Copsey finishes perfect season
STEVE SIGAFOOSE, Staff Writer
DES MOINES - Nobody can beat Glenwood's Ty Copsey. Heck, even the flu tried and the Ram senior beat that too.
Copsey (42-0) finally shook off the flu-like symptoms that turned his quarterfinal and semifinal performances into lackluster affairs and beat Blake Suckow (42-4) of North Fayette 3-1 in the Class 2A 189-pound final at the state prep wrestling championship at the Wells Fargo Arena Saturday evening.
"That's a lot better," said Copsey. "I knew what I had to do once I got the flu out of me. Our coaches got it in my mind that I am a state championship material."
The match "was about," said Copsey, "who was better on his feet. I got the takedown, but it was a good, close match."
"Ty did a good job," said Glenwood coach Bob Dyer. "He controlled the whole match."
"It's mind-blowing," said Copsey, "the best feeling in my whole life."
The news was not as good for the Rams' other two finalists. Ryan Collins (152) and Mitch Artist (160) had to settle for silver medals.
"They had terrific matches," said Dyer. "There's nothing to be ashamed of. Our kids worked hard and I proud of the effort."
Artist, added Dyer, is Glenwood's first four-time state medalist and holds the school records for pins and wins.
"They're the core of our team," said Dyer.
Creston was third in the Class 2A team race.
That one-two punch you heard out of the Wells Fargo Arena wasn't boxing. It was Creston sophomore Andrew Long and junior Tyler Linderman going back-to-back in winning state prep wrestling championships.
Long (103 pounds) mauled Cory Olson of Denver 21-5, 5:40, in a match-up of the No. 1 and No. 2-rated wrestlers (Long was top-rated).
Linderman, No. 2 at 112, knocked off No. 1 Dillon Minor of Spirit Lake Park 3-1.
"This is so big in Iowa," said Long, who got a lot of confidence for this year after wrestling light (sometimes as light at 84 pounds) last year at 103.
"He was bigger, but you can't let that get into your head. I stuck to my game plan."
Linderman worked a cautious match, watching for Minor's headlocks. The Panther build a 3-0 lead, then allowed a late escape.
"When I saw Andrew won," said Linderman, "I wanted to match it. I just made sure I wrestled smart. I avoided his tie-up because that's what he wanted to do."
"Both were outstanding," said Creston coach Darrell Frain. "They weren't threatened much in the tournament. They work out together and when they do, they get after each other."
Both, of course, will be back next year.
"This reality matches the dream," said Linderman, "but two years ago, I didn't even dream it. Now two (championships) would be nice."
Kirk Landon spent last year's state prep wrestling championships away from the mats.
After a third-place finish as a sophomore, Landon was the odd-man out in a strong sectional and did not advance.
Not again.
"I wrestled every chance I got," said the Audubon senior. "It paid off."
Indeed, Landon (46-1) won the Class 1A, 135 title, beating Cale Hall (40-7) of Nodaway Valley.
"I was mentally prepared," said Landon. "I was ready to dominate. I had had enough of the cliff-hangers (Landon won two early matches in last-second fashion), but I had to stay on what I had to do."
Landon wants to continue with his wrestling in college. For now, "this is awesome, but it hasn't sunk in yet."
DES MOINES - Nobody can beat Glenwood's Ty Copsey. Heck, even the flu tried and the Ram senior beat that too.
Copsey (42-0) finally shook off the flu-like symptoms that turned his quarterfinal and semifinal performances into lackluster affairs and beat Blake Suckow (42-4) of North Fayette 3-1 in the Class 2A 189-pound final at the state prep wrestling championship at the Wells Fargo Arena Saturday evening.
"That's a lot better," said Copsey. "I knew what I had to do once I got the flu out of me. Our coaches got it in my mind that I am a state championship material."
The match "was about," said Copsey, "who was better on his feet. I got the takedown, but it was a good, close match."
"Ty did a good job," said Glenwood coach Bob Dyer. "He controlled the whole match."
"It's mind-blowing," said Copsey, "the best feeling in my whole life."
The news was not as good for the Rams' other two finalists. Ryan Collins (152) and Mitch Artist (160) had to settle for silver medals.
"They had terrific matches," said Dyer. "There's nothing to be ashamed of. Our kids worked hard and I proud of the effort."
Artist, added Dyer, is Glenwood's first four-time state medalist and holds the school records for pins and wins.
"They're the core of our team," said Dyer.
Creston was third in the Class 2A team race.
That one-two punch you heard out of the Wells Fargo Arena wasn't boxing. It was Creston sophomore Andrew Long and junior Tyler Linderman going back-to-back in winning state prep wrestling championships.
Long (103 pounds) mauled Cory Olson of Denver 21-5, 5:40, in a match-up of the No. 1 and No. 2-rated wrestlers (Long was top-rated).
Linderman, No. 2 at 112, knocked off No. 1 Dillon Minor of Spirit Lake Park 3-1.
"This is so big in Iowa," said Long, who got a lot of confidence for this year after wrestling light (sometimes as light at 84 pounds) last year at 103.
"He was bigger, but you can't let that get into your head. I stuck to my game plan."
Linderman worked a cautious match, watching for Minor's headlocks. The Panther build a 3-0 lead, then allowed a late escape.
"When I saw Andrew won," said Linderman, "I wanted to match it. I just made sure I wrestled smart. I avoided his tie-up because that's what he wanted to do."
"Both were outstanding," said Creston coach Darrell Frain. "They weren't threatened much in the tournament. They work out together and when they do, they get after each other."
Both, of course, will be back next year.
"This reality matches the dream," said Linderman, "but two years ago, I didn't even dream it. Now two (championships) would be nice."
Kirk Landon spent last year's state prep wrestling championships away from the mats.
After a third-place finish as a sophomore, Landon was the odd-man out in a strong sectional and did not advance.
Not again.
"I wrestled every chance I got," said the Audubon senior. "It paid off."
Indeed, Landon (46-1) won the Class 1A, 135 title, beating Cale Hall (40-7) of Nodaway Valley.
"I was mentally prepared," said Landon. "I was ready to dominate. I had had enough of the cliff-hangers (Landon won two early matches in last-second fashion), but I had to stay on what I had to do."
Landon wants to continue with his wrestling in college. For now, "this is awesome, but it hasn't sunk in yet."
posted by Susan VanSlyke at 10:18 AM
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