Former Union prep Jack Thomsen bulks up for successful redshirt season at South Dakota State

CORALVILLE — Jack Thomsen laughed when he recalled the weights he was expected to wrestle at South Dakota State.

Those predictions turned out to be a little on the small side for the former Union Community prep. Thomsen can attribute that to his introduction to the weight room.

“I put on about 20 pounds,” the junior 165-pounder said. “I think I remember I was projected to be 141 or 149 pounds. It’s different.”

Thomsen (12-3) has enjoyed a successful redshirt season this year, wrestling unattached and advancing to the finals of the Soldier Salute college wrestling tournament Friday at Xtream Arena. Iowa dominated the field, placing 11 wrestlers in title matches.

Thomsen used a first-period takedown and an escape in the third for a 3-2 decision over Army’s Dalton Harkins in the semifinals. He went 2-0 the first day of competition, opening with a major decision.

“I think it’s a decent accomplishment,” said Thomsen, who faced Iowa’s Patrick Kennedy in the finals. “This tournament is going to keep growing. … It’s fun coming here and wrestling. It’s a bunch of new people.”

The bulked-up Jackrabbit has reaped the rewards of his dedication to the strength and conditioning program.

“I started to mature a little bit,” Thomsen said. “The biggest thing is our weight program. I never lifted weights in high school until I got to college.”

Physically, bigger turned out to be better. Technically, it was a focus on the little things that helped him make gains. He praised SDSU assistants Cody Caldwell, a former Waverly-Shell Rock state champion and University of Northern Iowa wrestler, and Brady Berge. Caldwell meets with Thomsen twice a week for individualized workouts and has learned from Berge’s knowledge and approach.

“I improved on getting stingy, wrestling through the very little things,” Thomsen said. “It sounds super cliché but the little things are the most important. Applying pressure, moving your hands and feet and all those things.

“They make the biggest difference. You don’t need to be fancy. You just have to wrestle through the positions.”

SDSU coaches were unable to corner Thomsen since he has decided to redshirt. He had a familiar face in his corner as he reached the championship bout. His older brother, Max, was by his side before and during his match.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Max Thomsen said. “I’m grateful to be able to get in his corner because I don’t get to do that since I’m not his college coach.”

Thomsen was a state champion as a junior. Max was a four-time state champion at Union before becoming an All-American at UNI. Their older brother, Logan, was a state champion for Union before wrestling at Iowa and then becoming an All-American for Wartburg.

Max Thomsen wasn’t going to pass up this opportunity.

“Wrestling means a lot to our family,” Max Thomsen said. “Anytime I get to be around it with my brothers is special. We love wrestling.”

The older Thomsen liked what he saw in his brother’s performance. He recognizes the growth being made in all areas.

“He is wrestling great,” Max Thomsen said. “Every year he gets more and more mature. He’s finding unique ways to get to the legs (of his opponents) and that’s where he’s been most successful — on his feet and taking guys down. He’s a great hand fighter and is good at finding an angle.”

Second-ranked Iowa handled the field. Hawkeyes finished first and second at 125 (Spencer Lee and Drake Ayala), 149 (Max Murin and Caleb Rathjen) and 197 (Jacob Warner and Kolby Franklin). Cullan Schriever (133), 141-pounder Real Woods, Abe Assad at 184 and heavyweight Tony Cassioppi all reached the finals. Cassioppi pinned his way through the semifinals.

Iowa women were wrestling unattached and were even more impressive. The Hawkeyes went 30-4 before the final round of the freestyle competition. They went 15-0 in the third session.

Lee built a 6-0 lead with a takedown and four nearfall against Ayala before pinning him in 1:24 of the first period.

Iowa teammates Sterling Dias and Emilie Gonzalez met in the 101-pound final. Former South Winneshiek prep Felicity Taylor reached the 116 finals, while 143-pounder Reese Larramendy advanced to the championship bout.

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