THE CREEPING DREAD: My annual queasy sojourn to the state wrestling tournament
The IHSAA state wrestling meet is a sprawling, grueling and daunting four days of chaos. I dread covering it every year — then end up happy I did so each time
Disquiet descends upon my brain and belly weeks in advance. Iowa’s bleak winter landscape forms the fittingly gloomy backdrop as my least favorite time of the year nears.
It’s an event tens of thousands of Iowans look forward to with alacrity. It’s the ultimate test of discipline, will, and toughness: The Iowa High School Athletic Association state wrestling tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
And I dread helping to cover it each and every February for the Cedar Rapids Gazette.
Why?
I’m a fish out of water as a basketball devotee who never, ever, EVER considered donning a singlet. I remember junior high locker room staredowns with the wrestlers — two rival pimply-faced teenage armies, armed with dueling boomboxes and widely divergent athletic agenda. We didn’t try to understand each other. They thought we were soft. We thought they were crazy. Decades later, my unfounded bias remains, but ever since I started covering wrestling, I’ve come to begrudgingly respect the folks who choose to adopt that unforgiving and mettle-testing lifestyle — whether it comes in the folkstyle or freestyle form.
Why?
Damn, those guys and gals (the girls now have their own standalone state meet) are tough as nails. They exude confidence and embrace a singular challenge: One-on-one against a similarly-minded foe. Alone in the arena, where the ultimate forms of individual success and failure lurk.
So as I groggily slogged through the blood, sweat and tears-filled round of championship bouts on Saturday night, I sighed, winced and smiled. Another year down. Another set of inspiring athletes covered. And the clock started ticking toward my next rendition of the creeping dread.
A LONGTIME STATE MEET MANAGER MOVES ON
I wrote about Lewie Curtis, the state meet’s longtime manager, who plans to retire but stay involved with the sport as a consultant.
Curtis, who coached Underwood to state titles in 1999 and 2000, oversaw massive changes to the state tournament, and here’s an excerpt from (and link to) my story on his highly-regarded tenure:
The love of the sport stands paramount. And expanding opportunities springs from that foundation, including the development of girls’ wrestling in the state, which was sanctioned by the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union in 2022.
“Then, boom, here we are today,” Curtis said. “There (are) still some things, I think, that need to keep working toward really stabilizing wrestling as a really (prominent) girls’ sport, and it’s right around the corner to do that. But, man, it’s had a great start.”
Now Curtis can see the finish line for his tenure as the state meet’s manager. He’ll likely still consult with the IHSAA and IGHSAU, and also plans to get into officiating. He also remembers how his dad, Terry, and mom, Myrna, helped him learn to love wrestling — and even as his position changes, his deep appreciation for the sport won’t.
“It’s just fate somehow,” said Curtis, who will enjoy a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ vacation in Hawaii next month with his family. “I’m just glad it happened the way it did.”
A FALLEN MEDALIST RISES UP AND STANDS TALL
I also wrote about Cedar Rapids Prairie senior 113-pounder Dylan Munson, who suffered a severe neck injury at state when his foe, Weston Porter of Council Bluffs Lewis Central, hit him with an illegal slam in the semifinals. Munson couldn’t intially move — or count — but all he wanted to do was get back up and wrestle for his team. He simply couldn't and was quickly escorted to the hospital to receive treatment and undergo tests. The good news? He’s OK — and returned to participate in Saturday’s hallowed Grand March, which is reserved for state medal winners (he took sixth because of his oppponent’s illegal move. Porter wrestled all the way back to place third, and Munson’s ability to fully forgive him even while tearfully apologizing to his team, deeply impressed me. Here’s an excerpt from (and link to) that article:
But Munson returned to Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday, cheering on and shoring up his teammates on the back side, and deepening his already unbreakable bonds with all the other Hawks at the state meet. He’ll wear a neck brace during the recovery process, which has made it nearly impossible to sleep, but he’s clearly on the mend — and Saturday night he took part in his third Grand March as a three-time state medalist.
“It’s great to be in it,” Munson said. “I’m proud of my teammates who made it. I’m really grateful to have a great team around me. It sucks this is my last year, but things happen. You can’t really control that.”
Munson said he holds no ill will toward Porter, who wrestled back to take third after the one-match disqualification. Porter apologized to Munson on Saturday and told him he didn’t intend to make an illegal slam. Munson accepted that mea culpa and wished Porter well.
“It’s nerves, you get caught up in the moment, you do something you didn’t mean to,” Munson said. “I saw he won his match. It’s a great win for him. He’s a great wrestler. I think he has two more years. He’s a stud. The kid’s really good.”
So is Munson, even as he grapples with the inevitable what-ifs that accompany his painful injury and ongoing recovery.
“I wish the best for all of the people that are wrestling still,” he said. “I know it’s a big tournament. Everybody loves to be here. I want them to get the most out of it. Wish I could have gotten the most out of it. I’m just really grateful to be here.”
A GOOD DOG AND A PROUD (AND STRONG) COACH AND DAD
My colleague (and godsend), K.J. Pilcher, of the Gazette pointed me toward a possible story in North Mahaska coach Ryan Groom, who coached his wrestlers with a service dog alongside him. I asked why. Groom said it’s because he’s faced a panic disorder for as long as he can remember. The very good dog, a Goldendoodle named Teddy, both comforts him and cheers up his students in the classroom as well as his wrestlers on the mat. Oh, and two of his sons, Ryan (a junior) and Aydan (a freshman) both wrestled back to take third in their respective weight classes. Here’s an excerpt from (and link to) my lede and my clincher for that inspiring story that showcased how toughness and tenderness can merge to transform peoples’ lives in a powerful and positive way:
Teddy has been in North Mahaska head coach Ryan Groom’s corner for three and a half years.
He’s his constant companion on the mat and in the classroom. Teddy is calm and comforting in the face of the storm. In other words, the perfect service dog.
“I’m a teacher, so I know as much as he helps me, he can help all of the rest of the kids, too,” said Groom, who qualifies for a service dog because of panic disorder. “It makes a huge difference in our school.”
…
“When you get older and you have kids and you’ve got more responsibility, things start to pile up and then you kind of recognize it,” said Groom, who’s in his seventh year as North Mahaska’s head coach. “And you’re a guy, you’re a wrestler, you’re supposed to be tough and whatnot, but when you finally recognize those things and put the pride to the side and allow yourself to start healing — and an opportunity like this, that not only can service you, but help service other kids that are having some of the same disorders, it’s pretty awesome.”
Teddy is happy to serve, and he’s fully part of the family.
“I tell you what, he has been a godsend,” Coach Groom said. “And he’s another child to take care of, too.”
ONE LAST THING …
Here is the Zoom link for this month’s Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Office Lounge for paid subscribers. It’s always held on the last Friday of the month at noon, except for November and December. I hope to see you there on February 28.
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