Blythe will weigh options

Austin Blythe captured the attention of University of Iowa football and wrestling fans when news circulated that he was offered a football scholarship to play for the Hawkeyes.Hawkeye wrestling fans became concerned that a tremendous wrestling prospect, residing within a lateral drop distance to Iowa City, might be plucked away by a different sport. Football fans had a recruit still raw talent-wise, but has the physical attributes to be an asset to Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz.Iowa fans don't know what sport or what school he'll choose, and, right now, neither does Blythe, who seems to be heavily considering both."Right now, I probably couldn't tell you one or the other," Blythe said about his favorite of the two sports. "I love them both and if I have to do both sports my freshman year to get that decision made that's what I'll do."If I can't decide, I'll persevere and keep doing both."Strong commitment is required just to participate in one sport at the Division I level. Throw in a second full-time sport and school and you create a mountain of chores to compete athletically and academically. It's been done as Williamsburg wrestling coach and assistant football coach Grant Eckenrod pointed out, noting former Hawkeye Mark Sindlinger was a successful two-sport athlete.Blythe is confident he could handle the rigors of being a two-sport athlete in consecutive (actually overlapping) seasons."I think with just keeping a level head and working hard, I know it can be done. People have done it," Blythe said. "I love both of them enough and I care about school enough that I can do it."We'll see what happens."Blythe's exploits in wrestling outshine his football accomplishments. The 6-foot-3, 280-pound junior-to-be is a two-time state finalist at heavyweight, winning the Class 2A state title in February. He has a career mark of 86-7, posting a 46-1 record as a sophomore. In 2008, Blythe earned double All-American status at Junior Nationals in Fargo, N.D. He was a Greco-Roman national runner-up and placed fifth in freestyle. In football, Blythe was an all-district lineman for the Raiders, who advanced to the first round of the 3A playoffs before losing to semifinalist Pella.Blythe learned of Iowa's interest in his football ability when Williamsburg coach Curt Ritchie pulled him into an office for a talk in April."He said he saw Coach Ferentz and he said they're interested and stuff like that," Blythe said. "I was shocked and surprised that they were interested in me."They looked at my tape and I guess they liked what they saw and what I could build into."Blythe comes from an athletic family, which has dabbled in multi-sport ventures in college. His older brother, Holden, played football for Central last year, and is planning on adding wrestling to his activities this year. His father, Curt, played football and wrestled at Central as well. Eckenrod said Blythe is a special athlete who is  "well-grounded" and a "humble kid." He thinks the 16-year-old can be successful in either sport."I'd hate to say," Eckenrod said earlier this week about his opinion on Blythe's best sport to avoid added pressure. "I honestly can say he'd be able to dominate in both."He's working his tail off. He's doing what he needs to do to improve in both."