McDonald County High School wrestlers were in Dubuque, Iowa, June 15-20 to attend the Iron Sharpens Iron Team Wrestling Camps that had close to 1,000 wrestlers from all over the country.
Wrestlers ranged from youth- to high-school-age groups that made up a total of 40 High School division teams including McDonald County High School. The camp was located at Loras College and featured some of the biggest name in the sport of wrestling. Camp technicians included Mike Krause, who was named Youth Wrestling Coach of the Century; Jake Varner, who was a two-time NCAA National Champion and 2012 Olympic Gold medalist; Mark Perry, who was a two-time NCAA Champion and current Head Associate Coach for the University of Illinois; Tom Brands, who was a three-time NCAA Champion, 1996 Olympic Gold medalist and is the current Head Coach for the University of Iowa; Steve Mocco, who was a two-time NCAA National Champion, winner of the Dan Hodge Trophy, and 2008 Olympian; and perhaps the most decorated wrestler around the world today -- Jordan Burroughs, who is a 2012 Olympic Gold medalist, three-time World Champion, two-time NCAA Champion, and Dan Hodge Trophy winner.
"Never since I've coached for McDonald County have I seen an opportunity for our wrestlers to receive instruction from the level of athletes and coaches that this camp had to offer to our wrestlers," said Josh Factor, head wrestling coach at MCHS. "Not only did our wrestlers receive great instruction, but they got a lot better from this experience. We competed well and grew as a team."
The MCHS wrestlers teamed up with wrestlers from Bellevue, along with two other wrestlers from Iowa and Illinois. The team managed to finish as Overall Olympic Team Champions in the High School Division (first out of 40 teams). Events in the Team Olympics included a tug-a-war contest, dizzy stick relay races, centipede relay races, and a tie-breaker -- Sumo wrestling competition where the MCHS and Bellevue, Iowa, team would take home the Champion T-shirts from the camp.
As for wrestling competition, the McDonald County/Bellevue team finished with a dual meet record of 6-3 and finished fourth overall out of 40 teams. MCHS individual dual match records were as follows:
• Jakob Gerow 6-1
• Daniel De Santiago 7-2
• Chris Willman 5-4
• Nathan Knadle 4-6
• Izzy De Santiago 7-4
• Rylan Hobbs 3-2
• Marshall Foreman 0-5
• Alex Guadarrama 1-4
After the conclusion of the dual meet competition of the camp, there was also a takedown tournament where MCHS wrestler Jakob Gerow would finish as Champion in his division and take home a Champion singlet for winning the Takedown Tournament in the 106-115 pound division.
The last competition the MCHS wrestling team competed in was the Rumble by the River National Wrestling Tournament held on June 20 at the Five Flags Center in Dubuque, where the MCHS wrestling team would bring home three medalists: Jakob Gerow took second at 115, Daniel DeSantiago took sixth at 128, Isrrael DeSantiago took sixth at 163 (the top six received medals) despite having to leave the tournament early due travel constraints. This tournament featured close to 350 wrestlers from 13 different States represented: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Wisconsin. Here are the results from the Rumble by the River Tournament:
15-18 Years Old 11
Jakob Gerow's placed second and scored 9.00 team points.
Round 1 - Jakob Gerow (McDonald County) won by major decision over Jacob Close (Basement Boys) (Maj 14-4)
Round 2 - Jakob Gerow (McDonald County) won by fall over Brody Haynes (Pekin High School) (Fall 0:44)
Round 4 - Jarret Orr (DC Elite) won by forfeit over Jakob Gerow (McDonald County) (FF)
Round 5 - Cody Hey (Washington High School) won by forfeit over Jakob Gerow (McDonald County) (FF)
15-18 Years Old 128
Daniel De Santiago's placed sixth and scored 9.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Daniel De Santiago (McDonald County) received a bye
Quarterfinal - Daniel De Santiago (McDonald County) won by fall over Cody Larson (La Crosse) (Fall 3:00)
Semifinal - Matt Robertson (Pleasant Valley) won by forfeit over Daniel De Santiago (McDonald County) (FF)
Cons. Semi - Adam Bruce (Gladstone Youth Wrestling) won by forfeit over Daniel De Santiago (McDonald County) (FF)
Fifth Place Match - Derek Graham (Eagle Grove Eagles) won by forfeit over Daniel De Santiago (McDonald County) (FF)
15 - 18 Years Old 128
Alex Guadarrama's place is unknown and has scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Alex Guadarrama (McDonald County) received a bye
Quarterfinal - Michael Tortorice (Team Poeta) won by fall over Alex Guadarrama (McDonald County) (Fall 0:45)
Cons. Round 2 - Alex Guadarrama (McDonald County) and Marshall Foreman (McDonald County) (DFF)
15 - 18 Years Old 128
Champ. Round 1 - Matthias Wigginton (Wahlert Golden Eagles) won by fall over Marshall Foreman (McDonald County) (Fall 1:06)
Cons. Round 1 - Marshall Foreman (McDonald County) received a bye
Cons. Round 2 - Alex Guadarrama (McDonald County) and Marshall Foreman (McDonald County) (DFF)
15 - 18 Years Old 133
Quarterfinal - Gannon Cook (East Buchanan) won by fall over Nathan Knadle (McDonald County) (Fall 2:21)
Cons. Round 1 - Brandon Henke (La Crosse) won by fall over Nathan Knadle (McDonald County) (Fall 1:30)
15 - 18 Years Old 138
Champ. Round 1 - Nicholas Pollack (Ringers) won by fall over Christian Willman (McDonald County) (Fall 3:00)
Cons. Round 1 - Jeremiah Hermann (Stockton Renegades) won by major decision over Christian Willman (McDonald County) (Maj 13-0)
15 - 18 Years Old 163
Isrrael De Santiago's placed sixth and scored 7.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Isrrael De Santiago (McDonald County) received a bye
Quarterfinal - Isrrael De Santiago (McDonald County) won by decision over Dalyne King (Waterloo East) (Dec 4-1)
Semifinal - Alec Fjelstul (Decorah) won by forfeit over Isrrael De Santiago (McDonald County) (FF)
Cons. Semi - Kolbie Clark (South Tama) won by forfeit over Isrrael De Santiago (McDonald County) (FF)
Fifth Place Match - Lucas Fugate (Combat) won by forfeit over Isrrael De Santiago (McDonald County) (FF)
15 - 18 Years Old 192
Champ. Round 1 - Justin Guilliams (Clinton) won by fall over Rylan Hobbs (McDonald County) (Fall 0:33)
Cons. Round 1 - Rylan Hobbs (McDonald County) received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - Andrew Krahn (Pekin High School) won by forfeit over Rylan Hobbs (McDonald County) (FF)
Community on 06/25/2015