Jefferson's Baker finds recipe for success

CEDAR FALLS – The arms he stroked and the fingers he rubbed toted home a gold medal.Cedar Rapids Jefferson's Brenden Baker has developed techniques to maintain his focus during a match, and they proved successful at one of the biggest early-season tournaments of the year.Baker captured the 106-pound title, defeating Bettendorf's Class 3A top-ranked Jack Wagner in the finals of Cedar Falls' Keith Young Invitational on Saturday. He led a balanced Jefferson squad that finished fourth in the team standings of a deep and talented field of teams and individuals.The J-Hawks second-ranked sophomore resorted to the mental exercises during his finals match to keep his composure. Baker admits he gets frustrated easily, but has found a way to handle it.“It distracts me when I get flustered,” Baker said. “I keeping thinking, “keep calm” and “you've got this” in my head.”It paid dividends. The title was accompanied by some satisfaction.“I worked really hard for it,” Baker said. “I deserved everything I got.”Baker earned it in the last half of the match. He rode Wagner the entire second period, taking a scoreless tie into the third. He used an escape for a lead that climbed to 3-0 with a takedown, coming out on top of a scramble.A key for Baker was fighting for an edge in every position. He couldn't let up, which proved to be the difference, especially in the decisive score.“I had it in my head I was going to get it,” said Baker, who iced the win with an escape after giving up a late reversal. “I did and I knew I couldn't stop.”The action played right into his strengths. He used it to prevent points, serving as much importance as scoring his own.“Brenden is a great scrambler,” Jefferson co-head coach Dick Briggs said. “Wagner got in deep and he fought off with good scrambles. We even scored off one.”Baker entered the tournament as the fourth seed, advancing to the finals with a pin over top-seeded Don Bosco's Jordan Schmitz, who is ranked second in 2A. The semifinal result helped propel him into the title bout after a little extra rest.“It was a great confidence booster,” said Baker, who won by pin and technical fall in his first two matches. “I got the pin and I was able to refuel for the next match.”Despite the lower seed and ranking, Briggs and Baker recognized the championship potential before the day even started. After all, Baker had beaten Wagner for a youth state title in junior high.“We thought we could beat Wagner since we've done it before,” Briggs said. “Fortunately, we were able to do it in the finals.”The performance makes the big picture clear for Baker. The goal is to close the season with gold to match the one to open it.“it gives me great confidence,” Baker said. “Knowing I beat him I can beat anyone. I have to keep fighting and working hard.”The J-Hawks secured their best finish at this tournament in a long time. They were within striking distance before Pleasant Valley pulled away in the finals, tallying 152 points. Everyone was chasing 3A top-ranked Bettendorf and No. 3 Waverly-Shell Rock. The Bulldogs had five champs won with 213 points, beating the Go-Hawks by nine. Waverly-Shell Rock crowned two titlistsJefferson had eight wrestlers finish in the top six, including five fourth or better to place in front of 3A No. 6 Mason City, seventh-ranked North Scott and 1A No. 5 Don Bosco.Kyle Briggs (120) and Luke Sedlacek (160) were third, helping the J-Hawks to 133.5 points. Kelly May (152) and 195-pounder Josh placed fourth, while P.J. Rashed (126), Dalton Kuehl at 220 and heavyweight Michael Smith finished sixth.“It's awesome,” Jefferson co-head coach Matt Orton said. “We're finally coming in with the expectation of winning. Not winning is a disappointment. It's been a process.”The team title caps a successful first week, which included a dual victory over Iowa City West, eighth in the tournament rankings.“This has been a culmination of hard work and effort,” Orton said. “It's nice they've sustained it.”Cedar Rapids Kennedy‘s sixth-ranked Nolan Hromidko reached the 113 finals, taking the mat after Baker's win. Hromidko came away with silver, losing by fall to Bettendorf's No. 2-ranked Jacob Schwarm in the finals.“I thought he wrestled well today,” said Kennedy Coach Dennis Hynek, noting that Hromidko fell to an opponent who has a similar style. “There are things we can work on in practice.”Hromidko, a sophomore, posted two pins and a major decision to reach the finals. He was dominant except for the last match.“He is in good spirits,” Hynek said. “We like where he is at this first part of the season. He has a good upside.”The Cougars had a number of one-point losses. The day could have been better, but gives Kennedy something to build on from those losses.“We had several close matches,” Hynek said. “That's a positive and a negative. It is a positive because we can compete in those kinds of matches. The negative is we need to win those close ones.”

KEITH YOUNG INVITATIONAL

At Cedar Falls

Teams - 1. Bettendorf, 213; 2. Waverly-Shell Rock, 204; 3. Pleasant Valley, 152; 4. C.R. Jefferson, 133.5; 5. West Des Moines Valley, 131.5; 6. Charles City, 119.5; 7. North Scott, 110; 8. Cedar Falls, 106.5; 9. Mason City, 103.5; 10. Waterloo West, 96.5; 11. (tie) Denver-Tripoli and Gilbertville Don Bosco, 76; 13. West Des Moines Dowling, 61; 14. C.R. Kennedy, 44; 15. Waterloo Columbus, 18.

Championship Matches

106 pounds - Brenden Baker (CRJ) dec. Jack Wagner (Bett), 4-2.

113 - Jacob Schwarm (Bett) pinned Nolan Hromidko (CRK), 1:45.

120 - Paul Glynn (Bettendorf) dec. Johnny Etherington (CC), 6-3.

126 - Kaz Onoo (MC) dec. Spencer Nevills (PV), 6-2.

132 - Jake Koethe (WDMV) pinned Justin Reiher (WSR), 1:03.

138 - Fredy Stroker (Bett) pinned Dan Kelly (CF), 3:35.

145 - Logan Ryan (Bett) dec. Bryce Steiert (WSR), 5-3.

152 - Jacob Woodard (Bett) dec. Travis Willers (PV), 8-4.

160 - Spencer Derifield (WSR) dec. Andy Bartel (MC), 5-1.

170 - Brady Letney (PV) dec. Corey Abernathy (WSR), 10-4.

182 - Mitch Bowman (NS) dec. over Izaak Miller (WSR), 10-3.

195 - Marcus Harrington (WW) pinned Colin Kreiter (NS), 1:15.

220 - Kyler Mathews (WW) major dec.Cordell Eaton (NS), 9-0.

285 - Kaleb Staack (WSR) pinned Tom Schiffer (MC), 2:50.For complete results,

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