For the first time in school history two North Mahaska wrestlers stood atop the podium at the 100th Iowa High School State Wrestling Championships. Not as high as desired but one of top eight wrestlers in the state in their respective eight class.
Freshman Aydan Groom reached his goal of earning a placing taking sixth at 132 pounds while his brother Ryan, ranked fifth at 144, took fifth. Aydan is the first NM freshman to earn a spot on the podium. For the second year in a row Ryan placed fifth.
Both wrestlers lost their championship quarterfinal matches to battle in Friday’s “blood round.” The blood round is where a wrestler has to win their first round to be in the running for a placement. Lose that first match on Friday and you watch the action from the stands.
Aydan took the floor first facing Hunter Cooper of Sioux Central. Groom held the senior scoreless and earned an 8-0 major decision. In the next round he met Keyton Jacobsen of Jesup. Groom was tied with Jacobsen in the second period when each scored a reversal. Groom worked his for a pin at the 3 minute 43 second mark. The victory guaranteed him no worse than sixth entering Saturday’s final day of action.
Aydan Groom smiles broadly in the closing second of his match with Hunter Cooper of Sioux Central. The 8-0 decision guaranteed the freshman a spot on Saturday’s podium.
Aydan had said his goal was to get on the podium as a freshman. Friday’s action allowed him to realize the dream. “I got my goal and it feels good to have Ryan there with me,” said Groom. “I’ve got to work to come out on top.”
In the semifinals of the consolation semifinal, senior Brock Morris of Cascade scored a 17-1 technical fall over Groom sending the NM matman to the fifth place match on Saturday. In the fifth place match he faced a familiar foe in Matthew Mintle of Lynnville-Sully. Mintle scored a takedown in the first period but Groom countered with an escape and takedown to regain the lead 4-3 at the end of the first period.
Neither wrestler scored in the second period and early in the third Mintle got the takedown and worked it to a pin in 5:18. Despite the loss, the freshman reached his goal and ended the season with a 37-6 record.
Ryan Groom took to the mat on Friday against Alburnett’s Cooper Franklin, a wrestler Groom beat in the district meet, 10-4. This time Groom scored a takedown in the first period and made it hold up for a 3-0 decision securing a spot on the podium. He met Jesup’s Kaden Lange scoring a takedown and escape in the first period for a 4-2 lead. Lange scored a second period reversal and as the period was ending, Groom escaped for a 5-4 lead. A quick escape and a takedown sealed the win for the Warhawk to put him in line for a pot in the third place match with another win.
Ryan Groom battles Alburnett’s Franklin Cooper for a 3-0 decision. The win put Groom into the medal round.
On Saturday morning Groom met Underwood’s Lucas Bose, who scored a 6-2 decision. Groom regrouped in the fifth place match against Caleb Swedin of Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayshire. Groom scored a takedown in the first. Period and a reversal in the second to take a 5-0 lead into the final period. Swedin got on the board with a takedown but a reversal in the final 37 seconds to take the fifth place medal.
Groom said of his match with Franklin, “I was just feeling him out and just waited for something to open,” said Groom. “I was able to keep away and held him off.”
Groom finishes the season 50-2.
For coach Ryan Groom it was a balance between happy father and elated coach. “This is a good feeling, “ Groom said Friday afternoon. “To have both of them on the podium is a dream come true. They have worked so hard and deserve it.”