Iowa 1A boys’ state wrestling Friday roundup: Cascade’s Brock Morris missed out last year, but is a state finalist now

DES MOINES — Cascade’s Brock Morris couldn’t even bring himself to watch last year’s boys’ state wrestling tournament.

Despite qualifying two seasons ago and earning a spot in the hallowed Grand March and on the podium as a freshman, the pain of not competing was too much to be a spectator.

“It stung that much,” Morris said. “Just wanted nothing to really do with it at that time last year.”

Morris has gone from not paying attention to the center of attention. He will wrestle for the 126-pound title after beating GTRA’s Caleb Swedin in the semifinals of the Class 1A state wrestling tournament Friday night at Wells Fargo Arena. Morris is looking to become the Cougars’ first champion since Aidan Noonan won the last of three crowns in 2021.

“Completely different emotions,” Morris said. “Last year, I was really down. I wasn’t doing the best mentally, but now I’m back about the same as I was freshman year, so it makes you feel a lot better.”

Morris (47-6) opened the scoring with a first-period takedown but found himself down by a point in the third. He scored on a shot, patiently working his way out of Swedin’s grip for a takedown. Morris remained on top for the last 41 seconds to secure a 4-3 decision.

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“I could feel his grip starting to get weaker because we were wrestling in that position for so long,” Morris said. “When his grip got to the point it broke loose, I knew I would get out.

“I didn’t know if it was going to be a stalemate or not. I tried to keep wrestling through the whole position.”

Morris focused on doing his best without any specific placing in mind. He wanted to leave every ounce of sweat and energy on the mat. Morris is the No. 10 seed, even though he placed fourth in 2022, and flying under radars was fine to him.

“I feel like they underestimated me a little bit,” Morris said. “That’s all right. It kept me going.”

Alburnett’s Rowdy Neighbor books back-to-back state wrestling finals trips

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Morris’ win came after Alburnett 120-pounder Rowdy Neighbor notched his second straight finals appearance. After two pins to start the tournament, Neighbor posted a 9-1 major decision over ACGC’s No. 4 Tegan Slaybaugh in the semifinals.

“I got the job done,” Neighbor said. “I got the major for the team race but I need to get to my shots. That’s my main focus for the finals.”

Neighbor was in the 113 finals a year ago. He had to settle for second, falling to Akron-Westfield’s Cael Morrow. He wasted little time training for a chance to return to the finals.

“I got right back in the room for the offseason,” Neighbor said. “It paid off.”

Top-seeded Neighbor (52-2) will get a rematch Saturday night against No. 3 Morrow (38-2). He said he feels he has made the necessary adjustments to win.

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Photos: Class 1A boys’ state wrestling semifinals

“It definitely made me work on my mindset,” Neighbor said. “Last year, I let the moment get too big. I just have to realize it’s just another match, just another tournament. It’s one that I want. I think I’ll get it.”

The Pirates placed eight wrestlers on the awards stand, including seven in the top six. They had 115 points after Day 3, trailing second-place Wilton by five. Don Bosco was first with 151 1/2.

“The team race is always in the back of your mind but those guys just go out there and compete and it takes care of itself,” Alburnett coach Clayton Rush said. “We like where we’re at. The guys fought their rear-ends off. It was good stuff.”

Starmont and Maquoketa Valley also have state wrestling finals representation

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Starmont’s Keaton Moeller prevented Alburnett from having another finalist. The Stars’ top-seeded sophomore dropped No. 12 Reece Klostermann, 10-3, at 150.

Moeller (45-1) became Starmont’s first finalist since Johnny Walz was runner-up at 171 in 2003. He is attempting to win the school’s seventh state title and first since Kent Streicher in 1989.

Like Tri-Rivers Conference members Alburnett and Starmont, Maquoketa Valley will be represented in the finals. Top-seeded Brady Davis reached the 215 championship bout. He beat West Hancock’s No. 4 David Smith, 5-1, to advance and improve last year’s seventh-place finish.

“It’s something I’ve wanted for a while,” Davis said. “I worked hard since last year. Wrestled a little bit of freestyle and Greco(-Roman). Improved a little bit. Not as much as I wanted, but one more to see how my work pays off.”

He pulled away with a takedown in the second and reversal in the third.

“Our training is harder than anyone else around,” Davis said. “I knew that I was going to have the gas to get it done.”

West Branch’s Logan Wright tops No. 2 seed Cody Fox

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West Branch’s Logan Wright posted a bit of an upset on paper, knocking off East Buchanan’s four-time state medalist and second-seeded Cody Fox at heavyweight. Wright came out on top of a scramble in sudden victory for a 3-1 decision.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Wright, who was eighth at 220 in 2022. “Last year, I didn’t get to place. This year, I came into it saying ‘I’m not going to lose to this guy. I’m not going to lose to this guy.’ It kept going up and we’re here now. So, let’s go for a (title) run.”

Wright and teammate Quintyn Rocha swapped weight classes. Rocha moved to 215, while Wright accepted the challenged of being undersized at 285. He wrestles to his strengths, noting that it could be a benefit Saturday night.

“I think with my speed and good conditioning I can beat anybody, any size, because I’m quicker,” Wright said. “I think that’s going to lead very far into the finals.”

The Bears managed two medalists and were tied for 10th with 49 points. Jesup was sixth at 68.

Class 1A state wrestling Top 10 team scores after Friday

1. Don Bosco 151 1/2

2. Wilton 120

3. Alburnett 115

4. Underwood 77

5. West Hancock 75

6. Jesup 68

7. Denver 55

8. Logan-Magnolia 51 1/2

9. Nashua-Plainfield 49 1/2

t-10. North Butler/Clarksville 49

t-10. West Branch 49

Friday’s Class 1A Iowa high school boys’ state wrestling semifinal results

106 pounds

Hayden Schwab (Don Bosco) major dec. Atlee Dewitt (Alburnett), 10-0

Liam Adlfinger (Wilton) dec. Wesley Sadler (Lisbon), 6-0

113

Mason Shirk (Wilton) dec. Dallas Canoyer (Earlham), 7-1

Gavin Landers (Denver) dec. Cooper Hinz (Jesup), 3-0

120

Rowdy Neighbor (Alburnett) dec. Tegan Slaybaugh (Guthrie Center ACGC), 9-1

Cael Morrow (Akron-Westfield) dec. Ayden Beck (Baxter), 8-4

126

Jesse Lewis (West Sioux) pinned Tayten Coufal (Alburnett), 0:57

Brock Morris (Cascade) dec. Caleb Swedin (Ruthven GTRA), 4-3

132

Tanner Arjes (North Butler/Clarksville) pinned Jadyn Friedrichs (Akron-Westfield), 4:31

Dawson Youngblut (Don Bosco) dec. Brody Brisker (Wilton), 3-1

138

Blake Allen (Underwood) pinned Gabriel Brisker (Wilton), 5:04

Teague Smith (West Hancock) dec. Ethan Christoffer (Don Bosco), 4-1

144

Corbin Reisz (Logan-Magnolia) major dec. Tiernan Boots (Lisbon), 9-1

Boden White (Denver) dec. Collin Holm (South Winneshiek), 3-1

150

Keaton Moeller (Starmont) dec. Reece Klostermann (Alburnett), 10-3

Danny Kinsella (Treynor) dec. Jacob McGargill (Shenandoah), 7-0

157

Kyler Knaack (Don Bosco) pinned Kayden Baxter (Avoca AHSTW), 2:48

Kellen Smith (West Hancock) major dec. Kanen Decker (Wapsie Valley), 11-2

165

John McGill (Colfax-Mingo) dec. Clay Wilgenbusch (East Buchanan), 10-8

Maddox Nelson (Underwood) dec. Ryan Stiles (Earlham), 5-2

175

Kaiden Knaack (Don Bosco) dec. Kile Bucknell (Jesup), 6-4 SV-1

Jace Nelson-Brown (Emmetsburg) major dec. Titus Evans (Nashua-Plainfield), 10-1

190

MaKade Bloker (North Butler/Clarksville) dec. Landon Fernandez (Don Bosco), 5-1

Louden Huisenga (WACO) dec. Nathan Beitz (Maquoketa Valley), 5-3 SV-1

215

Brady Davis (Maquoketa Valley) dec. David Smith (West Hancock), 5-1

Ashton Honnold (Nodaway Valley) dec. Eli Green (Interstate 35), 5-2

285

Mason Knipp (Waterloo Columbus) dec. Trenton Warner (Nodaway Valley), 3-2

Logan Wright (West Branch) dec. Cody Fox (East Buchanan), 3-1 SV-1