IIAC and NCAA tournaments can wear on a wrestler's mind, but good training phase has him ready.

"I'm relaxed and loose," Rush said. "Now, it's come upon us, I feel good and prepared."

The situation is slightly different. Last year, Rush was chasing a national title. Now, Rush is looking to add more gold to his trophy case. Rush doesn't look at it as defending a title, but having to earn a second one.

"That was last year. That's erased," Rush said. "This is a whole new year. I have to take that mentality. I'm going after that first one again."

Rush, who has had two of his last three losses come to University of Iowa 125-pound NCAA champion Matt McDonough, has dominated D-III competitors. He is 9-0 against Wartburg's second-seeded Mark Kist. He was quick to praise others and refused to take credit.

"I've got to hand it to our coaches and workout partners I have in the practice room," said Rush, mentioning assistant coaches Eric Casey and Dustin Hinschberger and freshman Jimmy Gotto, a former Western Dubuque prep. "It's the level of competing in our room. Our coaches do an awesome job of getting the best out of us."

Rush has been injury free the last two seasons, which wasn't the case his first two at Coe. He persevered two separate tears to knee cartilage his freshman season. As a sophomore, Rush suffered  a torn shoulder labrum in his first match of the year, but battled through the pain the entire year. He underwent surgery after each season to repair his injuries.

"Really, what's helped him the last two years is he's been able to wrestle the entire year without an injury," Oostendorp said. "He wrestled his first two years with injuries that would be season-ending for most kids." 

It took an extraordinary toughness to fight through the pain. Oostendorp said he thought maybe that came from Rush's parents, Gail and Rick. Rush, however, noted it may have been molded by older brother, Jayson, who is eight years older, and older sister Courtney, a member of the Air Force serving in the Persian Gulf who is four years older.

"Probably from being the youngest and getting beat up on my whole life, and hating to lose," Rush said. "I used to run around with my brother. Him and his friends used to pick on me quite a bit." 

They developed a big asset to the Coe program. Oostendorp said the Kohawks have asked a lot out of Rush over the last four seasons. He has accepted and filled the role of sparking Coe in duals and tournaments.

"Against highly rated kids he knows what is expected of him and it's not to go out and get a win," Oostendorp said. "It's to go out and try to dominate that opponent and get bonus points. He's done it that last four years."

He has actually excelled in that aspect. Rush has notched a major decision (32), technical fall (27) or pin (22) in 66.4% of his victories. The last two seasons 40 of his 60 wins were by major decision (18), technical fall (15) or pin (7).

"He works extremely hard in his matches to score points," Oostendorp said.

A desire to be the best and a lack of injury to hinder his talent has elevated Rush above all others in his division. Oostendorp has never sensed any complacency, so expect more of the same this weekend.

"He's been healthy this year and last year," said Oostendorp. "I think you see the results of it. I know he'll be excited and ready to compete and he''ll be just as motivated when he takes the mat."