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Helenthal to wrestle at Coe College
By Brad Cameron/Gate City Sports Editor
Ryan Helenthal has set the standard for wrestling at Keokuk High School.
Helenthal became the first wrestler in the school's history to win 100 career matches. He capped an incredible high school career by going undefeated and winning a state championship in his senior season.
Helenthal helped turn Keokuk into one of the top programs in the state during his high school career. He hopes to have the same impact at the next level.
Helenthal signed with Coe College, an NCAA Division III school out of Cedar Rapids. The Kohawks are coached by John Oostendorp, a two-time all-American, who wrestled for legendary coach Dan Gable at the University of Iowa from 1990 to 1993.
“Coach Oostendorp is a real good guy and a real good coach,” said Keokuk High School Head Coach Tom Rose. “I've talked to him several times, and he is very happy to have landed Ryan. I know the last two years he has gotten outstanding signings. Maybe this year or next year, Coe will be a force to be reckoned with at the collegiate level.”
Helenthal looked at Loras College in Dubuque and Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, but felt Coe was the right fit for him.
“I chose Coe because I really got along with the coach,” Helenthal said. “He's a good guy and the style of wrestling he preaches is the style I like. The guys up there are a good group, and I feel I really fit in with them.”
“When I went to Coe I felt comfortable. I didn't feel that way at Loras, and I didn't know if I wanted to go somewhere big like UNI. It was an easy decision for me.”
Helenthal will be wrestling at 157 in college and has a chance to earn a starting spot right away.
Rose believes Helenthal will make a smooth transition as a wrestler going from high school to college.
“The biggest thing for him to overcome is not being the big fish. Now, he is the little fish in the big pond,” Rose said. “The first month will be tough, but once he gets through that first month mentally it will be just like he finished his high school career. He hasn't reached his full ability yet. When he realizes that and takes it to the next level he's going to be fun to watch.”
Helenthal finished his high school career with a 132-26 record. He reached the state tournament three times and medaled twice, but it was that first trip to state as a sophomore that shaped his high school wrestling career.
“When he reached the state tournament his sophomore season, he finally realized what he could accomplish,” Rose said. “He finished his high school career on fire.”
Helenthal went on to win 85 of his 90 matches in his final two years at Keokuk. He was 42-5 and finished fourth in the state as a junior and 43-0 and a state champion as a senior.
“Winning a state title was huge for me,” Helenthal said. “Getting my 100th win was a highlight, but winning the title and standing on the podium capped it all for me.”
Helenthal knows his records may not stand for long with the talented group of wrestlers Keokuk as returning and coming up through the program, but he is fine with that. “I think about what I accomplished a little bit, but like coach (Josh Rose) says records are meant to be broken,” Helenthal said. “There are a lot of good wrestlers here at Keokuk and my records won't stand for a long time, but it's kind of cool to say I did it first.”
Helenthal became the first wrestler in the school's history to win 100 career matches. He capped an incredible high school career by going undefeated and winning a state championship in his senior season.
Helenthal helped turn Keokuk into one of the top programs in the state during his high school career. He hopes to have the same impact at the next level.
Helenthal signed with Coe College, an NCAA Division III school out of Cedar Rapids. The Kohawks are coached by John Oostendorp, a two-time all-American, who wrestled for legendary coach Dan Gable at the University of Iowa from 1990 to 1993.
“Coach Oostendorp is a real good guy and a real good coach,” said Keokuk High School Head Coach Tom Rose. “I've talked to him several times, and he is very happy to have landed Ryan. I know the last two years he has gotten outstanding signings. Maybe this year or next year, Coe will be a force to be reckoned with at the collegiate level.”
Helenthal looked at Loras College in Dubuque and Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, but felt Coe was the right fit for him.
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“When I went to Coe I felt comfortable. I didn't feel that way at Loras, and I didn't know if I wanted to go somewhere big like UNI. It was an easy decision for me.”
Helenthal will be wrestling at 157 in college and has a chance to earn a starting spot right away.
Rose believes Helenthal will make a smooth transition as a wrestler going from high school to college.
“The biggest thing for him to overcome is not being the big fish. Now, he is the little fish in the big pond,” Rose said. “The first month will be tough, but once he gets through that first month mentally it will be just like he finished his high school career. He hasn't reached his full ability yet. When he realizes that and takes it to the next level he's going to be fun to watch.”
Helenthal finished his high school career with a 132-26 record. He reached the state tournament three times and medaled twice, but it was that first trip to state as a sophomore that shaped his high school wrestling career.
“When he reached the state tournament his sophomore season, he finally realized what he could accomplish,” Rose said. “He finished his high school career on fire.”
Helenthal went on to win 85 of his 90 matches in his final two years at Keokuk. He was 42-5 and finished fourth in the state as a junior and 43-0 and a state champion as a senior.
“Winning a state title was huge for me,” Helenthal said. “Getting my 100th win was a highlight, but winning the title and standing on the podium capped it all for me.”
Helenthal knows his records may not stand for long with the talented group of wrestlers Keokuk as returning and coming up through the program, but he is fine with that. “I think about what I accomplished a little bit, but like coach (Josh Rose) says records are meant to be broken,” Helenthal said. “There are a lot of good wrestlers here at Keokuk and my records won't stand for a long time, but it's kind of cool to say I did it first.”
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