Turner has lifelong passion in wrestling after placing third at state

DES MOINES - Cole Turner loves football, donning helmet and pads for the University of Wyoming next year.The Cedar Rapids Xavier heavyweight will have fond memories of his headgear and wrestling shoes.Turner short but successful prep career lasted just two seasons, but it ended with an exciting last-second win to place third at the Iowa High School Class 3A state wrestling tournament Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena. Turner scored a takedown in the final four seconds of the last tiebreaker period in overtime to beat Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln's Jordan Bywater, 4-3.Sure is a good thing he decided to listen to his teammates and Xavier Coach Ryan Chambers to go out for the first time last season."You could say that," Turner said. "It's almost tied with football now at this point. I've found a lifelong sport I'm definitely going to follow forever. I'm sure going to miss it."Turner took an early lead and Bywater forced overtime with a third-period escape. Bywater escaped to take a lead in the second tiebreaker frame when and exhausted Turner got in on a shot, driving through until he was awarded the two points. He took all have his energy to finish, but he had enough for an excited yell and gesture to the Xavier fans."Low on gas is an understatement," Turner said. "But it was definitely worth a shot. As soon as I locked the legs, I knew I had like seven seconds left. When I hit it, it felt great."Many wrestlers would love to end their careers on a win. He did that for Xavier and will have hardware to trigger those good feelings."Hard work basically takes charge," Turner said. "If you wrestle your whole life but you put in half-hearted work you're not going to get anything out of it."Turner was one of three medalists, which Chambers said he thinks is the most in one state tournament for the Saints. Xavier sophomore Clint Lembeck was fourth at 132 and senior 145-pounder Nick Drahozal was fifth.Iowa City West had five place third through eighth. Trojans 126-pounder Chris Walters earned his second straight third-place finish after reaching the state finals as a sophomore. He dominated on the backside, scoring a pin with two technical falls. He posted a 27-12 win and then beat Clinton's Hunter Genco, 26-10 for third. Tanner Rohweder was fourth at 113, John Milani (160) was fifth, Donovan Doyle was seventh at 182 and 220-pound senior Micah Kelsay was eighth.In addition to two finalists, Linn-Mar had four other medalists. Senior Ross Lembeck was third at 152, Damon Griffin and Matt Wempen were fifth at 126 and 132, respectively, and Noah Ajram (113) was seventh.Cedar Rapids Prairie pushed two to the finals and had two more reach the podium. Josh Wenger was fourth at 138 and Sam Uthoff (120) was sixth.Cedar Rapids Jefferson sophomore duo Brenden Baker (106) and Kyle Briggs (120) earned medals. Top-ranked Baker avenged his only loss of the tournament, posting a 14-6 major decision over Fort Dodge's Triston Lara for third. Briggs placed seventh.Western Dubuque had three placewinners. Freshman 170-pounder Max Lyon placed fourth, 132-pounder Austin Hosch was sixth and Dylan Gansen (152) finished seventh.Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Nolan Hromidko was a medalist in his first state tournament appearance. Hromidko came away with fifth place at 113.