Linn-Mar honors 'Magic Man' and 'Mighty Mouse'

Their names are scrolled on concrete beams that extend from the ceiling in the Linn-Mar wrestling room. You see the weights of Magic Man's state titles that were spread over 68 pounds, becoming the state's 16th 4-time state champion. He was teammates with Mighty Mouse, who was a state placewinner the only year they overlapped, added three state titles and a Junior Nationals title to his own resume.

Jay Borschel (Magic Man) and Matt McDonough (Mighty Mouse) are unquestionably the most accomplished wrestlers in the school's history, so program supporters honored the pair at Linn-Mar on Sunday, April 11 less than the month each won NCAA Division I individual titles for the University of Iowa in March at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb. Both played imortant parts in the Hawkeyes' third straight Big Ten and NCAA Championships titles.

The informal event featured a slide show of both careers and replays of their NCAA title matches. It was fun to witness the crowd in the Linn-Mar auditorium clap, cheer and boo (mainly for the ridiculous stall calls against Borschel while riding Cornell's Mack Lewnes) to the replayed bouts as if they were live.

Following that Linn-Mar Coach Doug Streicher, also an All-American for Iowa, gave a speech. Then Borschel, who originally took the stage by a barrel roll after approaching from the center aisle and then meandering to the dais at the right of the stage. Cool, but Streicher was nice enough to ask him to use the stairs the next time he came up on stage. Borschel's drum beats for him only. You can dance along but don't expect it to change for you.

Borschel claimed state titles at 103, 125, 152 and 171 for Linn-Mar, graduating in 2005 after a 163-1 career and becoming the Cedar Rapids/Marion Metro's first 4-timer. He then went to Virginia Tech to wrestle for coach Tom Brands, returning a little more than a year later when Brands took over the head coaching position for the University of Iowa. Borschel posted a 98-10 record in three seasons for the Hawkeyes, capturing the 174-pound crown to cap a perfect 38-0 senior season. He was a three-time national qualifier for Iowa, placing third in 2008.

See the slide show dedicated to him that was produced by Linn-Mar assistant coach and former Cedar Rapids Regis wrestler Mike Geers.

McDonough was a three-time state champion, winning titles at 112, 119 and 130 and placing sixth at 103 as a freshman (Not sure if it's accurate but I have McDonough down as 148-14 for Linn-Mar). He became a sparkplug for the Iowa in his first year in the lineup as a red-shirt freshman. He won the 125-pound title with a win over fellow red-shirt freshman Andrew Long of Iowa State. It was his fourth win over Long this season as he compiled a 37-1 mark. McDonough wrestled 133 in his red-shirt season, but made the cut down to 125 (his lowest weight class since wrestling 119 as a junior) to make and solidify the Hawkeyes' lineup.

If you want to know something that epitomizes McDonough, I'd direct you to his post-finals match press conference. When asked if he was relieved it's finally over McDonugh was quick to point out he's only starting. He has three more titles to win and that trek started the day or so after his first championship.

Now I started filming the slide show but I was out of focus, so I had to stop and get adjusted to shoot again. Both segments are posted consecutively. Sorry about the focus problem, but the pictures are cool enough to include despite the blurriness.

At the beginning of the ceremony, the parents and coaches over the years were acknowledged for their role in the success of the "Dynamic Duo," a term that graced shirts of some with Borschel and McDonough's likeness. It was only right to applaud whose sacrifice and hard work made it possible for these two to have the opportunity to achieve the level of excellence that they dedicated themselves to reach.

It was a nice ceremony that was followed by the two signing autographs in front of a display of memorabilia from the season. A fitting tribute to a pair of accomplished individuals on and off the mat.