Who Is The GOAT IA High School Wrestler: The Case For Everyone With Even a Far-Fetched Case
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I don't know if you can find State title match between Jeff Gibbons and Terry Cook of Spencer but a very similar ending except no points given. Went out of bounds with like five seconds to go and back then you started with a foot on the circle so you had like five feet between you. Gibbons won and the next year they were co-ranked number one all year, I had never seen that where the returning champ wasn't ranked ahead of the runner up. Cook broke his ribs at Districts and didn't go to State that year. Cook lost three times in his career, Finals freshman year to DeBartolo who was a two timer and a Senior, Klinghammer a two timer and then Gibbons. Finished 2-3-2 then injured. I thought he had two against Gibbons but I'm biased. Actually felt bad for Gibbons cuz it seemed like a lot of booing on the awards stand.
Thanks for the rewatch ! I was down on the main floor for the finals and yes I do remember that match
I think Kjeldgaard gets my vote. Just a completely different level. Trey Clark may have been if not for injuries. Meeks was right there. Clark ended up passing him, lapping him, then being so good it made me rethink Meeks, but when they were in high school Meeks was a show.
*I can only comment from about 1990 through present.
*I can only comment from about 1990 through present.
I really think Austin Blythe is gotta be up there for what he did as a heavyweight for 4 years.
I read that Trey Clark still holds the heaviest freshman to win state title. He would of been a monster if 215 was around... I think he was like 6-4/6-5
http://thepindoctors.com/index.php/...wrestler-the-case-for-t-j-sebolt-centerville/
The Case For TJ Sebolt:
T.J. Sebolt. Many people these days know him as a successful club coach in Iowa, but did you realize that he used to wrestle?!?! Not only did he used to wrestle, but he was one of the best to ever do it at the HS level in the state of Iowa.
How would I describe T.J. Sebolt to someone who wasn’t fortunate enough to see him wrestle in person? He was like the most relentless of typhoons that was hell-bent on coming after you. He moved in one direction and that was “towards you.” He was a technician in the sense where he not only executed the moves correctly, it he did the minute, fine details correctly as well and he did so quickly, fluently, ferociously and RELENTLESSLY. If you were wrestling against Sebolt, you weren’t going to be given a millisecond of a break. He was going to come after you until the whistle sounded. It was as if the wrestling mat was his home and he was the world’s best guard dog. It was like when he stepped on the mat, he was able to part ways with any fear, anxiety, apprehension, etc. that he may have had in life and was able to be in a world that brought him the most satisfaction. That mat was HIS territory, it was HIS home and if you dared try to take it from him, he would come at you with the ferocity of a hyped up pit bull. It was fun to watch.
T.J. was a 4X State champion and finished with a career record of 207-1. His one loss was against a kid from Park Hill Missouri named Ryan Moyer, a loss that T.J. avenger the following summer in freestyle.
When I watched T.J. wrestle, I felt like I was witnessing something that was so good that he obviously had a skill-set that could not be duplicated. That he had skills that he was just born with and can not be taught… This was an incorrect observation for this guy is an integral piece in the development of several of Iowa’s current best wrestlers like Cullan Schriever from Mason City, Caleb Rathjen from Ankeny, Drake Ayala from Fort Dodge, etc. Guys that will have or already do have their own GOAT arguments.
Was T.J. Sebolt the GOAT?! Listen, you either have to not know what you are looking at when you watch wrestling, in denial, have never seen him or just a straight-up hater to think he does not have a case for the GOAT. I’ve mentioned him as my own pick that I go back and forth with several times.
The Case For TJ Sebolt:
T.J. Sebolt. Many people these days know him as a successful club coach in Iowa, but did you realize that he used to wrestle?!?! Not only did he used to wrestle, but he was one of the best to ever do it at the HS level in the state of Iowa.
How would I describe T.J. Sebolt to someone who wasn’t fortunate enough to see him wrestle in person? He was like the most relentless of typhoons that was hell-bent on coming after you. He moved in one direction and that was “towards you.” He was a technician in the sense where he not only executed the moves correctly, it he did the minute, fine details correctly as well and he did so quickly, fluently, ferociously and RELENTLESSLY. If you were wrestling against Sebolt, you weren’t going to be given a millisecond of a break. He was going to come after you until the whistle sounded. It was as if the wrestling mat was his home and he was the world’s best guard dog. It was like when he stepped on the mat, he was able to part ways with any fear, anxiety, apprehension, etc. that he may have had in life and was able to be in a world that brought him the most satisfaction. That mat was HIS territory, it was HIS home and if you dared try to take it from him, he would come at you with the ferocity of a hyped up pit bull. It was fun to watch.
T.J. was a 4X State champion and finished with a career record of 207-1. His one loss was against a kid from Park Hill Missouri named Ryan Moyer, a loss that T.J. avenger the following summer in freestyle.
When I watched T.J. wrestle, I felt like I was witnessing something that was so good that he obviously had a skill-set that could not be duplicated. That he had skills that he was just born with and can not be taught… This was an incorrect observation for this guy is an integral piece in the development of several of Iowa’s current best wrestlers like Cullan Schriever from Mason City, Caleb Rathjen from Ankeny, Drake Ayala from Fort Dodge, etc. Guys that will have or already do have their own GOAT arguments.
Was T.J. Sebolt the GOAT?! Listen, you either have to not know what you are looking at when you watch wrestling, in denial, have never seen him or just a straight-up hater to think he does not have a case for the GOAT. I’ve mentioned him as my own pick that I go back and forth with several times.
I'm surprised not one mention of Tim Krieger. I have a few older friends who are hall of fame coaches that swear by how dominate he was. Probably the most underrated ISU wrestler ever.
Maybe the most hyped ever was Jeff Thieler. Speaking of Dowling. Steve Blackford might be the quickest guy I ever saw in HS.
Maybe the most hyped ever was Jeff Thieler. Speaking of Dowling. Steve Blackford might be the quickest guy I ever saw in HS.
Hinschburger had 4 career losses and none were to Ettelson. The only year they were at the same weight would have been 99'-00' (112 lbs). I'm curious who Ettelson's 3 losses were?
http://thepindoctors.com/index.php/...he-case-for-jeff-kerber-emmetsburg-1976-1979/
Who Is The Iowa HS Wrestling GOAT?! The Case For Jeff Kerber, Emmetsburg (1976-1979)
by KEVIN SWAFFORDon JULY 1, 2020 EDIT
In 1979, Jeff Kerber became the state of Iowa’s second four-time state champion. A drought that lasted 17 long years from the time that Bob Steenlage of Britt, became the first to accomplish that feat back in 1962. Kerber’s mid to late 70’s performances elevated the threshold for both greatness and perfection. During his high school prep career, Kerber went a spectacular 126-0 between 1976-79 to become just the second multiple-state titled wrestler on record to finish a career without a loss. Got a clue as to who the first was? Ah, yeah – Dan Gable (finished his prep career undefeated but won only 3 state titles).
At the pivitol moment in Kerber’s young wrestling journey, it just so happened that Dan Gable, was coming off his 1972 Olympic gold medal victory, and was the role model that Jeff Kerber had in mind when he began his assault on the Iowa state record books, becoming the first “undefeated” four time state champion in Iowa history in 1979… Gable provided a new model, one of inspiration that focused on dominance and perfection. It was his model of “doing BIG things” on the wrestling mat in regards to setting his goals, and ultimately becoming one of the young studs that helped Emmetsburg capture four straight class 2A team titles at the same time he was showing the rest of the Iowa wrestling world what the new standard looks like.
The sport of wrestling was beginning an evolution in the early 1970’s that would pave the way for Iowa wrestling nationally in the future, building on and using youth programs to advance the sport. Kerber would ultimately create a new “road map” for how to prepare one’s self to be a valid contender for winning a state title right out of the gate, ready to compete as a 9th grader against all comers.
The road map revolutionized Iowa wrestling and was the product of a father’s unselfish and unwavering dedication to helping his son (and anyone who wanted to come along for the ride when car space was available) advance and improve. It really was a road map, as it was a plan based on lots of travel… with the goal of gaining competition experience wrestling nationally and throughout Iowa from 3rdgrade through 8th, and going to lots of camps with excellent coaches and instructors. Then bringing that knowledge back home and introducing those advanced techniques to the Emmetsburg wrestling team. It was Jeff’s dad, John and Bill Gibbons who rented a gym and held a state AAU tournament so that wrestlers from Iowa could qualify for the national tournament. And as a result, Jeff Kerber was miles ahead of his fellow freshman when the 1975-76 wrestling season began.
Raising the bar in Iowa high school wrestling is what the GOAT discussion is all about, and Jeff Kerber is THE candidate that opened the floodgates for the next round of 4-Timer’s to push through.
Over the next decade, Iowa wrestling would see five more 4-Timer’s get crowned following in the wake of Kerber’s footsteps and opening the door to their own claims as Iowa wrestling’s GOAT.
Jeff Kerber won his 1st state title in the 2A 98lbs weight class with a (1-0) decision over Jeff Hannum of Pleasant Valley in the 1976 state tournament and finishing with an unblemished record of 31-0.
In 1977, Kerber moved up 2 weight classes to the 2A 112lbs class and locked horns in the finals with 1976’s returning state champ at 105lbs – Tracy Moore of Roland Story and became a feature match of 2 state champions, both with aspirations of becoming future 4-timers. Kerber came out victorious beating Moore by a score of 6-2. This solidified Kerber’s standing as a legit contender for a 4-title crown earner. From this point on, you could bet ALL eyes would be on the young man from Emmetsburg and their program as they dominated the class for the 2A team title. Kerber again finished the year with an undefeated 31-0 record.
The next season (1978) would turn into a doozy as Kerber locked down his 3rd straight state title at 119lbs, advancing through the rounds and capping his junior season off with an 11-3 victory over Bill Pfantz of West Marshall, finishing his season with a perfect 32-0 record.
In his 1979 senior season campaign, Kerber left nothing to chance and pounded his way to that pinnacle moment by pinning his field of opponents and achieving what no one else had done in 17 years. In the finals of the 2A 126lbs weight class Jeff pinned his opponent Todd Fey of Central (Dewitt) in 5:18 and brought the full capacity crowd to their feet in a long standing ovation that celebrated his tremendous achievement with him, and his team, and of course his coach – Bob Roethler, who the E-Hawks lost for most of the 1978-79 season because of an aneurysm and just made it back via wheel chair to inspire and spur on his team! Kerber capped his final season with another perfect 32-0 record and his HS career, ending with a phenomenal 126-0 record.
During his HS career he also was a 3-time national high school champion and wrestled for the Junior World team in Mongolia in 1979.
Having watched 2 of his state titles and performances in 1977 and 1978 personally, I can attest to his tenaciousness and his technique… he was one of those wrestlers that you made time for watching his matches. I didn’t watch many lower weight kids back then, mainly because of their youth and seeming inexperience. But Jeff Kerber was different! He wasn’t just a phenom that first year… he was impressive in a manner of wrestling maturity that separated him from the rest of the field at his weight, and you literally stopped what you were doing to watch him go about his business on the mat – and brother, “business was a booming” when it came to the talent he displayed throughout his high school career!
Jeff Kerber was the Iowa HS Wrestling GOAT of the decade in the 1970’s… there should be little to dispute that. Whether he is the all-time GOAT??? His case can be made by what he accomplished, and he definitely raised the bar for how “ELITE” level competition in Iowa is defined. Kerber was the second IA high school wrestler to join that elite group called 4x-State Champions, and the very first to accomplish that feat going undefeated!
He became the model and the “trailblazer” of his time, and an example that others used to follow in his footsteps and the new standard to measure greatness at that level, and was honored as such with his 2007 induction to the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Who Is The Iowa HS Wrestling GOAT?! The Case For Jeff Kerber, Emmetsburg (1976-1979)
by KEVIN SWAFFORDon JULY 1, 2020 EDIT
In 1979, Jeff Kerber became the state of Iowa’s second four-time state champion. A drought that lasted 17 long years from the time that Bob Steenlage of Britt, became the first to accomplish that feat back in 1962. Kerber’s mid to late 70’s performances elevated the threshold for both greatness and perfection. During his high school prep career, Kerber went a spectacular 126-0 between 1976-79 to become just the second multiple-state titled wrestler on record to finish a career without a loss. Got a clue as to who the first was? Ah, yeah – Dan Gable (finished his prep career undefeated but won only 3 state titles).
At the pivitol moment in Kerber’s young wrestling journey, it just so happened that Dan Gable, was coming off his 1972 Olympic gold medal victory, and was the role model that Jeff Kerber had in mind when he began his assault on the Iowa state record books, becoming the first “undefeated” four time state champion in Iowa history in 1979… Gable provided a new model, one of inspiration that focused on dominance and perfection. It was his model of “doing BIG things” on the wrestling mat in regards to setting his goals, and ultimately becoming one of the young studs that helped Emmetsburg capture four straight class 2A team titles at the same time he was showing the rest of the Iowa wrestling world what the new standard looks like.
The sport of wrestling was beginning an evolution in the early 1970’s that would pave the way for Iowa wrestling nationally in the future, building on and using youth programs to advance the sport. Kerber would ultimately create a new “road map” for how to prepare one’s self to be a valid contender for winning a state title right out of the gate, ready to compete as a 9th grader against all comers.
The road map revolutionized Iowa wrestling and was the product of a father’s unselfish and unwavering dedication to helping his son (and anyone who wanted to come along for the ride when car space was available) advance and improve. It really was a road map, as it was a plan based on lots of travel… with the goal of gaining competition experience wrestling nationally and throughout Iowa from 3rdgrade through 8th, and going to lots of camps with excellent coaches and instructors. Then bringing that knowledge back home and introducing those advanced techniques to the Emmetsburg wrestling team. It was Jeff’s dad, John and Bill Gibbons who rented a gym and held a state AAU tournament so that wrestlers from Iowa could qualify for the national tournament. And as a result, Jeff Kerber was miles ahead of his fellow freshman when the 1975-76 wrestling season began.
Raising the bar in Iowa high school wrestling is what the GOAT discussion is all about, and Jeff Kerber is THE candidate that opened the floodgates for the next round of 4-Timer’s to push through.
Over the next decade, Iowa wrestling would see five more 4-Timer’s get crowned following in the wake of Kerber’s footsteps and opening the door to their own claims as Iowa wrestling’s GOAT.
Jeff Kerber won his 1st state title in the 2A 98lbs weight class with a (1-0) decision over Jeff Hannum of Pleasant Valley in the 1976 state tournament and finishing with an unblemished record of 31-0.
In 1977, Kerber moved up 2 weight classes to the 2A 112lbs class and locked horns in the finals with 1976’s returning state champ at 105lbs – Tracy Moore of Roland Story and became a feature match of 2 state champions, both with aspirations of becoming future 4-timers. Kerber came out victorious beating Moore by a score of 6-2. This solidified Kerber’s standing as a legit contender for a 4-title crown earner. From this point on, you could bet ALL eyes would be on the young man from Emmetsburg and their program as they dominated the class for the 2A team title. Kerber again finished the year with an undefeated 31-0 record.
The next season (1978) would turn into a doozy as Kerber locked down his 3rd straight state title at 119lbs, advancing through the rounds and capping his junior season off with an 11-3 victory over Bill Pfantz of West Marshall, finishing his season with a perfect 32-0 record.
In his 1979 senior season campaign, Kerber left nothing to chance and pounded his way to that pinnacle moment by pinning his field of opponents and achieving what no one else had done in 17 years. In the finals of the 2A 126lbs weight class Jeff pinned his opponent Todd Fey of Central (Dewitt) in 5:18 and brought the full capacity crowd to their feet in a long standing ovation that celebrated his tremendous achievement with him, and his team, and of course his coach – Bob Roethler, who the E-Hawks lost for most of the 1978-79 season because of an aneurysm and just made it back via wheel chair to inspire and spur on his team! Kerber capped his final season with another perfect 32-0 record and his HS career, ending with a phenomenal 126-0 record.
During his HS career he also was a 3-time national high school champion and wrestled for the Junior World team in Mongolia in 1979.
Having watched 2 of his state titles and performances in 1977 and 1978 personally, I can attest to his tenaciousness and his technique… he was one of those wrestlers that you made time for watching his matches. I didn’t watch many lower weight kids back then, mainly because of their youth and seeming inexperience. But Jeff Kerber was different! He wasn’t just a phenom that first year… he was impressive in a manner of wrestling maturity that separated him from the rest of the field at his weight, and you literally stopped what you were doing to watch him go about his business on the mat – and brother, “business was a booming” when it came to the talent he displayed throughout his high school career!
Jeff Kerber was the Iowa HS Wrestling GOAT of the decade in the 1970’s… there should be little to dispute that. Whether he is the all-time GOAT??? His case can be made by what he accomplished, and he definitely raised the bar for how “ELITE” level competition in Iowa is defined. Kerber was the second IA high school wrestler to join that elite group called 4x-State Champions, and the very first to accomplish that feat going undefeated!
He became the model and the “trailblazer” of his time, and an example that others used to follow in his footsteps and the new standard to measure greatness at that level, and was honored as such with his 2007 induction to the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame.
We wrestled Union three times a year and Trey destroyed whoever we put out there. We would move the lineup around trying to find someone that wouldn't get pinned but to no avail, and we had some really tough teams. Some kids from those teams told me that his senior year at state they were sticking huge needles in his knee to drain fluid just so he could wrestle. I think if injury hadn't derailed his career he was gonna be a stud for the Hawks! Agree also that he would have been monster at 215.
Agree 100%. Klinghammer was the best NOT to win four titles and what you share aligns with some of the rumors I'd heard about him during his HS years and shortly thereafter. Every year it seemed we'd find Tim wrestling for a different HS in Waterloo. There's no doubt he was the real deal. Quick as a cat. Some great names/memories in this entire thread. Lots of fun reliving Iowa HS wrestling and memories of the The Barn and the Lakes Conference. Sadly, the conference has lost some great schools over he years, including LeMars who is moving on as well...Definitely the best I ever saw that wasn't a four timer would be Timmy Klinghammer! Waterloo 112 pounder in 1982. I think he won in 80 also but may have gotten thrown out of school his Senior year. He came to our hotel room for a couple of hours before the finals his Junior year and drank a couple beers, smoked a little and then realized that the grand march was about to start! He went back and beat Ron Lower from Heelan something like 17-3. Also two time champ Dan Kaufman from Emmetsburg in his Senior year at 138. I'm not sure but may have pinned his way through but I remember feeling sorry for his opponents that year. I saw way to much of the Kaufman family destroying our guys over the years!
Love me some Jeff Kerber. He'd likely get my vote simply because he was the trailblazer you/he mentioned when it came to traveling the country/world to become the best. He's a great guy and I always felt a bit sorry for both he and his brother Mark for having to put up with their dad. That said, you have to give John credit for supporting the boys and the kids/HS school programs and giving them every opportunity to succeed. It always felt like there was lots of pressure at home in E-burg before Kerbers ever stepped on the mat. What's ironic was the last time I traveled home, I stopped @ Casey's in E-burg to get gas and who was filling up a gas can on the other side of the pump? John Kerber. Looked the same as he did back in the late 70's & early 80's. He was wearing a red Cornell wrestling sweatshirt.http://thepindoctors.com/index.php/...he-case-for-jeff-kerber-emmetsburg-1976-1979/
Who Is The Iowa HS Wrestling GOAT?! The Case For Jeff Kerber, Emmetsburg (1976-1979)
by KEVIN SWAFFORDon JULY 1, 2020 EDIT
In 1979, Jeff Kerber became the state of Iowa’s second four-time state champion. A drought that lasted 17 long years from the time that Bob Steenlage of Britt, became the first to accomplish that feat back in 1962. Kerber’s mid to late 70’s performances elevated the threshold for both greatness and perfection. During his high school prep career, Kerber went a spectacular 126-0 between 1976-79 to become just the second multiple-state titled wrestler on record to finish a career without a loss. Got a clue as to who the first was? Ah, yeah – Dan Gable (finished his prep career undefeated but won only 3 state titles).
At the pivitol moment in Kerber’s young wrestling journey, it just so happened that Dan Gable, was coming off his 1972 Olympic gold medal victory, and was the role model that Jeff Kerber had in mind when he began his assault on the Iowa state record books, becoming the first “undefeated” four time state champion in Iowa history in 1979… Gable provided a new model, one of inspiration that focused on dominance and perfection. It was his model of “doing BIG things” on the wrestling mat in regards to setting his goals, and ultimately becoming one of the young studs that helped Emmetsburg capture four straight class 2A team titles at the same time he was showing the rest of the Iowa wrestling world what the new standard looks like.
The sport of wrestling was beginning an evolution in the early 1970’s that would pave the way for Iowa wrestling nationally in the future, building on and using youth programs to advance the sport. Kerber would ultimately create a new “road map” for how to prepare one’s self to be a valid contender for winning a state title right out of the gate, ready to compete as a 9th grader against all comers.
The road map revolutionized Iowa wrestling and was the product of a father’s unselfish and unwavering dedication to helping his son (and anyone who wanted to come along for the ride when car space was available) advance and improve. It really was a road map, as it was a plan based on lots of travel… with the goal of gaining competition experience wrestling nationally and throughout Iowa from 3rdgrade through 8th, and going to lots of camps with excellent coaches and instructors. Then bringing that knowledge back home and introducing those advanced techniques to the Emmetsburg wrestling team. It was Jeff’s dad, John and Bill Gibbons who rented a gym and held a state AAU tournament so that wrestlers from Iowa could qualify for the national tournament. And as a result, Jeff Kerber was miles ahead of his fellow freshman when the 1975-76 wrestling season began.
Raising the bar in Iowa high school wrestling is what the GOAT discussion is all about, and Jeff Kerber is THE candidate that opened the floodgates for the next round of 4-Timer’s to push through.
Over the next decade, Iowa wrestling would see five more 4-Timer’s get crowned following in the wake of Kerber’s footsteps and opening the door to their own claims as Iowa wrestling’s GOAT.
Jeff Kerber won his 1st state title in the 2A 98lbs weight class with a (1-0) decision over Jeff Hannum of Pleasant Valley in the 1976 state tournament and finishing with an unblemished record of 31-0.
In 1977, Kerber moved up 2 weight classes to the 2A 112lbs class and locked horns in the finals with 1976’s returning state champ at 105lbs – Tracy Moore of Roland Story and became a feature match of 2 state champions, both with aspirations of becoming future 4-timers. Kerber came out victorious beating Moore by a score of 6-2. This solidified Kerber’s standing as a legit contender for a 4-title crown earner. From this point on, you could bet ALL eyes would be on the young man from Emmetsburg and their program as they dominated the class for the 2A team title. Kerber again finished the year with an undefeated 31-0 record.
The next season (1978) would turn into a doozy as Kerber locked down his 3rd straight state title at 119lbs, advancing through the rounds and capping his junior season off with an 11-3 victory over Bill Pfantz of West Marshall, finishing his season with a perfect 32-0 record.
In his 1979 senior season campaign, Kerber left nothing to chance and pounded his way to that pinnacle moment by pinning his field of opponents and achieving what no one else had done in 17 years. In the finals of the 2A 126lbs weight class Jeff pinned his opponent Todd Fey of Central (Dewitt) in 5:18 and brought the full capacity crowd to their feet in a long standing ovation that celebrated his tremendous achievement with him, and his team, and of course his coach – Bob Roethler, who the E-Hawks lost for most of the 1978-79 season because of an aneurysm and just made it back via wheel chair to inspire and spur on his team! Kerber capped his final season with another perfect 32-0 record and his HS career, ending with a phenomenal 126-0 record.
During his HS career he also was a 3-time national high school champion and wrestled for the Junior World team in Mongolia in 1979.
Having watched 2 of his state titles and performances in 1977 and 1978 personally, I can attest to his tenaciousness and his technique… he was one of those wrestlers that you made time for watching his matches. I didn’t watch many lower weight kids back then, mainly because of their youth and seeming inexperience. But Jeff Kerber was different! He wasn’t just a phenom that first year… he was impressive in a manner of wrestling maturity that separated him from the rest of the field at his weight, and you literally stopped what you were doing to watch him go about his business on the mat – and brother, “business was a booming” when it came to the talent he displayed throughout his high school career!
Jeff Kerber was the Iowa HS Wrestling GOAT of the decade in the 1970’s… there should be little to dispute that. Whether he is the all-time GOAT??? His case can be made by what he accomplished, and he definitely raised the bar for how “ELITE” level competition in Iowa is defined. Kerber was the second IA high school wrestler to join that elite group called 4x-State Champions, and the very first to accomplish that feat going undefeated!
He became the model and the “trailblazer” of his time, and an example that others used to follow in his footsteps and the new standard to measure greatness at that level, and was honored as such with his 2007 induction to the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame.
I too thought Terry had two against Gibbons. Cook gave me some tough losses over the years. Hammered me every year in the conference finals until he finally moved up a weight class his senior year. While I was playing baseball and running around at the lakes during the summer he was busy getting better wrestling freestyle. I have a tone of respect for him. It became clear he was a D1 talent and myself just a pretty good HS wrestler. He had a solid career at Nebraska but couldn't quite make the podium. A good guy and ever the competitor, I hear he's become a very good golfer.
I'm surprised too. Krieger was the #1 seed at the NCAA all four years at ISU and was a meaner mat wrestler than Zain. He just killed people on top.
He was coming to Iowa until Nate Carr changed from IA to ISU.
In 1995, Jason Keenan became the first of two 4X state champions from Ogden, the second being Jesse Sundell when he won his 4th in 2001. The total amount of combined losses between those two wrestlers is 2, with both of them having one loss apiece. To my understanding, Keenan’s only loss was by a controversial disqualification for running an illegal chicken wing. So the man was never actually beaten in a conventional manner. He was as close to flawless as a guy can get… So why is it that you don’t hear his name as much as you hear other 4X state champions that won their 4th titles around the same time he did, like Jeff McGinness from IC High who won his 4th in 1993 and Eric Juergens from Maquoketa who won his on 1996? My guess is because Keenan decided to ride bulls professionally after graduating high school opposed to wrestling in college. And in my opinion, when discussing the greatest Iowa HIGH SCHOOL wrestler of all-time, you can’t hold that against someone. I will never hold something against someone that is beyond their control OR if they pursued other ventures in life that brought them more happiness. It does not take away the fact that Jason Keenan was a borderline flawless wrestler who won 4 titles and was absolutely dominant in doing so.
Both Ogden guys, Keenan and Sundell had a couple of the most emotional 4th state title matches in terms of when you watch it, you can just tell that they were feeling an immense amount of pressure to win and when they did so, a gigantic weight was lifted off their shoulders. And Keenan was an inspiration for Jesse Sundell to the point where Sundell has credited Keenan as being a guy who was so influential that it enabled him to find it within himself to win his own 4 titles.
The way Keenan wrestled was fun to watch for a guy like myself who loves watching wrestlers who are persistent on pinning their opponent from the top position opposed to the “takedown clinic” style that more and more wrestlers implement into their games as time goes on. Jason Keenan almost resembled Dan Knight from Clinton in that regard and seemed to operate by the philosophy that Wade Schalles from the University of Pennsylvania preached of providing “intense legal discomfort” to give himself an edge and an advantage to accomplish what it was that he was best at… winning. Not to say that he was mean or dirty, for he was most certainly not that. He was just physical, tough and would put opponents through a gauntlet if he had to in order to ensure that he walked off the mat victorious.
So does Jason Keenan have a case for the GOAT Iowa HS wrestler? 119 wins, 1 loss by means of an illegal arm-bar, 4 state championships and surely passes the eye-test. Can someone provide an argument as to why on Earth he wouldn’t have a case?!
Who Is The Iowa High School GOAT?! The Case For Scott Morningstar, Lisbon (1977-1980)
by KEVIN SWAFFORDon JULY 6, 2020 EDIT
Scott Morningstar became the 3rd four-time state champion in Iowa wrestling state history in 1980, just a year after Jeff Kerber of Emmetsburg became the second. Morningstar’s titles came at 98 pounds his freshman year, 105 his sophomore year, 119 his junior year and 126 his senior year. For his HS prep career, his record stood at an amazing 115-1-1. He helped establish the groundwork for a new era in Lisbon wrestling winning his first 2 titles under HOF wrestling coach Al Baxter, and then his final 2 titles at Lisbon under the greatest wrestling coach in Iowa High School wrestling history – Brad Smith… where that winning tradition continues today.
Scott Morningstar was dominating throughout his high school career, he was offense minded and scored lots of points, wrestled smart and maintained good body position like all Lisbon taught wrestlers. He was great at punishing his opponents when they made mistakes and was much stronger that he looked. To sum things up, he was exceptional at winning… Just as you’d expect for a 4-time state champion. Let’s take a brief look at each of his state finals matches.
In the 1977 class 1-A state finals at 98-lbs, the freshman Scott Morningstar beat Vince Kimm a very mature looking senior from Iowa Valley (Marengo) in a close 4-2 match, winning his first state title and finishing his freshman season undefeated at 33-0. His coach commented that his opponent “had a three day growth of beard and looked like he was 21 years old,” and Scott rode that kid out to nail down his victory! Not bad for a kid that was weighing around 97 or 98 lbs soaking wet… It was just the beginning of a brilliant HS wrestling career.
There’s always something special, almost magical about experiencing that first victory and on that grand stage in the “Barn” atmosphere… and this was the year that this young man from Lisbon found himself and experienced his first taste of that magic with a coach that inspired him to cross over that threshold into wrestling history… one that requires championship skills and championship confidence.
by KEVIN SWAFFORDon JULY 6, 2020 EDIT
Scott Morningstar became the 3rd four-time state champion in Iowa wrestling state history in 1980, just a year after Jeff Kerber of Emmetsburg became the second. Morningstar’s titles came at 98 pounds his freshman year, 105 his sophomore year, 119 his junior year and 126 his senior year. For his HS prep career, his record stood at an amazing 115-1-1. He helped establish the groundwork for a new era in Lisbon wrestling winning his first 2 titles under HOF wrestling coach Al Baxter, and then his final 2 titles at Lisbon under the greatest wrestling coach in Iowa High School wrestling history – Brad Smith… where that winning tradition continues today.
Scott Morningstar was dominating throughout his high school career, he was offense minded and scored lots of points, wrestled smart and maintained good body position like all Lisbon taught wrestlers. He was great at punishing his opponents when they made mistakes and was much stronger that he looked. To sum things up, he was exceptional at winning… Just as you’d expect for a 4-time state champion. Let’s take a brief look at each of his state finals matches.
In the 1977 class 1-A state finals at 98-lbs, the freshman Scott Morningstar beat Vince Kimm a very mature looking senior from Iowa Valley (Marengo) in a close 4-2 match, winning his first state title and finishing his freshman season undefeated at 33-0. His coach commented that his opponent “had a three day growth of beard and looked like he was 21 years old,” and Scott rode that kid out to nail down his victory! Not bad for a kid that was weighing around 97 or 98 lbs soaking wet… It was just the beginning of a brilliant HS wrestling career.
There’s always something special, almost magical about experiencing that first victory and on that grand stage in the “Barn” atmosphere… and this was the year that this young man from Lisbon found himself and experienced his first taste of that magic with a coach that inspired him to cross over that threshold into wrestling history… one that requires championship skills and championship confidence.
Just prior to that 1977 state tournament Lisbon coach Al Baxter was going over details with the team in their wrestling room and what would be needed by all of his wrestlers to win that coveted class 1-A team title. That’s when Baxter’s talk turned to their 98 pounder – “And Morningstar, hell, the way your wrestling you can win the damn thing,” Scott recalled Baxter saying.
It was at that moment the (wow factor) kicked in… the power of someone believing in you and verbalizing that belief in front of others and then that realization sinking in becomes a defining moment, a revelation of sorts in one’s life that is never forgotten! That’s what Morningstar took with him in each match at that 1977 state tournament, till he finished the job and got his arm raised, seizing the first of his 4 consecutive state title victories. It was the beginning of a young man’s dreams fulfilled!
As a sophomore in 1978, the final season under his legendary coach Al Baxter… Morningstar won his class 1-A 105-lbs finals match capturing his 2ndstraight state title by defeating Duane Grant of Britt 10-5, finishing the season with a 32-1 record. Grant would go on to a 3rd place finish the following year in 1979 and continue his wrestling career at UNI. Morningstar’s only loss that season came at the hands Paul Kreimeyer of Wilton by referee’s decision. Kreimeyer, if you remember was a two-time state champion, a runner up and a fourth place finisher.
In Morningstar’s junior season, he bumped up 2 weights, and under the tutelage of new coach Brad Smith, went on to win his third consecutive state title by beating Mitch Woosley of BCL (Conrad) in the 1979 Class 1-A 119-lbs finals match 8-4, and again finishing the season unbeaten with a nearly perfect 31-0-1 record. The lone blemish – a draw, resulted from a match against a Durant wrestler (Skeet Smith) who was noted for a neck wrench. Scott recalled, “I was up 8-4 with four take-downs and I went in for another take-down and found myself fighting for my life. I fought off my back and then got an escape for the tie. Sometimes you learn more from your mistakes.” Here’s the thing… if that match would’ve been wrestled under today’s tie breaker rules, who do you think would’ve won that match?
In 1980, Morningstar closed out his senior season unbeaten and unblemished, winning his 4th state title in the class 1-A 126-lbs finals match against a very tough Tim DeLarm of Midland (Wyoming) in a close battle 4-3. Morningstar’s record was 20-0 in his final season, mainly because he missed time in the lineup recovering from a broken ankle and a bout with pneumonia. A fact that reveals his physical toughness, determination, and his will to win in finishing what he started 4 years prior, completing the astounding achievement of becoming just the third 4-time state title winner in Iowa HS wrestling history. He was also an All-American at 132-lbs placing 4th in the National Freestyle tournament and made the High School All-American team that year.
Scott Morningstar was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2008.
I enjoyed reading and researching information about Scott Morningstar and getting reacquainted with his high school career. Scott was a fantastic wrestler and deserves consideration for IA high school wrestling GOAT…
Some additional thoughts about that state tournament in Scott’s senior season… There were also a number of other great wrestlers that were on the wrestling scene at the same time that were garnering lots of attention and well deserved accolades like Barry Davis (Cedar Rapids Prairie) and Clark Yoder (Sigourney), who were going for their 3rd state titles. It was a tremendous evening that all Iowa wrestling fans got to share in back in 1980. Morningstar was also following Lisbon’s own Jim Lord, who won his 3rd title just 2 years prior. Those studs will undoubtedly get more coverage in the 3-timer (almost 4) series. But even with the spotlight focus moving around from one legend to another, I’m here to say that Scott Morningstar doesn’t stand in anyone’s shadow! The red-hot spotlight of that state tournament tells me that 1980 was a banner year for Iowa wrestling and the sport was on the rise.
Scott Morningstar’s high school career is as close to perfect as you can get while just short of perfection. He climbed that “Mount Everest” peak and conquered its glory, and did it 4-times… he was an exciting, tough and talented wrestler to watch, and is one of Lisbon’s GOAT’s… He’s deserving of this spotlight and his candidate consideration for Iowa HS wrestling’s GOAT!
One of my favorite quotes I found while researching this article involved the subject of how a coach motivates his wrestlers. This one came from Scott Morningstar, in Dan McCool’s book – “Reach for the Stars”, while discussing Morningstar’s freshman year state finals opponent with Lisbon coach Al Baxter… “Baxter was one tough son of a bitch. I was deathly afraid of him, but I loved him. He never did anything to hurt me, but I’m telling you when he’d put his big paw on your neck, and here I’m a shrimpy little 98-pounder, and he’d say, ‘You’re going to make him cry in front of his mom and dad and grandpa and grandma’, you could beat anybody!”
It reminded me of that McDonalds commercial where the father trainer is trying to get his boxer son to turn that beast mode switch on, and tells the youngster – “Remember when someone stole your fries son? Well THAT’S THE GUY!”
Man I love wrestling… LOL
It was at that moment the (wow factor) kicked in… the power of someone believing in you and verbalizing that belief in front of others and then that realization sinking in becomes a defining moment, a revelation of sorts in one’s life that is never forgotten! That’s what Morningstar took with him in each match at that 1977 state tournament, till he finished the job and got his arm raised, seizing the first of his 4 consecutive state title victories. It was the beginning of a young man’s dreams fulfilled!
As a sophomore in 1978, the final season under his legendary coach Al Baxter… Morningstar won his class 1-A 105-lbs finals match capturing his 2ndstraight state title by defeating Duane Grant of Britt 10-5, finishing the season with a 32-1 record. Grant would go on to a 3rd place finish the following year in 1979 and continue his wrestling career at UNI. Morningstar’s only loss that season came at the hands Paul Kreimeyer of Wilton by referee’s decision. Kreimeyer, if you remember was a two-time state champion, a runner up and a fourth place finisher.
In Morningstar’s junior season, he bumped up 2 weights, and under the tutelage of new coach Brad Smith, went on to win his third consecutive state title by beating Mitch Woosley of BCL (Conrad) in the 1979 Class 1-A 119-lbs finals match 8-4, and again finishing the season unbeaten with a nearly perfect 31-0-1 record. The lone blemish – a draw, resulted from a match against a Durant wrestler (Skeet Smith) who was noted for a neck wrench. Scott recalled, “I was up 8-4 with four take-downs and I went in for another take-down and found myself fighting for my life. I fought off my back and then got an escape for the tie. Sometimes you learn more from your mistakes.” Here’s the thing… if that match would’ve been wrestled under today’s tie breaker rules, who do you think would’ve won that match?
In 1980, Morningstar closed out his senior season unbeaten and unblemished, winning his 4th state title in the class 1-A 126-lbs finals match against a very tough Tim DeLarm of Midland (Wyoming) in a close battle 4-3. Morningstar’s record was 20-0 in his final season, mainly because he missed time in the lineup recovering from a broken ankle and a bout with pneumonia. A fact that reveals his physical toughness, determination, and his will to win in finishing what he started 4 years prior, completing the astounding achievement of becoming just the third 4-time state title winner in Iowa HS wrestling history. He was also an All-American at 132-lbs placing 4th in the National Freestyle tournament and made the High School All-American team that year.
Scott Morningstar was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2008.
I enjoyed reading and researching information about Scott Morningstar and getting reacquainted with his high school career. Scott was a fantastic wrestler and deserves consideration for IA high school wrestling GOAT…
Some additional thoughts about that state tournament in Scott’s senior season… There were also a number of other great wrestlers that were on the wrestling scene at the same time that were garnering lots of attention and well deserved accolades like Barry Davis (Cedar Rapids Prairie) and Clark Yoder (Sigourney), who were going for their 3rd state titles. It was a tremendous evening that all Iowa wrestling fans got to share in back in 1980. Morningstar was also following Lisbon’s own Jim Lord, who won his 3rd title just 2 years prior. Those studs will undoubtedly get more coverage in the 3-timer (almost 4) series. But even with the spotlight focus moving around from one legend to another, I’m here to say that Scott Morningstar doesn’t stand in anyone’s shadow! The red-hot spotlight of that state tournament tells me that 1980 was a banner year for Iowa wrestling and the sport was on the rise.
Scott Morningstar’s high school career is as close to perfect as you can get while just short of perfection. He climbed that “Mount Everest” peak and conquered its glory, and did it 4-times… he was an exciting, tough and talented wrestler to watch, and is one of Lisbon’s GOAT’s… He’s deserving of this spotlight and his candidate consideration for Iowa HS wrestling’s GOAT!
One of my favorite quotes I found while researching this article involved the subject of how a coach motivates his wrestlers. This one came from Scott Morningstar, in Dan McCool’s book – “Reach for the Stars”, while discussing Morningstar’s freshman year state finals opponent with Lisbon coach Al Baxter… “Baxter was one tough son of a bitch. I was deathly afraid of him, but I loved him. He never did anything to hurt me, but I’m telling you when he’d put his big paw on your neck, and here I’m a shrimpy little 98-pounder, and he’d say, ‘You’re going to make him cry in front of his mom and dad and grandpa and grandma’, you could beat anybody!”
It reminded me of that McDonalds commercial where the father trainer is trying to get his boxer son to turn that beast mode switch on, and tells the youngster – “Remember when someone stole your fries son? Well THAT’S THE GUY!”
Man I love wrestling… LOL
I think he lost to the Don Bosco kid once or twice. I think his last name was Boos or something like that.
Don Bosco didn't qualify a 112 lber to state CJ's freshman year, but it's still possible. I think the name you are thinking is Bloes? Doug and Brian (I think) were the Bloes brothers from that timeframe.
Who Is The Iowa High School GOAT?! The Case For Scott Morningstar, Lisbon (1977-1980)
by KEVIN SWAFFORDon JULY 6, 2020 EDIT
Scott Morningstar became the 3rd four-time state champion in Iowa wrestling state history in 1980, just a year after Jeff Kerber of Emmetsburg became the second. Morningstar’s titles came at 98 pounds his freshman year, 105 his sophomore year, 119 his junior year and 126 his senior year. For his HS prep career, his record stood at an amazing 115-1-1. He helped establish the groundwork for a new era in Lisbon wrestling winning his first 2 titles under HOF wrestling coach Al Baxter, and then his final 2 titles at Lisbon under the greatest wrestling coach in Iowa High School wrestling history – Brad Smith… where that winning tradition continues today.
Scott Morningstar was dominating throughout his high school career, he was offense minded and scored lots of points, wrestled smart and maintained good body position like all Lisbon taught wrestlers. He was great at punishing his opponents when they made mistakes and was much stronger that he looked. To sum things up, he was exceptional at winning… Just as you’d expect for a 4-time state champion. Let’s take a brief look at each of his state finals matches.
In the 1977 class 1-A state finals at 98-lbs, the freshman Scott Morningstar beat Vince Kimm a very mature looking senior from Iowa Valley (Marengo) in a close 4-2 match, winning his first state title and finishing his freshman season undefeated at 33-0. His coach commented that his opponent “had a three day growth of beard and looked like he was 21 years old,” and Scott rode that kid out to nail down his victory! Not bad for a kid that was weighing around 97 or 98 lbs soaking wet… It was just the beginning of a brilliant HS wrestling career.
There’s always something special, almost magical about experiencing that first victory and on that grand stage in the “Barn” atmosphere… and this was the year that this young man from Lisbon found himself and experienced his first taste of that magic with a coach that inspired him to cross over that threshold into wrestling history… one that requires championship skills and championship confidence.
that is a great quote, my dad did not look that old lol. That’s hilarious. He was also a sophomore and not a senior. Talking with him, he didn’t even care when he was at state and really just wanted to party but kept on winning . He shot off the whistle every match, including the finals. Didn’t care how good M* was, but he did feel out matched for sure. We’d run in to Scott at kids tourneys and really is a good guy.
Someone mentioned something like that when I posted it on Facebook. I’ll have to let Kevin know... he didn’t mean to, lol he may stress a bit if I tell him that part of it needs edited because he’d feel bad. Kevin does a lot of the 70s-80s range guys.... it’s been his lifelong dream to be a writer and he loves wrestling so he’s having a lot of fun with this. It’s been pretty cool.
Sounds like your dad was quite the athlete! Very cool stuff.
In 1987, Dan Teske from Fort Dodge was standing on the podium at the Iowa HS State tournament and got a glimpse as to what the standing ovation experience was like for a guy standing on the podium who won their 4th title… thing is, Dan Teske was standing on the #4 spot on the podium when this standing ovation took place. The guy receiving the standing ovation was a hammer named Dan Knight from Clinton who is now the HC at Bettendorf. So in a way, he kind of had an idea as to what his son, Brody experienced when he stood on top of the podium after winning his 4th state title in 2018. It’s a small and crazy world, isn’t it?
Go to 4:00 mark to see Podium segment:
Brody Teske was one of the best “tiny guys” of that class since he was a Kindergartener. The first time I ever saw him was when a wrestling dad and great person named Reese Strickland tapped me on the shoulder and pointed at a couple tiny Kindergarteners and said, “those are two future elite wrestlers for the future. I guarantee it.” It was Brody Teske from Fort Dodge and he was wrestling against Kyle Biscoglia from Waukee. Lol and Reese was right… they were only 38 lbs. and Kindergarteners at the time, but Reese hit the nail on the head. That was the first time I saw those two butt heads. It probably happened another 20 times. Biscoglia and Teske had WARS!!!
Teske, Biscoglia, Noah Fye, Michael Blockhus, Drew Bennett, etc. seemed to run the show for the “little guys” in that 2018 graduating class for years and all of them made the jump to HS and became very well-decorated wrestlers in HS. Teske became the most successful by winning 4 titles and only being beaten 1 time, by Alex Thomsen from Underwood who was also a 4Xer with one career loss…to Teske. Both guys just never let off the accelerator in their careers, ever. When they were Seniors, both Alex and Brody were undefeated 3X state champs coming into the season. If they finished off their last season unblemished, they would join the likes of Jeff Kerber, Dan Knight, Jeff McGinness, Eric Juergens and John Meeks as undefeated 4X state champions… those two just so happened to be at the same weight and it just so happened that Underwood and Fort Dodge were scheduled to meet twice… once at the Council Bluffs Invite and once at the CR Jefferson Invite. Those two guys earned the respect from EVERYONE when they decided to not dodge each other in either of the matches. The fans wanted that match and were almost skeptical that it’d actually take place, for both guys had so much on the line and if they wrestled, one of them was going to fail to go their entire careers without a blemish. Long story short, Teske had a huge scare in the semifinals vs. an out of state kid and showed up in a big way when he beat Alex in the finals. I’d say at the time, the predictions seemed to be 75-25 in Alex’s favor… And shortly after, those two were scheduled to meet again at the CR Jefferson Invite and despite the fact that Brody Teske could have very well chosen to just sit that one out and essentially secure an unblemished HS career, he chose to attempt to silence the skeptics and a second battle did, in fact take place between those two despite many fans thinking it wouldn’t happen. Alex won the second matchup. Both of these matches were absolute barn-burners and those two deserve eternal credit for their courage in putting it all on the line like they did, for not every wrestler, even at their level would have been brave enough to do that. If there are two wrestlers who should be universal fan favorites given their willingness to give the fans a show despite what they had on the line… it was Teske and Thomsen.
Does Brody have a case for the GOAT?! Of course. The state of Iowa is lucky to have a couple of fearless competitors that gave the fans what they wanted and seemingly consistently dominated every other match they wrestled in. I wonder if it ever occurred to Dan Teske while he was standing on the 4 spot on the podium as a Senior, that he would have a son and his son would receive the same treatment 21 years later.
And keep paying attention to them… Alex is going to be a redshirt Sophomore at Nebraska and Teske transferred from Penn State to UNI… their careers are far from over.
I was teammates with Honts and I remember talking about a common opponent that both he and CJ wrestled. I could have sworn it was the Don Bosco kid and that he beat CJ once or twice early in the season. Honts handled him pretty easily. It's possible CJ lost to Rhino Cox his freshman year as well.
Rhino wrestled 119 (at state) and CJ wrestled 112 that year. CJ would've had to have bumped up to wrestle Rhino unless Rhino started the season at 112.
Rhino's dad was something else. Always talked about how big "it" was then he names his son Rhino Cox!
There’s nothing like him... Love his voice. He was fun to see around at tournaments.
With all of these GOAT articles, that I’ve been writing, hopefully it’s understandable that my mind drifts off from time to time to thoughts like, “is there anything I am the GOAT at?” And I came up with one thing…. I am the GOAT at playing truth or dare with myself. I am quite the daredevil. And will say pretty much whatevs. Wanna see my mad skills?!!!
TRUTH OR DARE?!
TRUTH!
“Nobody has a better case for the GOAT than Jeff McGinness. When you look at resume and checking of the boxes, he’s got them all covered and then some. Please… someone come up with someone who has a better case? Humor me…”
DARE!!!
“I DARE YOU TO SAY JEFF MCGINNESS ISN’T THE GOAT!”
Oh how the mighty hath fallen. I would never do something so crazy. Ya see, Jeff McGinness has something that you can call a rabid fanbase and they will seriously toilet paper your house if you say Jeff McGinness is not the GOAT…. people believe firmly in this… and why not? No one has a better case.
I was so excited when I started converting the Jeff McGinness state finals matches to YouTube. It brought back so many memories. I loved his interviews… He was like a tougher version of Robert Deniro. A rich man’s Robert Deniro. Watching his interviews brought me right back to being 10 years old and at a McGinness camp at the YMCA in Burlington. Went to a camp run by him and Mark Ironside… the rich man’s Joe Pesci. Cool guys.
I grew up with an array of different farm cats. Hundreds of them. I have probably watched twice as many cat wrestling matches than human ones. And they are fun. Cats always impressed me with their cunning ability to maintain their balance and position and they are always able to land on their feet in flawless form. I always thought these would be super qualities for a wrestler to have. And I was right because we had Jeff McGinness and he was able to wrestle like a cat!! Absolutely amazing. A big cat that could not be contained. Joe Exotic tried and McGinness suplexed him…and landed on his feet of course. Then he wrestled all Joe’s cats and dominated like usual. Carole Baskin tried to cage the incredible Jeff McGinness and Jeff McGinness put Carole Baskin in a spladle, back-flipped out of it, landed on his feet, growled at Carole Baskin before he freed all of her big cats. He freed them for the sole purpose of finally having some specimens that could somewhat test him in a wrestling match. In fact, I heard just last week that Jeff McGinness barged into Mike Tyson’s house and knocked him out. Tyson tried throwing an uppercut at McGinness. McGinness hit a nasty duck under and suplexed him… it’s the fastest Tyson has ever been knocked out… 2 seconds. Why did Jeff McGinness do this? Well, it wasn’t to rob him… McGinness is a standup guy. Nah… it was to wrestle his tigers. He pinned both of Mike Tyson’s tigers in a little under a minute. Ya see, people don’t understand the stress that Jeff McGinness had to endure in his career. He was hard up for competition and forced into a career of wrestling tigers for fun, considering he could pin everyone else in the world in 2 seconds. The tigers he wrestled generally lasted 10 seconds. For a man as competitive as Jeff McGinness, this was torture, not being able to find anyone that he couldn’t use as his own ventriloquist dummy. One…tough… cat. One of a kind. Jeff McGinness.
McGinness was a 4X state champion. He did not lose a single match in HS. He won Cadet and Junior national titles and I believe was voted the OW in one of those tournaments. He was also a member of the USA Dream Team as a Senior…. He was a 3X AA and 2X National Champion for the Hawkeyes. He was borderline flawless. Yeah, that’s a good resume, if I were looking to hire someone for something that demanded wrestling experience, I think Jeff McGinness would be worthy of consideration!!!
DARE!!!
I dare anyone reading to claim someone else as the GOAT… and while doing so, consider the risks… your house, will for sure be TP’d by a mob of angry McGinness fans if you complete this dare. Don’t say you weren’t warned. And can ya blame them?
TRUTH!!! I was VERY close to making a highlight reel of McGinness’s finals match to the song, “stray cat strut,” by the Stray Cats… I still might. I chickened our at the last second because I don’t want Jeff McGinness thinking I am a dork. That’s probably wayyyy too late though. Just imagine, Jeff McGinness just toying with guys in the finals like a cat pawing at a ball of yarn with this background music lol:
Alex Thomsen, Underwood. I’m sure no one has forgotten about him yet… heck, he’s still kicking it at Nebraska. I remember THE MOMENT this kid showed everyone that he had stepped up a level compared to the other guys in the 2018 class. The moment he separated himself from the pack. He dug through some frustration before reaching that point. He was in my brother, Brennan’s grade so I saw hundreds of his matches over the years. He was always one of the top guys at his weight since he was a Pee-Wee, but had a little lull in there around 5th grade where he went 0-2 at state, losing to a couple guys he would normally be capable of beating with his eyes closed on most days. I remember when that happened… I was reading some of the wall charts and heard an interesting conversation about it.. Some of the funniest and most interesting conversations I’ve heard in my life has taken place while tuning in to people talking to each other near wall charts. In this conversation, a guy said, “man, you see Alex Thomsen is already beaten out? I didn’t see it coming, but I think it’s fair to say that kids have finally caught up with him and that we won’t be hearing much from him much more in the future.” The other guy agreed. I wish I would have recorded that…. that prediction aged so poorly that it is just…hilarious. They were saying this about Alex Thomsen after he had a bad tournament as a 5th grader… a 5th grader….. Wow.
Alex bounced back and re-raised some eyebrows when he won state as a 6th grader…However, it was a match he won in the semifinals as a 7th grader that started getting people chirping about Alex being “on another level.” He had an OT win in the AAU semifinals over a guy who was considered by a large percentage of people at the time as the best guy in the entire 2018 graduating class alongside Anthony Sherry from Glenwood and Drew Bennett from Fort Dodge. That kid’s name was Gable Sieperda, from Central Lyon and he became a wrestling stud and Cross Country legend in HS. As a 7th grader, Sieperda was cruising. It seemed like he hadn’t taken a loss to a guy in his grade in years. He seemed impossible to score points on and had an offense, to boot. When those two met up as 7th graders, the entire crowd started roaring in a manner that I can only recall having the same electricity 2 other times at AAU in decades prior to… one being my brother Justin Swafford’s finals match vs. Mack Reiter when they were in 7th grade and the other being when Cory Clark and Thomas Gilman met in the semis at state as 8th graders…. Thomsen vs. Sieperda was a big deal. And when Thomsen pulled off the win in OT, there was so much buzz in that arena. Everyone was watching that match. And after he won, I’ll never forget it… Alex did that confident, Hollywood walk that he became notorious for in high school (Alex Thomsen had more mat-swag than about anyone I had ever seen, that’s for sure). He wasn’t cocky, but you could just tell he was confident by how he carried himself… And after he got his hand raised, he calmly walked back to the corner as if he had no doubt in his mind he was going to slay that dragon. Most people were surprised…Southwest Iowa wasn’t. Golden Eagles people weren’t surprised. Head Academy folks weren’t surprised. The Cobra club in Council Bluffs knew it was coming. The Berley Boys knew what was up. SW Iowa called that shot. They were the only ones. And with Alex, his wrestling game was so smooth and fluent that he made it look cool. It was all business and he did it as if he were some Hollywood badass like James Bond. Put it this way… if all the 4 timers were compared to Mortal Combat and Street Fighter (those are video games for those of you who don’t know), characters, Alex Thomsen would have Johnny Cage on lockdown. You expected him to put on sunglasses immediately after his matches finished. The kid is has such versatile athleticism, he would have surely been a multi sport athlete had he not been so set on wrestling.
JOHNNY CAGE FROM MORTAL COMBAT
Then the next year, Alex started making waves on the National scene. He and my brother were on the same DC Elite NUWAY Duals Team and Alex was like a “for sure” win every match. No matter who they were wrestling, we knew we would win with Alex… the only guy who seemed to give him fits that year was a kid named Rhyker Sims from Sergeant Bluff-Luton. Not sure what that was all about, but I am pretty sure Alex raised his game another additional couple levels after their rivalry. He got beat for 3rd and 4th at state in 8th grade by Grant Stotts from Valley by a score of 1-0… that was a match that kind of needed 6 minutes to get a clearer comparison between those two… Alex placed 4th that year and it was one of the biggest surprises of the tournament, but everyone knew dang well that he was the real deal… Ironically, Brody Teske placed 3rd his 8th grade year… Teske, as you’ll read later is someone who Thomsen became forever linked to in high school.
By the time Alex was a Freshman, he started out impressing so many people with so many big wins that people started doing what seemed like the unthinkable at the time… they started debating who would win between Alex and the returning state champ from Highland, Drew West… This was considered unthinkable at the time, for the West twins had been so dominant and so acrobatic and fun to watch for 5 years leading to that, not only on the state OR National level, but the WORLD level… and Alex was making people actually believe that someone could actually defeat one of the West twins at state… and he did it in the quarterfinals at state as a Freshman… While Bryce West’s only barrier to perfection at the state tournament was Joshua Portillo from Clarion-Goldfield Dows, West’s barriers were Alex and Michael Blockhus. My goodness that group of guys had some WARS.
Fast forward to Senior year. Alex was an undefeated Senior… not for the season, but for his CAREER. If he finished his season undefeated, he would join the likes of Jeff Kerber, Dan Knight, Jeff McGinness, Eric Juergens and John Meeks as undefeated 4X state champions… the catch was, there was another guy in his grade that was on the path to doing the same thing. His name was Brody Teske from Fort Dodge and he just so happened to be at the same weight as Alex and it just so happened that Underwood and Fort Dodge were scheduled to meet twice… once at the Council Bluffs Invite and once at the CR Jefferson Invite. Those two guys earned the respect from EVERYONE when they decided to not dodge each other in either of the matches. The fans wanted that match and were almost skeptical that it’d actually take place, for both guys had so much on the line and if they wrestled, one of them was going to fail to go their entire careers without a blemish. Long story short, Teske had a huge scare in the semifinals vs. an out of state kid and showed up in a big way when he beat Alex in the finals. I’d say at the time, the predictions seemed to be 75-25 in Alex’s favor… And shortly after, those two were scheduled to meet again at the CR Jefferson Invite and despite the fact that Brody Teske could have very well chosen to just sit that one out and essentially secure an unblemished HS career, he chose to attempt to silence the skeptics and a second battle did, in fact take place. Alex won the second matchup. Both of these matches were absolute barn-burners and those two deserve eternal credit for their courage in putting it all on the line like they did, for not every wrestler, even at their level would have been brave enough to do that. If there are two wrestlers who should be universal fan favorites given their willingness to give the fans a show despite what they had on the line… it was Teske and Thomsen.
And keep paying attention to them… Alex is going to be a redshirt Sophomore at Nebraska and Teske transferred from Penn State to UNI… their careers are far from over.
Does Alex Thomsen have a case? He won 4 titles, he only lost one time at the hands of another 4 timer, he was a Junior Fargo National Champ In Greco, he placed multiple times in other various national tournaments and won a couple-few folkstyle national titles. You are fooling yourself if you believe Alex Thomsen does not have a case.
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