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Keokuk wrestlers ready for districts
Chiefs to see two-time defending state champions
By Brad Cameron/Gate City Sports Editor
The Keokuk wrestling program has put a string of successful seasons together in recent years. Saturday, however, the Chiefs will see one of the top programs in the state.
Iowa City West, the back-to-back state tournament and dual tournament champions, is one of the seven other schools Keokuk will compete against in the Class 3A district meet at Mount Pleasant High School.
“They have a tough squad, but anyone can get beat on any given day,” said Keokuk Head Coach Tom Rose. “It just means we have to work a little harder and be ready to wrestle.”
Also wrestling in the district meet are Burlington, Fairfield, Fort Madison, Iowa City High, Mount Pleasant and Ottumwa.
Iowa City West has finished no lower than fourth at the 3A state tournament over the last seven years. The Trojans also have won four of the last five dual tournament championships.
This year's Iowa City West squad features seven wrestlers who competed in the state tournament a year ago, with four of the seven winning individual titles.
Senior Nate Moore, the top-ranked wrestler at 125 pounds by The Predicament, is the defending state champion at that weight. Moore also finished second in the state at 103 pounds as a freshman and 119 pounds as a sophomore.
Nick Moore won the 130-pound state title as a freshman. He is the top-ranked wrestler in 3A this season at 140 pounds.
Junior Derek St. John won his first state championship at 135 pounds a season ago, and finished third at 130 pounds as a freshman. He enters Saturday's district as the top-ranked wrestler in 3A at 145 pounds.
Senior Grant Gambrell is the defending state champion at 171 pounds and has signed to wrestle at the University of Iowa next season. He finished second in 2006 while at Iowa City High.
Senior Jeremy Garvin finished fourth at 160 pounds last season. He is currently ranked second at the same weight. Junior Dylan Carew was seventh at 119 pounds a season ago. He is the second-ranked wrestler at 130 pounds this season, and Tyler Carew was a state qualifer at 140 pounds. He is ranked sixth at 135 pounds this season.
“Iowa City West and their seven real good kids are going to be tough to beat, but we feel we're wrestling well right now and peaking at the right time,” Rose said.
Keokuk has battled injuries throughout the season to finish 14-5 in dual meets this season.
“Last year we avoided the injury bug. This year has made up for it,” Rose said. “We've had to juggle the line-up around, trying to get our best match-ups for the duals, but I think our record says a lot about our program and a lot about the kids. You don't have a program if you don't have the kids. We had some depth, and we were able to fight through the injuries by putting some quality kids on the mat.”
The Chiefs finished the regular season on a high note a week ago with a victory over Burlington on Jan. 31, and wins over Fairfield, Davenport North and Kirksville on Feb. 2.
The win over Fairfield gave Keokuk its second consecutive Southeast Conference title.
“I've said all along once we get going against competition on a regular basis we'll start getting into a rhythm and start peaking,” Rose said. “If last Saturday is any indication we're hitting it just right.”
The top two wrestlers in each of the 14 weight divisions advance to the state meet. Keokuk sent seven to the state meet last season, and Rose has high hopes for Saturday.
“We're hoping for big numbers,” Rose said. “Of course, I would like to see all 14 kids get through.”
Three of the seven who competed at state last season return. Sophomore Ethan Cooper and senior Brett Kelley are looking to qualify for their second consecutive state tournament. Cooper is 26-2 this season and ranked seventh in the final rankings at 103 pounds. Kelley is 27-4 and is ranked ninth at 160 pounds.
Junior Brandon Briggs finished fourth at 119 pounds last season and qualified at 103 pounds as a freshman. He competes at 135 pounds this season.
Briggs will have stiff competition at 135 pounds. Besides Iowa City West's Tyler Carew, Iowa City High's Colton Smith is ranked third in the weight class.
Keokuk sophomore Julian Feikert is 28-2 on the season and finished eighth in the rankings at 130 pounds.
Also entering the district tournament with winning records for Keokuk are: Tommy Conner, 23-6, 112 pounds; Alex Edler, 26-8, 215 pounds; David Walker, 19-13, 140 pounds; and Justin Thompson, 15-14, 285 pounds.
Nate Bowden is 13-13 on the season and will wrestle at 145 pounds, and Chris Hoskins is 14-15 and will compete at 119 pounds.
By Brad Cameron/Gate City Sports Editor
The Keokuk wrestling program has put a string of successful seasons together in recent years. Saturday, however, the Chiefs will see one of the top programs in the state.
Iowa City West, the back-to-back state tournament and dual tournament champions, is one of the seven other schools Keokuk will compete against in the Class 3A district meet at Mount Pleasant High School.
“They have a tough squad, but anyone can get beat on any given day,” said Keokuk Head Coach Tom Rose. “It just means we have to work a little harder and be ready to wrestle.”
Also wrestling in the district meet are Burlington, Fairfield, Fort Madison, Iowa City High, Mount Pleasant and Ottumwa.
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This year's Iowa City West squad features seven wrestlers who competed in the state tournament a year ago, with four of the seven winning individual titles.
Senior Nate Moore, the top-ranked wrestler at 125 pounds by The Predicament, is the defending state champion at that weight. Moore also finished second in the state at 103 pounds as a freshman and 119 pounds as a sophomore.
Nick Moore won the 130-pound state title as a freshman. He is the top-ranked wrestler in 3A this season at 140 pounds.
Junior Derek St. John won his first state championship at 135 pounds a season ago, and finished third at 130 pounds as a freshman. He enters Saturday's district as the top-ranked wrestler in 3A at 145 pounds.
Senior Grant Gambrell is the defending state champion at 171 pounds and has signed to wrestle at the University of Iowa next season. He finished second in 2006 while at Iowa City High.
Senior Jeremy Garvin finished fourth at 160 pounds last season. He is currently ranked second at the same weight. Junior Dylan Carew was seventh at 119 pounds a season ago. He is the second-ranked wrestler at 130 pounds this season, and Tyler Carew was a state qualifer at 140 pounds. He is ranked sixth at 135 pounds this season.
“Iowa City West and their seven real good kids are going to be tough to beat, but we feel we're wrestling well right now and peaking at the right time,” Rose said.
Keokuk has battled injuries throughout the season to finish 14-5 in dual meets this season.
“Last year we avoided the injury bug. This year has made up for it,” Rose said. “We've had to juggle the line-up around, trying to get our best match-ups for the duals, but I think our record says a lot about our program and a lot about the kids. You don't have a program if you don't have the kids. We had some depth, and we were able to fight through the injuries by putting some quality kids on the mat.”
The Chiefs finished the regular season on a high note a week ago with a victory over Burlington on Jan. 31, and wins over Fairfield, Davenport North and Kirksville on Feb. 2.
The win over Fairfield gave Keokuk its second consecutive Southeast Conference title.
“I've said all along once we get going against competition on a regular basis we'll start getting into a rhythm and start peaking,” Rose said. “If last Saturday is any indication we're hitting it just right.”
The top two wrestlers in each of the 14 weight divisions advance to the state meet. Keokuk sent seven to the state meet last season, and Rose has high hopes for Saturday.
“We're hoping for big numbers,” Rose said. “Of course, I would like to see all 14 kids get through.”
Three of the seven who competed at state last season return. Sophomore Ethan Cooper and senior Brett Kelley are looking to qualify for their second consecutive state tournament. Cooper is 26-2 this season and ranked seventh in the final rankings at 103 pounds. Kelley is 27-4 and is ranked ninth at 160 pounds.
Junior Brandon Briggs finished fourth at 119 pounds last season and qualified at 103 pounds as a freshman. He competes at 135 pounds this season.
Briggs will have stiff competition at 135 pounds. Besides Iowa City West's Tyler Carew, Iowa City High's Colton Smith is ranked third in the weight class.
Keokuk sophomore Julian Feikert is 28-2 on the season and finished eighth in the rankings at 130 pounds.
Also entering the district tournament with winning records for Keokuk are: Tommy Conner, 23-6, 112 pounds; Alex Edler, 26-8, 215 pounds; David Walker, 19-13, 140 pounds; and Justin Thompson, 15-14, 285 pounds.
Nate Bowden is 13-13 on the season and will wrestle at 145 pounds, and Chris Hoskins is 14-15 and will compete at 119 pounds.
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