Autumn Elsbury lives her dream with state wrestling title

CORALVILLE — South Tama’s Autumn Elsbury had been dreaming of the moment when she would become a girls’ state wrestling champion.

On Friday, Elsbury’s dream came true. She pinned her way to the Class 2A 170-pound title. In her final bout, Elsbury also earned her 100th career pin when she decked Anamosa’s Isabella Taylor in 3:04.

“It was amazing,” Elsbury said. “I was looking forward to this. This year really pushed me to become a state champ.”

As Elsbury manifested her dream all season, she was looking forward to an added bonus of winning a state title — her dad and South Tama assistant coach, Danny Elsbury, presenting her with a gold medal.

It was another dream come true.

“I was looking forward to that this entire state tournament,” Elsbury said. “I think that’s unique. Some girls get to have their dads hand them their medals, but not many. I just think that’s pretty awesome.”

Wrestling and family go hand-in-hand for Elsbury. Her sister Maeley also was a state champion at South Tama, in 2023. Her younger brother, Bowen, also wrestles at the youth level, and her dad coaches with the Trojans.

“They all are so helpful,” Elsbury said. “My family is just a huge support for me — my sister, my mom, my dad, and my brother.”

South Tama Coach Jason Arp knows how the Elsbury family and wrestling work. He’s seen similarities in his assistant coach and 170-pound wrestler.

“Danny wrestled in high school, just like Autumn, like a bull,” Arp said. “They both are super strong and will come at you in your face. She’s going to push the pace and get what’s she wants.

“Those two are exactly alike.”

Elsbury’s state championship caps off a perfect junior season at 45-0.

While she will enjoy her first state title, she’s already looking for more. Her sights are set on becoming South Tama’s second two-time state wrestling champion and the first for the Trojan girls’ program.

“I think that would be pretty awesome,” she said.

Her head coach knows she has what it takes to achieve that goal.

“She’s focused and has that goal in mind,” Arp said. “That’s all she’s looking for and she’ll get it. I have confidence in her.”

Elsbury knows her state championship would not have been possible without one thing — a lot of hard work. She was proud of what she put into her win, but also seeing it pay off.

“I worked really hard this year and during the offseason,” Elsbury said. “I knew I could do it. I pushed myself as hard as I could to get to where I wanted to be.”

Arp saw, day in and day out, the amount of work Elsbury put into wrestling. That work ethic serves as a model for her fellow teammates.

“She’s a true leader,” Arp said. “The girls look up to her.”