Perfect Pirates

DES MOINES – Alburnett wrestling coach Kane Thompson has a future as a prognosticator or motivational speaker.

And Sam Bowers can be his selling point.

Thompson predicted a win and got it from his senior 195-pounder, who dropped top-ranked Chris Bridgeford, 15-9, in the first round of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 1A state wrestling tournament Thursday night at Wells Fargo Arena. The victory helped propel the Pirates into second place with 18 points after the first day, trailing Eddyville-Blakesburg by one.

Bowers was greeted on the way off the arena floor by his coach, who trumpeted his prediction. Thompson had boosted Bowers' confidence by telling him he had beaten a common opponent who had a win against Bridgeford.

“I told him and he said ‘Well, then I can beat him,'” Thompson said. “You just have to find ways to get to a kids mind so he can believe he can go out and get him.

Bowers pointed to the Alburnett crowd and flexed his muscles after he posted the upset in his state tournament debut. He used a five-point throw in the first to take control early and then thwarted a rally with a late reversal and nearfall points.

“He tried to bearhug me in the first period and lucked out and got him on his back and just time ran out,” said Bowers, who isn't a regular thrower. “I wrestled my hardest the last two periods.”

Bowers praised his coaches, older brother, Jacob, and friends and family's support in contributing to his success Thursday night, but guts played a big part as well. He watched his 9-1 lead evaporate to 9-7 and then 10-9 before the late move, catching Bridgeford on his back as he attempted a reversal.

“You just have to keep fighting through it no matter what,” Bowers said. “Even if you get a good lead like that, it could happen to anybody (and) they can come back, but whoever is willing to stick it out in the end wins the match.”

It was a win that Thompson saw in the works. Bowers beat the third-ranked wrestler to advance to state.

“He doesn't care,” Thompson said. “He just goes out and wrestles. It was good to see him win that match.”

That big win capped a perfect round for the Pirates, who went 6-0. Undefeated freshman Hunter Washburn (43-0) scored a 15-2 victory over Clarion-Goldfield's Zeke Rosenbaum. Washburn seemed disappointed that he wrestled the entire match and get even more bonus points.

“I was going for the pin or technical fall,” Washburn said. “It's all about team at that point.”

Washburn is ranked first and focused on capturing state gold.

“I feel pretty confident,” Washburn said. “You have to take one match at a time. That's all you can do.”

Two-time state champion Tyler Shulista (126) and 132-pounder Colton Martin won by fall and 145-pounder Grant Henderson added a 9-0 major decision for the Pirates. Dylan Windfield also advanced at 160, giving Alburnett a good shot to improve on two straight third-place team finishes.

“In my mind, this is what I was peaking them for, getting ready for this,” Thompson said. “We had a long talk last night about it. I said you have nothing to lose. Just go out and get after it.”

Lisbon and West Branch had perfect rounds as well, advancing three apiece to today's quarterfinals.

The Lions' fourth-ranked Kolbi Kohl was a finalist year ago. Settling for silver didn't serve him well. He has been determined to take that final step to the top of the podium.

“Every day at practice I think about that and push myself harder,” Kohl said. “Last year, I didn't get my goal. This is my last shot now, so I have to go hard.”

Kohl notched an 8-4 win over Audubon's No. 9 Cameron Mennenoh, scoring three takedowns including two in the first. He would have liked to be even more offensive, but will take the result.

“The first one, I think, is the toughest one,” Kohl said. “It's good to get it out of the way.”

“It's good to get the win.”

Lisbon teammates Tait Simpson (152) and heavyweight Tait Smith advanced with pins for the Lions.

Jake Slocum (145), Cade Jones (195) and 220-pounder Derrick Miller moved on to the quarterfinals. Jones pinned Corning's Zach Barton in :48 to lead the Bears.

North Linn and Maquoketa Valley each pushed four wrestlers into the quarterfinals. Two-time state finalist Logan Mulnix scored a fall over Martensdale-St. Mary's David DeLong at 138, and 113-pounder Zach Welter won by major decision to lead the Lynx, who were tied for fifth with 14 points.

The Wildcats were 10th after the first day. Sixth-ranked freshman Ryan Parmely (195) earned a 17-7 major decision over Treynor's Trenton Geer. State medalist Adam Steger added a fall and Jared Coyle (120) and 182-pounder Troy Hunt also advanced for Maquoketa Valley.

Valley Community's second-ranked Lincoln Monroe provided some late heroics to overcome BGM's No. 8 Collin Kolars, 8-6, in overtime to reach the 120 quarterfinals. He was joined by teammate, Joe Koehn, who won by fall at heavyweight.

Kolars scored the opening takedown, but Monroe responded with his own for a 3-2 lead after the first. Monroe built his lead to three with a reversal in the second, but Kolars battled back to tie it. Monroe remained confident.

“I felt my conditioning was going to kick in the end,” Monroe said. “I knew that eventually beat him because of my conditioning.”

Monroe, who placed third last year, scored a takedown with :22 left in the sudden victory period.

“I said I got to get this,” Monroe said. “It was a bad shot. We tried to counter each other's counters until I got the takedown.

“I was like ‘Thank you, Lord.' I wanted to get it over and get my hand raised in the end.”