Brandon Paez adds to storied Lisbon wrestling tradition as 3-time state champion

DES MOINES — Brandon Paez got a drink of water during practice in the Lisbon wrestling room.

He looked up to see a photo of former Lions state champion Ryan Morningstar. Paez noticed Morningstar’s uniform from one of his titles from 2003-2005.

“I was like, ‘Wow, that singlet looks nice.’ I asked my coach if I could go in the back room to see if we have any of these singlets,” Paez said. “Now, I wear them in a championship match every tournament.”

Look like a three-time champion and perform like one. Paez captured his third state championship in four appearances at the Class 1A state wrestling tournament Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena. He became the seventh three-time titlist and 11th to win at least three in Lisbon’s storied tradition.

“It feels good, but chop wood, carry water,” said Paez, who has signed with the University of Northern Iowa. “On to the next one. Back (to work) on Monday.

“I’m the same person than before and after the state finals.”

Paez (53-0) capped a dominant run with a 1:59 pin over West Hancock’s Teague Smith in the 120 final. He posted two pins and two technical falls, outscoring his foes by a total of 42-0. He was simply perfect, extending his final win streak to 73 and his career mark to 180-9.

“He’s just so fine-tuned and technical,” Lisbon head coach Brad Smith said. “He doesn’t ever get out of position. He’s hard to score on. He’s tenacious.

“That’s why he’s as good as he is. He keeps on the attack. He got that bar arm, kept it and turned him.”

Paez isn’t defined by his medals or accomplishments. He has lived by the “embrace the grind” mentality of wrestling and it’s allowed him to join five Lions as four-time finalists and the first since Cael Happel from 2017-20.

“I feel like I really dialed in this last year, really enjoying the journey,” Paez said. “Enjoying making sacrifices, the weight cut, taking myself to deep waters.”

He made a heart shape with his hands and flashed it to the cheering Lisbon crowd. Moving into the wrestling community has made an impact on him on and off the mat. The same impact he hopes to have on future Lisbon wrestlers.

“These past five years have really changed my life,” Paez said. “I have to thank them all, the whole community. They’re the reason I’m here.”

Heavyweight Wyatt Smith gave Lisbon two titles. The two-time state medalist capped his senior campaign with a championship and undefeated season.

Smith (51-0) used a second-period escape and a rideout in the third for a 1-0 victory over Don Bosco’s Mack Ortner in the final. He claimed the Lions’ 73rd overall individual title.

Alburnett’s Rowdy Neighbor faced Akron Westfield’s returning state finalist Cael Morrow for the 113-pound title. Morrow led throughout and posted a 10-2 major decision for the title.

The state finals stage can be overwhelming. Butterflies played a big part in the performance.

“With any competitor, it’s a different atmosphere,” Alburnett Coach Clayton Rush said. “Nerves can get you and he just told me nerves got me. Would he have beat that kid, if not? I don’t know. That kid is a tough competitor.”

Neighbor (47-3) is a sophomore and now a two-time medalist. Lessons can be learned to improve.

“It’s just experience,” Rush said. “I told him sometimes you have to get punched in the face when you don’t want to and sometimes you have to earn your keep.”

Neighbor helped Alburnett to its best finish since winning a second consecutive title in 2016. The Pirates placed fourth with 111 1/2 points thanks to a boost from a strong run in Saturday morning’s consolation rounds. They combined to go 8-1 Saturday morning, including a 4-0 mark in third- and fifth-place bouts.

Seniors Brody Neighbor (138) and 152-pounder Carson Klostermann capped their careers with a victory, placing third. Freshman 120-pounder Tayten Coufal was third as well and sophomore Preston Klostermann was fifth at 126. Senior Gunnar Keeney placed seventh at 145.

“We had a few seniors that faced adversity (Friday),” Rush said. “They responded in a manner you need upperclassmen to do so and they sent a message to the younger guys.

“They had themselves a morning. It put us in position to get a trophy. We can only control what we can control.”

Brody’s last contest was a rematch with North Linn’s Cael Bridgewater, who beat him twice before Neighbor won their quarterfinal. He wanted to avoid a second straight fourth-place state finish and even his series with Bridgewater, which he did with a 6-1 decision.

“I didn’t want a repeat of last year,” Neighbor said. “Once I saw I had Bridgewater I was really excited because he beat me twice, so I wanted to get another revenge and tie it up.”

Don Bosco won its third straight team title. Wilton was second and Nashua-Plainfield edged the Pirates by a half-point for third. It was a strong way to end the season and a good state showing, even with just missing a trophy.

“Honestly, we didn’t talk a lot about the team race this week,” Rush said. “We just let things take care of themselves.

“They competed hard and I think that’s the message you send.”

Lisbon earned a top-10 finish as well, putting four on the awards stand. Wes Sadler was sixth at 106 and Indy Harbaugh placed eighth at 145 for the Lions.

South Winneshiek’s second-seeded Collin Holm reached the finals in his first state appearance. The Warriors’ junior 138-pounder nearly knocked off Underwood’s top-seeded Blake Allen.

The pair exchanged escapes in regulation and Allen scored a takedown early in sudden victory for a 3-1 decision and the title. Holm (40-2) is South Winneshiek’s first runner-up since Landers Kuboushek in 2016.

Midland’s Caden Ballou (45-4) blew up the 182-pound bracket this week. He powered to the final as the No. 15 seed. He earned a silver medal to conclude his career. The two-time state qualifier fell to Waterloo Columbus top seed Carson Hartz, 11-1, in the final.

Belle Plaine and Maquoketa Valley each had three medalists. The upper-weight trio of Nathan Bietz (195), Brady Davis at 220 and heavyweight Aiden Salow took home medals. Bietz led the Wildcats with a third-place finish, while Davis and Salow were seventh.

The Plainsmen finished 11th in the team standings with three medalists. Connor Timm closed in third at 160 to power Belle Plaine. Jack Schwenn was fourth at 195, while Chase Wickwire was eighth at 182.

Class 1A finals

106 — No. 1 Jayden Rinken (Nashua-Plainfield) dec. No. 6 Mason Shirk (Wilton), 8-2

113 — No. 2 Cael Morrow (Akron-Westfield) major dec. No. 4 Rowdy Neighbor (Alburnett), 10-2

120 — No. 1 Brandon Paez (Lisbon) pinned No. 3 Teague Smith (West Hancock), 1:59

126 — No. 1 Garret Rinken (Nashua-Plainfield) major dec. No. 6 Dawson Schmit (Wapsie Valley), 13-3

132 — No. 1 Gable Porter (Underwood) pinned No. 2 Tanner Arjes (North Butler/Clarksville), 11-1

138 — No. 1 Blake Allen (Underwood) dec. No. 2 Collin Holm (South Winneshiek), 3-1 SV

145 — No. 1 Mikey Baker (West Sioux) dec. No. 2 Kaiden Knaack (Don Bosco), 5-2

152 — No. 3 Kyler Knaack (Don Bosco) dec. No. 1 Kellen Smith (West Hancock), 1-0

160 — No. 1 Wyatt Reisz (Logan-Magnolia) dec. No. 2 Dominic Lopez (New London), 6-4 SV

170 — No. 1 Maximus Magayna (Waterloo Columbus) tech fall. No. 2 Jace Nelson-Brown (Emmetsburg), 4:45 (16-0)

182 — No. 1 Carson Hartz (Waterloo Columbus) major dec. No. 15 Caden Ballou (Midland), 11-1

195 — No. 1 Jackson Dewald (Sloan Westwood) dec. No. 2 Josh Glendening (Mediapolis), 3-1 SV

220 — No. 3 Mason Knipp (Waterloo Columbus) dec. No. 1 Jared Thiry (Don Bosco), 3-1 SV

285 — No. 1 Wyatt Smith (Lisbon) dec. No. 3 Mack Ortner (Don Bosco), 1-0

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