Notebook: Fank rolls in Class 2A quarters, Thomsen still perfect

DES MOINES – On Thursday, Independence's Kyle Fank hit the mat for his first state tournament match. The jitters and nervousness were bubbling at the surface, but he shook them off to advance to the Class 2A 182-pound quarterfinals. On Friday, those jitters were long gone, and Fank is at full stride in his race to a state title after getting a 16-1 technical fall over Grinnell's Julio Gonzalez to advance to the semifinals. 'First match, I was nervous, this match I felt comfortable,' Fank said. 'I got that first match down here at Wells (Fargo Arena) down, and I'm back to my old self now. 'It's all down to business now, I feel a lot better. No butterflies in the stomach, just feel good.' Fank's wide smile after the victory was matched only by his coaches, who jumped up and pumped their fists in celebration when the final horn sounded. It's important to them, too, to see a kid who's worked so hard reach his goals. 'As long as Fank is aggressive and keeps attacking, he's tough,' said Indee Coach Michael Doyle. 'Last year things didn't work out for us, so this year he's really making it pay off.' I know that it's really important to him, and it's been his goal all year long, to be a state champ.' Fank has talked about matching his brother Ryan's accomplishments as this season has gone along, and moved closer to something that means a whole lot to his family. The elder Fank is in Des Moines to watch, and the brothers are enjoying the experience together. 'It's an emotional ride,' Fank said. '(Ryan) wants me to accomplish my goals, I want him to accomplish his goals. It's a good thing for both of us.' Every wrestler and coach at the state tournament tries hard not to look too far ahead in their draw, to keep focus on the task at hand. But both Fank and Doyle acknowledged that the way the senior is wrestling so far, they're hard-pressed to find someone who can beat him. 'My whole goal this year is to be a state champ, and I'm not going to let anyone stop me or get in my way,' Fank said. 'This is all part of the steps to get there.' The way I'm wrestling right now, I'm scoring points, and that's what you need to do down here to win matches. No one can beat me when I'm wrestling like that.' 

Gould takes top-ranked battle The Class 2A quarterfinals got off to a fast start Friday morning, featuring the first of several No.1 vs No. 2 matchups to be seen throughout the day. Top-ranked Washington (Iowa) senior Fletcher Green entered the tournament undefeated and took on No. 2 Brendon Gould of Davenport Assumption in a rematch from districts last year, where Gould got the win.And though Green was the favorite, Gould toughed out the win, a 3-1 decision, and advanced to the semifinals later today. Just don't call it an upset. 'I didn't think it was an upset. He's 2-0 now against Fletcher Green, so I don't see it that way,' said Assumption Coach Pete Bush. 'We were confident coming in, and today was our day.' It was mat wrestling, pretty much (that got the win). He rode out Fletcher – and he's a tough guy to ride out – but Brendon was able to do it.' Gould certainly wasn't thinking about rankings when he stepped onto the mat, either. Once you make it to the Well, he said, none if it matters anymore. 'He's been at the top of the rankings all year, but I don't let that get to my head,' Gould said. 'To me, rankings mean nothing. Anybody can be beaten, and I proved that.'

Thomsen still perfect The number of four-time state champions in Iowa high school wrestling history is a small one, when considering the number of young men who have donned singlets over the years. But Union's Max Thomsen moved one round closer to keeping his bid for a perfect high school career going with a win by fall in 4:40 over Wyatt Forsyth of Charles City.'He's something, man,' said a smiling Union Coach Pat Hogan. 'He's a self-made kid pretty much, as far as what he does and his work ethic and stuff. Makes it pretty easy for a coach when they come in like that. He's on a mission.' Hogan said the coaches almost have to calm Thomsen down before he hits the mat for his matches. Thomsen said his love for the sport and eagerness to fuel his competitive juices is why he's that way.'I just want to get out there and have fun and just compete,' Thomsen said. 'That's what it's about, going out there and going as hard as you can. I get excited and I'm ready to go right away.' Experience on this stage is on Thomsen's side. Attention to detail, he said, is what's gotten him to this point and is what will keep his quest for perfection intact. 'When you break it down to the little things and do all the little things right, the big things are going to happen,' Thomsen said.