Mathis, McGeough returning to state wrestling tournament
Senior Holden Mathis pinned his way to the first place match at districts, where he won by decision over Jesup’s Dawson Bell to take the top spot at 138 pounds. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
This makes back to back state wrestling appearances for Mathis, who placed last year as a junior.
After losing in the finals, 165-pound junior Quinn McGeough won in a wrestle back to place second and advance to state for the second time.
McGeough also felt confident heading into districts, despite suffering a shoulder injury a week ago. “I knew I still had what it takes, even if I was a little bit in pain. I knew making it to state was a lot more important than the little bit of pain you’re going to feel for a couple minutes on the mat,” he said.
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
MFL MarMac wrestlers Holden Mathis and Quinn McGeough are headed back to the state wrestling tournament. Mathis, a senior, was the 138-pound champion at the Class 1A district tournament at MFL MarMac on Feb. 10, while McGeough, a junior, placed second at 165 pounds.
Mathis pinned his way to the first place match, where he won by 6-3 decision over Jesup’s Dawson Bell. He felt the day would be successful before even stepping on the mat.
“I woke up this morning, looked in the mirror and took a gander at my hair. It was looking pretty good, flowing real good, so I said, ‘Today’s going to be a good day to win,’” he shared. “The first two matches, I knew I just had to get the job done, go back and relax...Then go out in the finals match and take care of business there.”
Coach Chet Bachman also credited Mathis’s mentality.
“He was feeling good. You could just tell because of the way he was talking,” he said.
McGeough also felt confident heading into his 165-pound bouts, despite suffering a shoulder injury a week ago.
“I knew I still had what it takes, even if I was a little bit in pain. I knew making it to state was a lot more important than the little bit of pain you’re going to feel for a couple minutes on the mat,” he said.
McGeough won his semifinal match by fall, before losing by 8-4 decision to Clay Wilgenbusch of East Buchanan in the finals. The loss put him in a wrestle back for second place, with a state tournament berth on the line.
“Coming into this tournament, I knew I had a good shot to win it. That was really my goal. I wasn’t thinking about a wrestle back,” he admitted. “When I lost, it hit me pretty hard and I kind of had to completely change gears and refocus my mindset to get the job done again.”
McGeough got the job done, outlasting Starmont’s Jase Tommasin 6-3.
His mindset in the hour between the finals match and wrestle back was the key to success, he said. So were words of wisdom from older brother Gabe, a previous state runner-up for the Bulldogs and McGeough’s best friend.
“I think that was the turning point of this season. I could have gone one of two ways. I could’ve just felt sorry for myself and been like ‘I’m done. My season’s over. I’m gonna get beat,’” McGeough reflected. “I changed my mindset around and a lot of that is thanks to my brother Gabe. He gets on me and makes sure I’m on the right track. He told me I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself and that I’ve still got a job to finish.”
Bachman credited McGeough for gutting it out.
“I have to give credit to him and his dad on working to get better every day and managing what he had,” Bachman said. “He had a focus about him, and I think, once you have that focus, you are in control. It means everything when you’ve been there before, you’ve done it, the experience.”
The coach said that experience will also serve the wrestlers well as they head into their second straight state appearances.
“You hope to think they would have confidence and not be shocked by the light. They should be ready to go, maybe even better than last year,” Bachman stated.
Mathis was a place winner a season ago and enters this tournament seeded fourth, with a record of 38-3. He’ll receive a bye into the second round on the opening day, Wednesday, Feb. 14.
He will take a similar approach to last year.
“Last year, I gave it my all. It was my first time and I had nothing to lose. I was going out there and letting it fly. This year, I’ve got to do the same thing,” Mathis said. “Go down there and not worry about anything other than what I need to do during my matches. Nothing to lose down there. This is it.”
Bachman believes that “Who cares. I’m just going to go wrestle” mindset makes Mathis even more dangerous.
“Some kids are all wound up, caught in the moment. He’s not that kind of kid. In order to be a champion, sometimes you have to be different than everybody else,” he said.
McGeough has a season record of 31-10 and is seeded 20th in the Class 1A 165-pound bracket. He hopes to improve upon last year’s 2-2 state record.
“Last year, I made it to state, and that was my main goal,” he said. “I’m excited to improve on last year. The goal this year is to get a medal.”
Three other Bulldogs—freshman Rylan Schroeder at 126 pounds, freshman Gavin Kishman at 132 pounds and sophomore Will Howes at heavyweight—all placed third at districts, just missing a trip to state.
Kishman advanced to the first place match, where he lost by fall. He was pinned again in the wrestle back.
“I give him a lot of credit. He put himself in good position and came up short,” Bachman said.
After losing his semifinal match, Schroeder won the consolation semifinal by fall and third place match by 5-3 decision to earn his way into a wrestle back. Unfortunately, he met familiar foe Braxton Bormann, of Central, who pinned him.
“He’s such a hard worker. Doesn’t complain, always there,” Bachman said. “He was one away from going to state. That was cool.”
Howes was tripped up in the semifinals, where he was pinned by Antoni Solovi of Postville, a wrestler he had beaten several times this season.
“That was a tough one,” Bachman said. “But you give credit to your opponent and hold your head high. You can’t do anything but learn from it. That doesn’t take away from who he is and the work he did all year.”
Senior Tristen Koehn, in perhaps the toughest bracket of the district at 157 pounds, placed fourth. He was a state qualifier as a sophomore, and was looking to return after missing all of last season with an injury.
“The kid’s a warrior, a hard worker in the room. He was in a really tough weight class today. There were a few really good ones, and then there were a few open ones. I felt bad for him,” Bachman said, “but that kid’s going to be very successful.”
Another pair of fourth place finishers—freshman Gunnar Ross at 113 pounds and junior Keith Anderson at 120 pounds—stood out to Bachman. The coach also praised senior Nolan Lerch, who didn’t place at 215 pounds, for maturing throughout the season. Wolfgang Martins Saboria (106), Caleb Zuercher (175) and Dayne Kohrs (190) did not place at their respective weights.
“I appreciate their hard work throughout the season,” Bachman said of all the wrestlers. “When it all comes down to it, you have to keep things in perspective. These kids are learning how to go through the ups and downs, deal with the adversity and work hard every day.”
The Iowa High School Athletic Association State Championships start Wednesday, Feb. 14, and run through Saturday, Feb. 17, at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. The Class 1A first round and consolations will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
