Alburnett wrestling success built on a foundation of fight

ALBURNETT — The foundation has been set on toughness.

A trait Alburnett Coach Clayton Rush exudes and expects from his wrestlers. The same characteristic many of the Pirates already brought to practice room. Opponents have to deal with the product.

“We talk a lot about fight,” Rush said. “The fight you have in a match and practice. Nothing fancy.

“When guys wrestle someone from Alburnett, they don’t ever want to do it again. That kind of thing.”

Just three years after placing 46th at the Class 1A state tournament, Alburnett is back among the top 1A programs. The Pirates are ranked second in the Iowa High School Athletic Association dual rankings and tied for second in the IAwrestle.com tournament poll with seven ranked wrestlers.

The climb has been steady, finishing ninth in 2022 and fourth last season. The current Pirates possess skill and the willingness to learn merged with that rough attitude.

“I would say it’s a pretty good combo,” Rush said. “I enjoy having this group because of these two things. They’re all really coachable, too. You mix all those things together and it can be a pretty fun thing.”

The Pirates’ wrestling room is a battlefield of competition. Up and down the lineup, wrestlers sharpened their talents against each other. The challenges faced in duals and tournaments sometimes pale in comparison to training.

“It’s kind of sucky in practice with all of the toughness around the room and having to wrestle everyone,” said Alburnett junior Reece Klostermann, who is ranked sixth at 157 pounds. “It helps your mind (in competition), knowing someone is not as tough as what you have to deal with every day.”

Emmitt Fleshman won 103 matches as a three-year start for West Lyon. He moved to Alburnett and the wrestling room’s energy struck him immediately.

“The biggest thing that stood out to me was the intensity all the kids brought,” Fleshman said. “It’s not seen (elsewhere) as it is here.”

Fleshman was a state qualifier at 195 last season. He is ranked fifth at 215 with a 23-3 record. Fleshman tallied 13 pins and five more forfeits and has been a big addition to the lineup.

“I thought it went well,” Fleshman said. “I had a few matches that didn’t go my way, but overall, I felt I competed really well the first half of the season.”

Alburnett proved it could compete with any sized school, posting a 16-3 dual mark in the first half. They earned wins over 1A, 2A and 3A teams, placing sixth at the 32-team Battle of Waterloo dual tournament. The Pirates won the Cliff Keen Independence Invitational and Western Dubuque’s Bobcat Duals.

State finalist Rowdy Neighbor (120) and state medalist Tayten Coufal (132) are both ranked third. Atlee Dewitt, a sophomore 106-pounder, is fourth. Preston Klostermann (144) is fifth, while Dawson Becker is 10th at 150.

The Pirates have a direct, workmanlike philosophy. The emphasis is not on punching in, but what is done while on the clock.

“We work hard in the wrestling room,” Rush said. “We’re in there for an hour and 20 minutes to an hour and 30 minutes max. When we’re in there, we’re working our butts off.”

All of the competition has created a good camaraderie. The bond extends beyond the wrestling mat. Many spend their free time with teammates.

“I think the team gets along really well,” Klostermann said. “There are a lot of kids who hang out after school.”

Alburnett returns to action with Tri-Rivers Conference duals before wrestling at Highland’s Gary Curtis Invitational on Saturday, along with Wilton, which is tied at No. 2 in 1A.

The Pirates are a heavy favorite in the Tri-Rivers Conference. The Pirates are also major contenders for a state duals and traditional state tournament trophy. They have balance, depth and big-point scorers that make their state title aspirations a possibility.

“This is the best team I’ve ever been on, by far” Fleshman said. “The way we compete we can probably be with anyone in the state.”

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