Alburnett hopes to add to trophy haul

The trophy case at the front of the school serves as a reminder of the program has accomplished since 2010.

The Alburnett Pirates want to continue the streak of toting trophies home from the state tournaments.

'The trophy case is about full,” Alburnett Coach Kane Thompson said. 'Their goal is they want two more to make us have to adjust the trophy case. There will have to be a couple other sports out of it and moved around, because it will pretty much be wrestling trophies.”

Second-seeded Alburnett will attempt to add to their previous prize haul with a strong showing at the Iowa High School Athletics Association State Duals wrestling tournament Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. The Pirates (26-7) open with No. 7 Dike-New Hartford (26-4), starting at 9 a.m.

Although the past success is a driving force, the Pirates are focused on making their own contribution this season, improving last year's third-place finish and matching the 2013 title.

'I think that is pretty cool we've done well in the past,” Alburnett's eighth-ranked 113-pound sophomore Ben Moyer said. 'It doesn't mean much to me because I want to get first place for the team, right now.”

The Pirates lost to eventual champ Clarion-Goldfield-Dows in last year's semifinals. They also just missed a second straight traditional tournament title, finishing runner-up to Eddyville-Blakesburg. Most programs would trade places with Alburnett, which qualified for a fifth straight State Duals.

'It wasn't what we wanted,” Pirates senior Robbie Carrothers said. 'It was still a great accomplishment.

'We're happy but there's always that next step.”

They occupied that step two years ago, but Clarion-Goldfield-Dows is the top seed. Many of the current Pirates were a part of that squad, and have experienced being the hunter and the hunted. They could turn the tables on the Cowboys, thwarting their repeat bid, like they did to Alburnett.

'They know both ends of it,” said Thompson, whose Pirates beat Dike-New Hartford, 45-36. 'They know the hungry feeling and then to get it. They came back and tried to repeat and to not get it was kind of disappointing.”

Alburnett has 10 state qualifiers, including two-time state champion Hunter Washburn, who is ranked No. 1 at 132, top-ranked 145-pounder Conner Shulista, No. 2 Bryce Paul at 152 and Drake Halblom and Carrothers, who are ranked ninth at 126 and 220, respectively. Moyer, Tucker Franklin (120), Tanner Sloan (138), Tanner Hoyer at 160 and 170-pounder Austin Hoyle also advanced individuals.

The Pirates have a strong camaraderie. They understand what this competition means to the three wrestlers that didn't reach the traditional tournament.

'When we get to the state tournament we're all one big group,” Carrothers said. 'They want to get the best places they can. By coming together as a team that is how we can get that goal accomplished.”

This year's team has more flexibility compared to some previous teams that just had 14 wrestlers taking the mat.

'We've been able to make some different moves,” Thompson said. 'We weigh in two guys at 152 and nobody at 160 and look at the matchups to decide who will go where. We do the same at 170 (and 182).”

They have to overcome a forfeit at 106, which can be tough against the best teams in the state. Thompson said the Pirates are good about posting pins whenever they get the opportunity for the team's sake. The goal is hitting 42 team points and that could mean winning eight matches.

'It's going to take us fighting in close matches, because every point counts,” Moyer said. 'Bonus points are a big deal.”

Getting the appropriate color trophy and adding to the tradition depends on it.

'I think they do understand,” Thompson said. 'They don't want to be the team that isn't bring home the hardware.”

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