Marion's Caleb and Colin Conway look for big finish together

CEDAR RAPIDS — Caleb and Colin Conway began wrestling together when they were in Kindergarten.

The Marion seniors are in search of finishes that resemble each other as much as their appearance.

The ranked twin brothers posted 5-1 records Saturday at the Doug Philipp Duals at Cedar Rapids Xavier. Dubuque Hempstead went unbeaten to win the tournament for the third straight year. West Liberty placed second, while Marion was third.

Caleb Conway is ranked fifth at 145 and Colin Conway is eighth at 152. They have yet to reach the state tournament in Des Moines, but this could be their best chance of achieving that longtime goal of qualifying and returning with a medal together.

'It's been a big goal since back in Kindergarten,' Caleb Conway said. 'We've both been working for it. We fell short the last couple years due to some mental-game stuff.'

'That is always the ultimate goal,' said Colin Conway, who was hampered by illness for the 2016 postseason but avenged a district loss by pinning Dubuque Hempstead's Kent Kragenbrink on Saturday. 'I'm ready to make a statement. I'm ready to go for it. I've never been more prepared.'

They have experienced a lot together, as most twins do. In addition to wrestling, they are avid about CrossFit training. Caleb enjoys music, playing guitar and piano. Colin has aspirations to compete in MMA. They have been there for each other through the thick and thin of wrestling.

'It's nice to always have someone by your side to pick you up when you're down,' Caleb Conway said. 'Then, rejoice when you win. It's awesome in that aspect, too.'

The brothers will drill with each other in practice and Haag said they push each other to work hard. They don't wrestle live together to remain civil.

'Normally, it ends up in a fistfight,' Caleb Conway said. 'We're both super competitive.'

They are part of a big grappling family, joining their father and grandfather in sport. Older brothers Aaron, Austin and Alex have wrestled for Marion. Aaron won the 119-pound Class 2A title in 2003, earning 161 career wins.

The tradition has continued. Caleb Conway has 117 career victories, while Colin Conway has 106.

'Wrestling has always been very important to us,' Colin Conway said. 'It's always been in the family.'

They have the pedigree and skill, but the biggest challenge has been in their minds. They have made strides in that area. Caleb Conway is 16-0 this season. Colin Conway is 13-3, losing to three ranked 2A foes, including West Liberty's top-ranked Joe Kelly twice.

'Each year they have gotten tougher mentally and this year I've seen a huge growth from last year,' Haag said. 'They're confident every time they step on the mat. Their practice routine is better because they come in mentally focused and it's been a huge difference.'

The biggest reason is because of hard work off the mat. Late-night workouts on a stationary bike, simulating one-minute flurries and then moving around in a stance to expand their comfort level.

'Just the little things to put yourself in that dark place, so when you get out on the mat and you're in those deep waters, it's not so bad,' Colin Conway said. 'The mental aspect comes from just pushing myself very hard every day. Never letting up.'

Caleb Conway finished 3-0, while Colin Conway was 2-1 with a competitive 11-7 loss to Kelly. Those setbacks to a state title contender are learning experiences.

'It is always fun to wrestle those big, tough battles,' Colin Conway said. 'The take-away is keep going and keep battling.'

The focus is to continue to get better and take advantage of their final opportunity. They have beaten state medalists and now they are trying to claim their own hardware.

'I think they can,' Haag said. 'I think they've got it figured out now. They'll make some noise.'

West Liberty finished 2-1, coming up just short of an upset of Hempstead, a top-10 tournament team in 3A. The Comets overcame a 16-0 deficit and received falls from Bryce Esmoil (195), heavyweight Andy Lopez and Will Esmoil in the final four matches, tying it at 37. Hempstead won the final criteria — most first match points scored — by two.

The host Saints went 0-3. Heavyweight Tommy Pudil led Xavier with a 3-0 mark, including a pin and decision over a district foe. Keegan Schultschik (120), Alex Francois (220) and 132-pounder Pat Chambers each were 2-1 with two pins apiece.

DOUG PHILIPP DUALS

At Cedar Rapids Xavier

Teams — 1. Dubuque Hempstead 3-0, 2. West Liberty 2-1, 3. Marion 1-2, 4. Cedar Rapids Xavier 0-3.

First round

West Liberty 64, C.R. Xavier 18

Dubuque Hempstead 50, Marion 16

Second round

Dubuque Hempstead 38*, West Liberty 37

Marion 51, Cedar Rapids Xavier 30

*-Hempstead received a point for winning on criteria (most first match points).

Third round

West Liberty 45, Marion 31

Dubuque Hempstead 68, Cedar Rapids Xavier 9

West Liberty 64, Cedar Rapids Xavier 18

106 pounds — Will Esmoil (WL) won by forfeit; 113 — Talen Dengler (WL) won by forfeit; 120 — Keegan Schultschik (CRX) pinned Ely Gingerich, 1:40; 126 — Coy Ruess (WL) pinned Jaxson Konzen, 1:16; 132 — Noah Bierman (WL) pinned Patrick Chambers, 1:50; 138 — Justis Dengler (WL) major dec. Clayton Drury, 20-6; 145 — Austin Beaver (WL) over Ryan Cook, :57; 152 — Joe Kelly (WL) over Garrett Ries, 2:34; 160 — A.J. Lenz (WL) pinned Thomas Tobin, 1:27; 170 — Joe Baker (WL) pinned Jonathan Bell, 2:44; 182 — Jackson Gingerich (WL) pinned Collin Yanga, 1:20; 195 — Bryce Esmoil (WL) pinned Erik Rodriguez, 2:20; 220 — Alex Francois (CRX) pinned Ramon Martinez, 1:07; Hwt. — Tommy Pudil (CRX) pinned Andy Lopez, 2:47.

Dubuque Hempstead 50, Marion 16

106 pounds — Dillon Gottschalk (DH) tech. fall Niyo Gady, 17-2; 113 — Hunter Foht (DH) dec. Gavin Hiler, 10-6; 120 — Joe Pins (DH) pinned Jack Eichhorn, 1:15; 126 — Garrett Long (DH) dec. Braden Garringer, 12-6; 132 — Jacob Faber (DH) pinned Ismail Havyarimana, :51; 138 — Nathan Feldman (DH) pinned Trevon Hernandez, 5:14; 145 — Caleb Conway (M) pinned Dylan Pauley, 1:51; 152 — Colin Conway (M) major dec. Kent Kragenbrink, 14-2; 160 — Alex Ward (DH) dec. Trey Clifton, 3-1 SV; 170 — Brady Bartz (M) dec. Jackson Rigdon, 8-2; 182 — Joey Pearson (M) dec. Steven Blosch, 4-3; 195 — Owen Dunne (DH) pinned Kavin Nguyen, 1:01; 220 — Dylan Olson (DH) pinned Brevin Hahn, :15; Hwt. — Jack Roussel (DH) won by forfeit.

Marion 51, Cedar Rapids Xavier 30

113 pounds — Hiler (M) won by forfeit; 120 — Schultschik (CRX) pinned Eichhorn, 2:22; 126 — Garringer (M) pinned Peter Kennedy, 2:25; 132 — Chambers (CRX) pinned Havyarimana, 1:08; 138 — Hernandez (M) dec. Drury, 8-4; 145 — Ca. Conway (M) won by forfeit; 152 — Co. Conway (M) pinned Ries, :58; 160 — Clifton (M) pinned Bell, 1:41; 170 — Bartz (M) pinned Yanga, 2:19; 182 — Pearson (M) won by forfeit; 195 — Rodriguez (CRX) pinned Nguyen, 1:36; 220 — Francois (CRX) pinned Hahn, 1:27; Hwt. — Pudil (CRX) won by forfeit; 106 — Gady (M) won by forfeit.

Dubuque Hempstead 68, Cedar Rapids Xavier 9

120 pounds — Pins (DH) major dec. Schultschik, 13-5; 126 — Long (DH) pinned Kennedy, :58; 132 — Chambers (CRX) pinned Faber, 6:34; 138 — Feldman (DH) pinned Drury, 1:40; 145 — Tyler Murphy (DH) won by forfeit; 152 — Kragenbrink (DH) pinned Ries, :19; 160 — Ward (DH) pinned Bell, 2:34; 170 — Rigdon (DH) major dec. Yanga, 10-0; 182 — Blosch (DH) won by forfeit; 195 — Dunne (DH) pinned Rodriguez, 3:23; 220 — Olson (DH) pinned Francois, :51; Hwt. — Pudil (CRX) dec. Roussel, 5-2; 106 — Gottschalk (DH) won by forfeit; 113 — Foht (DH) won by forfeit.

West Liberty 45, Marion 31

120 — Eichhorn (M) pinned E. Gingerich, 1:42; 126 — Ruess (WL) pinned Garringer, 1:19; 132 — Bierman (WL) won by forfeit; 138 — Dengler (WL) pinned Hernandez, 5:18; 145 — Ca. Conway (M) pinned Beaver, 2:41; 152 — Kelly (WL) dec. Co.Conway, 11-7; 160 — Clifton (M) pinned Lenz, 1:10; 170 — Bartz (M) dec. Baker, 3-3 UTB; 182 — J. Gingerich (WL) pinned Pearson, 1:46; 195 — B. Esmoil (WL) won by forfeit; 220 — Hahn (M) pinned Martinez, 5:51; Hwt. — Lopez (WL) won by forfeit; 106 — W. Esmoil (WL) pinned Gady, 3:29; 113 — Hiler (M) major dec. Dengler, 13-4.

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