Ex-North Fayette prep leaves Trials thinking big

IOWA CITY - Former North Fayette prep John Helgerson came into this tournament a newbie in the world of freestyle wrestling.

He left disappointed, but with his head held high.

“I don't think there's anybody I can't compete with, can't beat,” said Helgerson, a former NCAA III champ at Wartburg who wrestled freestyle for the first time in a last-chance qualifier a month ago.

Helgerson went 2-2 Sunday, beating Charles Fish of the U.S. Marines, 1-0, 2-0, in the first round before losing to former Hawkeye national champ and 2008 Olympian Steve Mocco in the quarterfinals, 2-1, 6-0. Helgerson beat James Friedrich in a consolation bout before getting eliminated by Chad Hanke.

“It's crazy that I was here,” he said. “But as the tournament went on, I thought I could compete with anybody here.”

He won't commit to another Olympic shot in 2016, though. Maybe the World Team Trials next year. Maybe.

“I'll take it as it comes,” he said with a smile. “I'd like to keep learning.”

Wrestling a guy like Mocco - Helgerson scored a takedown in the first period - was a thrill as well as a confidence boost.

“He's a brute,” Helgerson said. “I liked wrestling him.

“I felt I competed pretty well. I'm a little disappointed of the end, though.”

Fresh experience

Waldorf sophomore Jessica Fresh of Knoxville, who came back to wrestling this past year after giving it up as a high school sophomore, won one match here, pinning Joey Miller of OCU in the first consolation round.

“I always love beating those OCU girls,” she said.

The experience was great, too.

“I learned a lot,” she said.