West Delaware's big men win big, win fast

By Rob Gray, correspondent

DES MOINES - Jacyn Goebel carried two simple wishes into his tense opening-round bout Thursday at the Class 2A State Wrestling Tournament.

One: Win.

Two: Do it fast.

Mission accomplished for the West Delaware 182-pounder, who won by fall in 49 seconds, helping the No. 2 Hawks to a solid first-round showing at Wells Fargo Arena.

“It's a good thing I got that one done real quick,” said Goebel, the fourth-ranked wrestler at his weight, according to The Predicament.

He wasn't alone - and started a three-match pin streak for West Delaware in the upper weights.

Adam Reth, the top-ranked 195-pounder in 2A, decked his opponent in 1:23.

“(It's) a confidence booster,” said Reth, who improved to 41-0.

It's contagious, too.

Dean Broghammer, fourth-ranked at 220 pounds, followed Reth with a pin in 1:34.

Coupled with four previous wins, the Hawks went 7-2 in the opening-round and trail leader and defending champion Davenport Assumption 26.5 points to 21.

“So far, so good,” said Goebel, who improved to 43-2.

Solon ended day one 10th in the standings with 14 points.

The Spartans' fifth-ranked 220-pounder, Jay Pike, decked his opponent in 2:52 to win his first state tournament match.

“It was pretty cool,” said Pike, who is 41-5. “First time up there. You have all those jitters and once you get out there you push them all aside and go wrestle. It's fun.”

Pike's progress stems from past and present in-the-room scraps with standouts such as state champion and Iowa linebacker James Morris, as well as current teammate J.J. Hanus, the No. 3 170-pounder in 2A.

“It is an individual sport, but it takes a team to get really good,” Pike said. “Without everyone else pushing everyone - that's why we've done so well this year, because we're all pushing each other.

Williamsburg's third-ranked 145-pounder J.C. Vercande was pushed - and nearly caught - in the marquee matchup with No. 6 Jed Siegwarth of MFL-Central.

“I had to go out there and fight for it,” Vercande said.

Vercande, who has placed sixth at state the past two years, led Siegwarth 7-2 in the second period before disaster almost struck.

Siegwarth, who placed eighth at state last year, turned a takedown into a chance to pin Vercande, who managed to bounce back for a 12-6 triumph.

“He had like a neck wrench to my back, I think,” Vercande said. “I was there, I think, for a two count and then I reversed him.”

Goebel and his West Delaware teammates hope nothing changes the course of their tournament.

The Hawks won their only team title in 1991 and plan to remain in the hunt through Saturday.

“The student fans go crazy when ever we win,” Goebel said. “We want to do good for them.”