Dyersville Beckman’s Luke Hageman motivated to reach state podium

DYERSVILLE — Dyersville Beckman's Luke Hageman reached the state tournament last season.

The experience was not what he had imagined. He had to buy ticket and watch from his seat, instead of taking the mat for a chance at a medal.

'I knew I should be there,' Hageman said. 'It's been my motivation. It's been in the back of my mind, thinking about it every practice.'

Hageman has transformed that disappointing finish into a successful start to this season. The top-ranked 160-pounder in Class 2A captured a title at the MFL MarMac Invitational on Saturday, improving to 25-0 this season.

'He's been doing great,' second-year Beckman Coach Taylor Hotek said. 'I'm very proud of him.'

Hageman posted strong campaigns his first two seasons, entering this season with a 71-15 career mark. Both ended at district, including last year's third-place finish.

The sectional champion and Wamac runner-up watched his state berth disappear with a first-round loss, but it taught him a valuable lesson.

'I have to work hard every day,' Hageman said. 'I can't have off days like last year.'

Hageman began wrestling freestyle, improving his technique. He attended camps and clinics during the summer. Hageman hit the weights to gain strength.

'He approached the offseason with the mindset that he was going to go to state and place,' Hotek said. 'We rolled into the season on fire.'

Two of his biggest victories came before the holiday break. In the first tournament of the season, Hageman defeated Sumner-Fredericksburg's Karsen Seehase, who is ranked third in 1A. He also beat Solon state finalist and then top-ranked Trevor Nelson in the finals of North-Linn's Lynx Invitational.

Both were 5-3 scores decided in sudden victory.

'I've liked how I started off this season,' Hageman said. 'I started out real hot. I haven't lost any steam since then.

'I've had some close matches and they've gone my way so that's been great.'

It is uncertain who Beckman's last top-ranked wrestler was, but the Blazers have crowned only one state champion. Jason Nurre won the 2A 112-pound title in 1991. Hageman provides a chance to double that total.

'He can accomplish anything he wants to as long as he keeps putting the work in,' Hotek said. 'I always tell my guys it's not about the guy across from you. It just comes down to you.'

'I need to keep working hard,' Hageman said. 'I need to keep doing what I'm doing. It's obviously working so far. Just work hard every day. Just focus on every match. You can't have a single off-match. Go out there and wrestle as hard as I can no matter who it is.'

LYNX DUO HIT 150 WINS

North-Linn senior duo Brock Henderson and Kyler Schott have surpassed an impressive win milestone. Within the last week, both have hit the 150-win plateau.

Brock Henderson earned his 150th victory in a home dual last week. The second-ranked 126-pounder won Marion's Loyd Shaffer Invite, improving to 29-2 and giving him a career record of 155-9. He won the Class 1A 113-pound state title last season. Henderson is attempting to become a four-time state medalist, placing fourth and third his first two seasons.

Schott, also ranked second, captured the heavyweight title at Marion on Saturday. Schott is 33-1 for a career mark of 150-29. He is a three-time state qualifier, finishing third as a junior.'

Both are within striking distance of the school's all-time wins record held by Daniel LeClere, a four-time state champion who went 167-2 from 2002-05.

BIG-GUY BATTLE

In a battle of top-ranked heavyweights, Western Dubuque's Aaron Costello edged Iowa City Regina's Jared Brinkman, 3-2, in the finals of the Cascade Invitational on Saturday.

Costello (34-0) is top-ranked in Class 3A, placing second at state last season. Brinkman, the defending 1A state champion, is ranked first with a 24-1 mark. Costello will wrestle for Iowa, while Brinkman will play football for Northern Iowa.

The bracket also included Mount Vernon's 2A No. 4 Tristan Wirfs, who placed third and is 6-1. He lost 3-2 to Costello in the semifinals. The Hawkeyes football commit missed part of the season and recently played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl for invited high school seniors.

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