Center Point-Urbana's Brock Rathbun captures third Iowa state wrestling title

DES MOINES — Center Point-Urbana's Brock Rathbun heard all the possible statistics and records.

His father, Dan, recited many of them, but the Stormin' Pointer senior insisted on shelving the conversation until his career was complete.

'He's been trying to tell me all this stuff and I'm like I don't even want to hear it,' Rathbun said. 'We'll look at it after I win.'

Let the conversation of where he ranks among the many wrestlers in the state begin.

Rathbun dropped his head in his hands at the center of the mat and soaked in the feat after his 126-pound title at the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 2A state wrestling tournament Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena. Rathbun became the 82nd three-time state champion in Iowa history, topping Sergeant Bluff-Luton's Brayden Curry, 7-3, in the final.

For that brief moment before flashing three fingers to the crowd, symbolizing the number of his titles, he reflected on his career.

'We made it,' Rathbun said. 'I and my coaches have been through this four times now and we just did it again. It feels great.'

Rathbun (48-0) capped his career with a 185-3 mark. He had 144 straight wins since his last loss that came in the 106-pound final as a freshman. He won the 120-pound championship last season, winning his first as a sophomore at 113.

'It was the perfect ending,' said Rathbun, the 53rd four-time state finalist in Iowa. 'I just want to go celebrate with my family.'

Rathbun has faced adversity, injuring a left-knee ligament during Friday's quarterfinal. The University of Iowa signee has also battled diabetes. He demonstrated his toughness.

'I can do anything that I want to set my mind to,' Rathbun said. 'I couldn't even stand on my leg. I was like, what am I going to do? I just started going through the game plan, getting my game plan ready and doing it.'

He got caught sleeping a bit early, giving up the first takedown on a slide-by that Curry used against him in last year's final.

Rathbun responded with a takedown, countering a Curry shot late in the first. He added a reversal in the second and a takedown in the third to seal the victory.

He said he felt in control when that first takedown gave him a 3-2 lead.

'That put me in a good position,' Rathbun said. 'I was down by one. He was in on a shot and I scrambled out to get the two. I felt like I blew the wind out of his sails there.'

Rathbun is the most decorated wrestler in school history. He is an example that future Stormin' Pointers can reach the same heights.

'That was my goal,' Rathbun said. 'Go in there and do what I can do. Future people coming up to Center Point will see that it can be done there. You don't have to go somewhere big to accomplish it.'

Solon's Trevor Nelson reached the finals in his second state appearance. He posted a runner-up finish, dropping an 11-4 major to ADM's second-ranked Zach Johnston at 160.

Nelson finished with a 47-4 record.

'He had a great season and a good tournament,' Solon Coach Blake Williams said. 'He was disappointed but I told him there was nothing to be disappointed about.'

The result is a building block for the fourth-ranked junior. Williams said it can fuel him through off-season training.

'He kind of tasted it,' Williams said. 'He was close. Now, he has done that and he can use it for motivation.'

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Independence's Nick Holt followed a stellar football season with a trip to the state finals. The Mustangs' 170-pounder lost to Creston/Orient-Macksburg's top-ranked Chase Shiltz, 8-0.

Holt (48-4) appreciated the chance to compete in front of the large championship crowd.

'It is something not everybody gets to live,' Holt said. 'It was a great experience and a great feeling. I'm glad for the opportunity.'

North Fayette Valley's Nick Baumler returned to the state final after finishing as a runner-up here last year. Baumler (38-5) attempted to capture the program's first individual crown since Lance Guyer won in 1998.

Baumler earned his second-straight silver medal, losing by fall to Mediapolis' Luke Erickson at 182.

Mid-Prairie's Levi Duwa was trying to earn the school's first state individual crown since heavyweight Adam Greiner won the second of two titles in 1993. Duwa (44-4) improved his eighth-place finish last year, getting second at 220. The Golden Hawks' junior fell to Webster City's top-ranked Gavin Dinsdale by pin in sudden-victory overtime.

West Liberty had two medalists, including runner-up Joe Kelly. The sophomore 152-pounder finished 17-5, falling to Glenwood's top-ranked and Hawkeye recruit Matt Malcom in the final.

Creston captured the team title with 90 ½ points, beating runner-up Clarion-Goldfield-Dows by eight. South Tama was the top area team, placing 10th with 61 points and five medalists.

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