Lewie Curtis' time as boys’ state wrestling meet manager was marked by important changes

DES MOINES — Lewie Curtis donned the signed vintage garment with pride.

The 60-year-old Iowa High School Athletic Association state wrestling tournament manager received the retro vest before Wednesday morning’s scorers and timers meeting — and it both touched and surprised him.

“It’s pretty meaningful,” said Curtis, who plans to retire from the position he’s held since 2016 shortly after the state tournament concludes Saturday. “It’s cool to have those relationships with those people because a lot of the (scorers and timers) have been doing it for decades, and I’ve gotten the good fortune to meet them.”

Dozens of those integral workers’ signatures dot his old, yet new vest — along with words of encouragement and appreciation.

Curtis has overseen important changes to the boys’ state tournament, navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and helped usher in the era of girls’ wrestling as a sanctioned sport.

One of the most momentous shifts came two seasons ago, when the IHSAA eliminated sectional qualifying meets and expanded the state tournament field in each class from 16 to 24 wrestlers, which in turn made the formerly three-day event a four-day competition.

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“That was a massive change all at one time,” said Curtis, who coached Underwood to state championships in 1999 and 2000. “It was also not done just that year.”

Curtis added the shift that also moved the state dual meet to former sectional dates was several years in the making. Nixing sectionals also meant a loss of that event-based revenue, but the change was approved because it was good for the sport, plain and simple.

“It was the best thing for the athletes and the coaches,” said Curtis, who also saw one of his sons, Taylor, win an individual state title for Underwood in 2013.

Curtis also oversaw a change in the seeding criteria for the state meet, which helped prevent some of the top wrestlers sometimes meeting earlier, rather than later at Wells Fargo Arena.

“I was reminiscing about that the other day about (how) the late (and Hall of Fame wrestler and longtime Iowa City West coach) Mark Reiland was on my coach’s advisory committee when I came in,” Curtis said. “He was instrumental. He was very passionate about (how) he felt like the tournament needed to be seeded, and before he left the advisory committee his last year, we adopted seeding, and we’ve tweaked it and worked on it, and I think it really helps this tournament.”

That’s all that matters to Curtis. The love of the sport stands paramount. And expanding opportunities springs from that foundation, including the development of girls’ wrestling in the state, which was sanctioned by the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union in 2022.

“Then, boom, here we are today,” Curtis said. “There (are) still some things, I think, that need to keep working toward really stabilizing wrestling as a really (prominent) girls’ sport, and it’s right around the corner to do that. But, man, it’s had a great start.”

Now Curtis can see the finish line for his tenure as the state meet’s manager. He’ll likely still consult with the IHSAA and IGHSAU, and also plans to get into officiating. He also remembers how his dad, Terry, and mom, Myrna, helped him learn to love wrestling — and even as his position changes, his deep appreciation for the sport won’t.

“It’s just fate somehow,” said Curtis, who will enjoy a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ vacation in Hawaii next month with his family. “I’m just glad it happened the way it did.”

WESTERN DUBUQUE’S PENNER OPENS WITH PIN

Western Dubuque freshman Macklin Penner started his tournament off with a pin against Bettendorf’s Shannon Hughes at 165 pounds.

Penner was working on a double-digit lead when he turned Hughes for his 14th victory of the season. Not bad considering he wasn’t cleared to return from an undisclosed injury until the Thursday before the district tournament.

Penner has demonstrated toughness, coming back and earning his first win at state.

“He's had a lot of adversity,” Western Dubuque Coach Paul Cleary said. “He's got tremendous grit and resilience. He’s got great leadership. He’s a freshman and we're just super proud of his efforts.”

Penner was one of 10 qualifiers for the Bobcats, who have endured injuries and setbacks to the entire team. They entered the postseason as strong as possible and are determined on a strong performance here.

“Everybody got healthy at districts,” Cleary said. “We're going to try and make some noises this weekend.

— K.J. Pilcher

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