Wash's Burrell into state mats finals

By Jeff Johnson The Gazette DES MOINES - Cedar Rapids Washington didn't even bother bringing any cheerleaders to the state wrestling meet this week.That's too bad, girls, because you're missing a heck of a show. Brandon Burrell, Washington's lone qualifier, marathoned his way into the Class 3A heavyweight state championship match with a 4-2 victory in the fourth overtime over Colin White of Glenwood in Friday's semifinals at Wells Fargo Arena. Burrell (29-7), ranked 10th by The Predicament, is used to OT, considering he won his quarterfinal match that way and by that score Thursday. He gets unbeaten Jacob Crawford (42-0) in tonight's finals, and if that happens to go longer than six minutes, all the better. "I've been in a lot of overtime matches," said Burrell, seeking to become Wash's first state champion since Jamie Byrne in 1988. "You have to keep on going. You have to believe you can do it. My coaches have conditioned me very well, so I was ready to wrestle (eight and a half) minutes." Burrell and fifth-ranked White were knotted, 1-1, after regulation and 2-2 after a minute overtime period and two 30-second periods. Burrell chose the down position for the start of the fourth and final OT, reversing White nearly to his back. "I would like to win one in regulation," Burrell said. "But overtime makes it more exciting. And a win's a win." That's what Cedar Rapids Prairie's Zach Witte (135 pounds), Cedar Rapids Jefferson's Jason McCormick (171) and Iowa City West's Dylan Carew (140) and Nick Moore (152) were saying after winning their semis.You'll notice West's Derek St. John wasn't included in that list. The two-time state champ and Iowa recruit was upset by Des Moines Roosevelt's John Nicholson at 160 pounds, 7-3. It was considered a surprise, even though Nicholson (34-2) won a state title at 152 last year. St. John (42-1), believed to have won over 100 straight matches, won at 145 a year ago and wasn't taken down all season until last week's district. He was taken down three times by Nicholson, including a pair of decisive ones late in the third period when he appeared gassed. "We take pride in our offense, we're an offensive team," Nicholson said. "He's a great defensive wrestler, I'm a great offensive wrestler. Great offense beats great defense, that's all there is to it." West (110.5 points) won just two of seven semifinal matches and plunged to third place in the 3A team standings behind Waverly-Shell Rock (129.5) and Roosevelt (112.5). Junior Moore (44-0) struggled to a one-point win in Thursday's quarterfinals but looked better in a 7-1 semifinal victory over Bettendorf's Joey Trizzino. He gets Urbandale's Josiah South (38-4) in the finals. Top-ranked Carew (28-1) returns to the finals for the first time since he was a freshman in 2006 after pinning Newton's second-rated Isaiah Smith in the second period. His finals opponent is Roosevelt's Blake Meeks (16-2). "It feels good to get back," Carew said. "It should have been all four years, but it just didn't work out. I've got one last shot."McCormick (31-2) already avenged one of his losses this season by beating Cedar Falls' Aidan Brock in Wednesday's first round. He'll get the chance to avenge his other one in the finals when he faces Waterloo East's Kyven Gadson (37-0)."He's a tough kid," McCormick said. "Strong, fast, so slow him down and work on my stuff."Anybody can be beaten at the state tournament." Jeff's last state champ, by the way, was Tim Ironside in 1998. Prairie seems to regularly have one, with this year being no exception.It might be somewhat of a surprise to see 135-pounder Zach Witte make the finals considering he's a freshman. But he's an unflappable frosh, judging by his 7-3 semifinal decision over Southeast Polk's Bill Borseth. Witte was a bloody mess (nose, mouth, head) after his bout, which included a first-period four-point move, though he had no idea how his injuries happened. That's called focus. "I must have gotten hit. I'm clueless what happened," said Witte, who faces Waverly state champ Jake Ballweg in tonight's championship. Ballweg beat Witte earlier in the season, 7-1. "I'll just go out there and do my best," Witte said. "Whatever happens, happens."