MFL MarMac’s Gabe McGeough displays guts, tribute in state wrestling semifinal victory

DES MOINES — Gabe McGeough was dressed for success.

And, he impressed in a black cowboy hat and a black shirt as he emerged from the tunnel and strolled to his semifinal mat.

One a reminder. The other a tribute and source of motivation. McGeough drew from both for a gutsy performance that propelled him to victory.

The second-seeded 152-pounder scored all his points in the final period to defeat New London’s Dominic Lopez, 4-3, in the semifinals of the Class 1A state wrestling tournament Friday night at Wells Fargo Arena. McGeough is the Bulldogs’ first state finalist since Kyle Pedretti won his second of two titles and Brian Rodas was a runner-up in 2007.

“I’m so happy,” said McGeough, who lost in last year’s semifinals before placing third. “I’ve got one more to go. Job’s not finished, but I’m happy how tonight went.”

McGeough wore a T-shirt that honored the Bulldogs’ late wrestling assistant coach Al Reicks. He devoted this week’s performance to his mentor.

“There have been a lot of people that have affected the success I’ve had,” McGeough said. “Al Reicks passed away from cancer this last spring. He was motivation to me. That guy meant a lot. He told me to go get it this year. This tournament is dedicated to him and everything he instilled in me.”

The hat served as more than a fashion statement. It was a command to McGeough to be strong and rugged, stemming from a line in the move, “8 Seconds,” which delved into the life of professional bull rider Lane Frost.

“Cowboy up, baby,” McGeough said. “Just like I said last year, you’ve got to cowboy up for the big matches. I rode my horse out there.”

The attitude toward daily training prepared McGeough for challenging moments. MFL MarMac Coach Chet Bachman said McGeough demonstrated his grit.

“He practices with guts every night in the room,” Bachman said. “He’s a bear in there sometimes. The way he approaches every day in the practice room makes him earn it out here (in competition).”

McGeough, now a three-time state medalist, had no choice but to be tough against Lopez, who entered the semifinals with a 51-0 record. After a scoreless first and Lopez escape in the second, McGeough took over in the third. He tied the score after the second stalling call on Lopez.

McGeough hit an inside trip for the lone takedown of the match, which proved to be the difference. He admitted his old habits would have caused him to shut down in the third. McGeough is a different person from a year ago, changing his lifestyle on and off the mat. The effort paid dividends.

“Being up by one with two minutes left, someone’s going to score, right, so why not be me? I countered off his attack and went right into my own,” McGeough said. “That’s what you drill every day in practice.”

“If you’re going to wrestle somebody who is 51-0, you’ve got to go into it with the mindset that I’m going to wrestle my match the way I want to wrestle it,” Bachman said. “That’s what he did.”

Lisbon advanced two wrestlers with plenty of finals experience. Brandon Paez (120) and 138-pounder Cade Siebrecht are looking for their second titles.

Paez was a state champion as a freshman, but finished runner-up to New London’s Marcel Lopez, who is attempting to win his fourth state crown after a semifinal win over the Lions’ Quincy Happel.

Second-ranked Paez used takedowns in the first two periods to beat Braden Graff of West Sioux, 4-0, in the semifinals.

“Ever since I lost last year it has been sticking with me,” said Paez, who will look to avenge his only loss to Nashua-Plainfield’s No. 1 Garret Rinken. “Every time I’m about to give up in practice this is what I think about. It always pushes me to get better, because I know last year I didn’t perform my best. This year, I have the right people around me, the right family and I’ve been working a lot to do this.”

Siebrecht won at 126 last season. He survived a rematch against last year’s finals opponent, Underwood’s Stevie Barnes. Siebrecht scored a reversal in tiebreaker-1 to drop Barnes, 3-2, and move into the 138 final.

“I just gutted through it,” Siebrecht said. “I knew if I just kept moving there was no way he was staying with me for the last 10 seconds. I wanted it more. No way that he wanted it more than I did.”

Siebrecht said he enjoyed making a point and proving it a year ago. He experienced some setbacks in recent weeks, taking losses he didn’t expect. Siebrecht didn’t like the feeling and worked to get back to this point.

“It’s amazing,” Siebrecht said. “I had some downs throughout the year, but it’s my time now.”

Midland’s Cayden Miller will make his finals debut. The second-ranked 195-pounder thumped Masnon Northwest Webster’s Brodie Anderson, 13-2. Miller put him on his back multiple times and just missed pins.

“I worked my tail off to get where I am at, right now,” Miller said. “I’m feeling really good about the finals, feeling healthy. I’m ready to go.”

Miller will attempt to become Midland’s first state champion since Scott Taylor, Dan Snyder and Matt Schaeffer each won titles in 1978. Miller’s former teammate, Damon Huston, made the finals recently, but placed second. He said he wants to do it for Huston as well.

“I want to end that streak,” Miller said. “It’s an exciting thing.”