Carey becomes first Mustang to win individual title at Cliff Keen Independence Invitational

INDEPENDENCE – Adam Carey couldn’t contain his smile.

It was one of the few things he didn’t control during his performance and he knew exactly what his grin-inducing feat meant to Independence’s wrestling program.

“It means a lot,” said Carey, who became the first Mustang wrestler to win an individual title at the Cliff Keen Independence Invitational. “I know a ton of the past Independence wrestlers. There were hammers and I'm surprised that I’m the first to win it. It’s cool stuff. I just have to stay humble.”

Independence crowned three champions, receiving titles from Braylen Bieber and Carter Eddy to along with Carey’s 126-pound championship and the Mustangs finished third in the team race with 307 points Saturday at home. Clarion Goldfield-Downs won the tournament with 329.5 points, 20 points ahead of runner-up Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont.

Carey, a freshman, dominated the field, posting a 6-0 overall record. He had two pins and a 7-0 decision Friday. In the final bracket, he pinned his way to the title match. Carey tallied five takedowns and added three nearfall points for a 19-3 technical fall over Crestwood’s Mitchell Williams, who is ranked No. 8 in Class 2A at 120.

“It was good,” Carey said about his showing. “It's just preparation for what I'm proud of most. I put in a lot of time, practicing every day. It's always been just self-belief. That's what carried me most.”

Wrestling is Carey’s top passion. He decided to quit football early to focus on wrestling sooner. He is reaping the reward of his effort that includes training at Immortal Athletics Wrestling Club in Waterloo.

Carey is quick to credit the support of his family, friends, teammates and coaches for a strong start.

“I’m beyond thankful for all the people around me,’ Carey said. “I couldn’t do it without them.

“I put a lot of time in this sport since I was little,” Carey said. “These past couple of years I just put in extra. It's 90 percent of my week. Every day I’m doing something. Sometimes twice a day.”

Carey also owned a healthy perspective about a title in the opening weekend of the season. The bigger prize comes the last weekend of the year. He plans to get right back to work but this provides a boost.

“It builds confidence,” Carey said. “Then again, you’ve got to stay humble. There are kids out there who can beat me, so I have to keep going after it.”

Bieber and Eddy concluded the Independence golden tidal wave – or title wave. Bieber scored an escape for the only point of a 1-0 decision over Ryder Zdanczewicz, of Fennimore, Wis., for the 190 crown. Eddy used a takedown with a little more than a minute left for a 4-1 decision over Pleasant Valley’s Blake Vonderhaar in the 215 final.

Union Community’s Coy Mehlert captured the 120-pound championship. Fourth-ranked Mehlert scored a takedown in the final 10 seconds for a 5-4 decision over EBF’s No. 3 Simon Bettis in the final.

“There’s plenty of season left but it shows, right now, that I was one of the best kids in a stacked bracket,” Mehlert said. “Also, when it comes to the postseason, I’ll only improve. It gives me a lot of confidence in my wrestling skills.”

Mehlert, a two-time state medalist, trailed most of the match. He struggled to score but remained on the attack. He resorted to his Greco-Roman arsenal, setting up a throw for the decisive takedown.

“That whole last transaction was feel,” Mehlert said. “It’s not like I planned to throw or had a throw at the end. Just pushing into him (and) I knew he was going to pressure back because he’s obviously a good competitor. He’s not going to back up and he gave me an opportunity to win there. That was big.”

Alburnett had two finalists and boasted a champion in Eaghan Fleshman at heavyweight. Fleshman, who is ranked fourth at 215 in 2A, faced Solon state finalist and top-ranked Lucas Feuerbach. Fleshman scored all his points in the final period, including a takedown with 55 seconds left for a 5-3 victory.

“He’s put a lot of time into the sport of wrestling in the last couple of years, specifically since February,” said Alburnett Coach Clayton Rush, noting that he’s wrestled all over the country in the offseason. “He’s motivated in the weight room as well – just an overall motivated young man with high goals.

“He’s also faced some recent adversity that makes a big win like that more special. He showed what type of competitor he is and much of it comes from the way he trains.”

Solon’s Anderson Osgood (106), Alburnett’s Owen Henriksen (144) and Lisbon’s 113-pounder Jack Gogel placed second.

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