Iowa represented by preps at out-of-state schools

OMAHA, Neb. - The state of Iowa is represented by more than just the three state universities.

Three former Iowa prep state champions took the mat for out-of-state programs at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on Thursday at the Quest Center.

Cornell 165-pounder Justin Kerber led the trio, including Old Dominion's James Nicholson and Nebraska's Josh Ihnen, with a first-round win. Kerber beat Minnesota's Cody Yohn, 5-1.

Kerber, a two-time state champion for Emmetsburg/Armstrong-Ringsted, is making his second NCAA tournament appearance. He went 0-2, falling short of his goal of reaching the placing rounds at 184.

“That's good to get that off my back so to speak,” Kerber said. “Hopefully now, I can get o a little bit of a roll here and help contribute to the team.”

Kerber (19-9) has been a team player during his time at Cornell. He went 28-11 as a freshman, starting at 174, but moved all the way up to 197 just to make the lineup that had All-American Steve Anceravage and Josh Arnone at 174 and 184.

“I wanted to do it took to get on the mat,” said Kerber, a red-shirt junior. “If that's how I was going to get on the mat I went up to do it.

“It was a little bit of a challenge, but I have no regrets.”

Kerber bulked up as a freshman in the strength and conditioning program at Cornell. Now, he's wrestling at the lightest weight since he won a 160-pound state title as a senior for the E'Hawks.

“I had to change my body again this off-season,” said Kerber, who has had to adjust his style to the pace of the wrestlers at the weight he's competing. “Just by running more and lifting a little bit less. Over a couple month period I turned myself into a 165-pounder. I think that's the comfortable weight for me right now.”

Kerber trailed 1-0 in the third until scoring a reversal and then scored two nearfall points, adding a riding-time point. Chain wrestling by hitting multiple moves set up his scores.

“By doing that, we got into a little bit of a scramble where I was able to reverse him,” Kerber said. “Then he started wrestling and a continuation of that scramble led to some back points.”

The goal is to leave Omaha as an All-American. He'll give it his all and will live with the results.

“As long as I wrestle to the best of my ability, I can't be too upset at the end of the day,” Kerber said. “Obviously, I'm not going to be happy with losing efforts.”

Nicholson, a former Des Moines Roosevelt state champion, was the seventh seed at 125 and Ihnen, a former state champion for Sheldon/South O'Brien. wrestled at 184. Nicholson and Ihnen both lost first round matches.