Devotion to wrestling pays dividends for Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Jack Foster

TROY MILLS – Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Jack Foster went “all in” on wrestling.

He was unsatisfied with his first year on varsity that he devoted his offseason and fall to the sport. Foster has demonstrated marked improvement from betting on himself.

Foster posted a 3-0 record, including two major decisions, to capture the 126-pound title at the Lynx Invitational on Saturday at North Linn High School. The Saints crown four champions overall and won the team race with 226 points.

Foster defeated Dubuque Senior’s Zion Deah, 14-2, for his first varsity crown.

“It’s just one meet,” Foster said. “There is still a half of the season to go, but it felt good in the last match.”

Foster recalled the end of last season, getting beat out at district. He finished with a 16-24 record. Foster couldn’t stand the sting so he began training at clubs like McDominate, a club run by former Linn-Mar four-time state champion and Iowa NCAA champ Matt McDonough, and Big Game in North Liberty run by Dylan Carew. He started going to any open room he could during the spring and summer.

“I just tried to get in there as much as possible,” said Foster, who competed at Preseason Folkstyle Nationals in the fall. “I felt like I let myself down. I just have high expectations for myself. If I don’t achieve those I beat myself up. It just felt horrible seeing everyone else do well and I’m over here crying.”

Sacrifices had to be made. Some of his extra time was spent wrestling. He also decided not to join the football program this year and concentrate on wrestling, despite enjoying his time with the gridiron guys.

“I do miss it a little bit,” Foster said. “Just the camaraderie and coaches. I just like wrestling a lot.”

Xavier Coach Ryan Chambers said Foster has transformed into a team leader in and out of season. Saturday was a chance to reap the rewards of his effort and devotion.

“Today, it finally came to fruition,” Chambers said. “It all worked out for him.

“It’s all internal. We made ourselves available if he needed anything. He just took it and ran with it.”

Foster outscored his opponents 34-8 and tallied four takedowns against Deah. He has improved in all three areas of wrestler but the neutral position has been his best.

“He became more dominant on his feet,” Chambers said. “His confidence comes with that and that’s what we’re continuing to develop with him. Trust in his wrestling and skills.”

Hard work has helped him to nine wins before the holiday break. More of the same will be required for added growth in the second half of the season.

“I’m still not at the place I want to be, yet,” Foster said. “I have to keep pushing myself. I have to go with the same partners. I’m lucky enough to have great partners in the room. I’ll try to make it to more club practices. Just get in there more.

“Keep giving it my all. That’s all I can do.”

The Saints also received titles from 106-pound freshman Taitumn Deppe, Adam Cook (144) and Ronan Thoams at 175. Like Foster, Cook also won his first varsity tournament title, beating Dyersville Beckman’s Preston Hunter, 9-4, in the final.

Xavier had six semifinalists and beat runner-up Woodbury Central by 33 points for its first team championship since winning Maquoketa’s Zimmerman Invitational in December 2020.

“It’s all about the team,” Chambers said. “We consistent from the top to the bottom.

“The kids love the sport. They love wrestling for each other. We love them. It’s really become a family.”

Cedar Rapids Washington’s Aaron Butikofer earned a title as well. He also went 3-0 and topped Linn-Mar’s Brayden Fish, 10-8, in a back-and-forth 157 final. All 18 points were scored in the last two periods, including 11 in the second. Butikofer’s takedown and escape bracketed Fish’s reversal in the final 1:15 and that was the difference.

“Aaron has been improving steadily all year,” Washington Coach J.P. Graham said. “He’s come into his own. He’s at the right weight now. … For him it’s all about confidence. He’s still raw but he is learning and improving.”

Maquoketa Valley’s big three won titles Saturday. Nathan Beitz (190) and heavyweight Aiden Salow both won by fall. The Wildcats’ Brady Davis, ranked No. 2 in Class 1A, scored a reversal and three nearfall in the last period to edge Xavier’s 3A No. 6 Jean Ngoma, 5-4, for the 215 title.

Linn-Mar’s Will Smith (113), North Fayette Valley’s Jaxson Lundgren (132) and Belle Plaine’s Wade Sankot at 150 each won titles.

NORTH LINN LYNX VARSITY INVITATIONAL

At Troy Mills

Teams — 1. Cedar Rapids Xavier 226, 2. Woodbury Central 193, 3. North Fayette Valley 158.5, 4. Maquoketa Valley 141, 5. Linn-Mar 135, 6. Belle Plaine 123.5, 7. Cedar Rapids Washington 107, 8. Center Point-Urbana 103, 9. Dubuque Senior 41, 10. Dyersville Beckman 40, 11. North Linn 29, 12. Alburnett 22, 13. Springville 15, 14. West Fork 0.

Championship matches

106 pounds — Taitumn Deppe (CRX) dec. Elliott Gnewuch (CRX), 8-1; 113 — Will Smith (LM) dec. Bryce Naber (CRX), 7-0; 120 — Sam Dominick (WC) pinned Caden Steinkamp (CPU), 2:36; 126 — Jack Foster (CRX) major dec. Zion Deah (DS), 14-2; 132 — Jaxson Lundgren (NFV) pinned Brand Beaver (WC), 5:35; 138 — Holden Koele (WC) dec. Kale Leymaster (CRX), 8-2; 144 — Adam Cook (CRX) dec. Preston Hunter (DB), 9-4; 150 — Wade Sankot (BP), dec. Andrew Castor (LM), 4-1; 157 — Aaron Butikofer (CRW) dec. Brayden Fish (LM), 10-8; 165 — Jackson Verschoor (WC) pinned Clayton Davis (MV), 2:43; 175 — Ronan Thomas (CRX), pinned Carter Wright (WC), 5:03; 190 — Nathan Beitz (MV) pinned Wyatt Young (CRW), 3:08; 215 — Brady Davis (MV) dec. Jean Ngoma (CRX), 5-4; 285 — Aiden Salow (MV) pinned Layne Kleppe (NFV), 1:03.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com