State wrestling notebook: For new IHSAA Hall of Famer Ryan Morningstar, wrestling ‘is my life’

DES MOINES — Listen to Ryan Morningstar discuss wrestling and his passion for the sport becomes palpable.

Wrestling is more who Morningstar is than what he does, stemming from a family rooted in the sport. His love for wrestling blossomed when he started attending the state wrestling tournament at Veterans Auditorium as a youth, producing a successful high school and college career as a competitor before becoming one of the country’s top assistant coaches in college wrestling.

About 20 years after Morningstar claimed his first state title, the former Lisbon three-time state champion will be inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Association Wrestling Hall of Fame before the state finals Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena. He’ll joins his father, Scott, as a Hall of Famer.

“It’s not just part of my life,” said Morningstar, a two-time All-American for the University of Iowa and current Hawkeye assistant. “It is my life. I identify as a wrestler. To go into the Hall of Fame is a lot of satisfaction.”

He will be honored along with former Iowa City High three-time champion Kyle Anson, who was a club member with Morningstar, former Wartburg coach and two-time NCAA Division II champion Jim Miller, Maquoketa three-time state champion Cole Pape and his Cardinals coach Jeff Tampir and Mason City Newman three-time state champion and four-time finalist Derric Thomas.

“There are a lot of good memories at Veterans Auditorium and the group of guys I was around,” Morningstar said. “It’s an honor to be included with that elite group.”

Morningstar is the son of Scott Morningstar, who was Iowa’s second four-time state champion. His mom, Jacque, has been a staunch supporter. Jacque’s brothers were state medalists and a cousin was a state placewinner from Pleasant Valley. He was destined for the mat.

In addition to the natural connection to the sport, his parents instilled work ethic and humility that has accompanied his awards.

“I am beyond blessed and grateful that I had parents that set a standard, held me accountable, had endless support for me and what I wanted to accomplish,” Morningstar said. “My sisters and mom and dad had a huge role in my success, undoubtedly.”

He had the unenviable task to follow his dad in the same program. His freshman season resulted in a fourth-place finish, but he roared back with Class 1A titles at 140 as a sophomore and 152 his last two years.

The initial title was memorable.

“The year before was really painful,” Morningstar said. “It was hard to get over for me. Winning that first one and getting the monkey off your back helped me move forward with success.”

Morningstar compiled a 167-4 career record at Lisbon. He was a Junior Nationals champion and was a member of Iowa’s Junior National Duals title team. Morningstar became a four-time NCAA qualifier for Iowa, helping the Hawkeyes to three national team titles and three Big Ten tournament championships. Morningstar also produced a successful post-collegiate freestyle career.

“He’s earned it,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. “He comes from a family that is synonymous with wrestling in the state of Iowa. This is a tribute to everything Morningstar. I freaking love it for him. He has earned it.”

Morningstar has become an effective recruiter, gathering talent that has resulted in Iowa’s two consecutive Big Ten titles and the 2021 NCAA championship. He has developed a good rapport with recruits, especially in-state talents Ben Kueter, of Iowa City High, the Jesuorogas and Martinsons from Southeast Polk, and Waverly-Shell Rock’s Aidan Riggins and Ryder Block competing at this year’s state tournament.

“There are reasons kids want to wrestle at the University of Iowa and one of those reasons is Ryan Morningstar’s love for (state of) Iowa wrestling,” Brands said. “He is genuine. The connection he makes through the sport of wrestling allows his relationships as they blossom.

“He’s a heavy hitter. He’s done it right his whole life.”

Greyson Gardner gains medal

Western Dubuque’s Greyson Gardner was unsatisfied with last season’s finish so he dedicated a lot of time and effort in the offseason to return to Des Moines and bring home some hardware.

The senior second-ranked 182-pounder secured his medal Friday. Gardner pinned Waterloo East’s Demaris Henderson in 3:33 to reach Friday night’s semifinals and assure himself of a top-six finish.

“It definitely feels good with not even placing last year,” Gardner said. “It shows my hard work, all the technique and the stuff you go through paid off.”

Gardner has been a pinning machine this season. His first-round match against Muscatine’s Nathan Beatty lasted just 27 seconds. He improved to 42-1 and has 37 pins after the quarterfinals. Only two matches have gone the full six minutes this season.

“It is mindset and peaking in your energy as soon as you shake hands with that person so that when you’re going you’re coming at them with full force,” Gardner said.

Big win propels Gavin Bridgewater to podium

South Tama sophomore Gavin Bridgewater produced a big upset to earn a top-six finish in his first state tournament. Bridgewater scored takedowns in the first and third periods for a 5-0 decision over Central Decatur’s second-ranked and third-seeded Tegan Carson in the 220-pound quarterfinals.

Bridgewater, who is ranked 11th, improved to 39-6. He was joined in the semifinals by South Tama state veteran Logan Arp at 138. Arp defeated Iowa Falls-Alden’s Brody Hoversten, 11-4, in the quarterfinals.

The Trojans’ Amare Chavez (120) moved into the top eight Friday. Three of South Tama’s four qualifiers reached the podium.

Bridgewater and Arp both advanced to the finals with wins Friday afternoon.

Bridgewater upset third-ranked Aiden Morgan of Davenport Assumption, 2-0, with a reversal in the final seconds. Arp defeated West Delaware’s Brent Yonkovic, 3-2, to reach the finals for the first time.

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