Olson finds spot on podium at 195, Nelson falls one win short
Lynx sophomore surprises himself by winning a medal
DES MOINES — Football is Caleb Olson’s sport and that’s not going to change anytime soon.
But wrestling, which was almost a casualty of the chopping block, is beginning to climb up his list of priorities. Taking a medal home from the state tournament has a way of motivating.
Olson, a Webster City sophomore and first-time state qualifier, entered the three-day tournament unranked at 195 pounds in Class 2A, but quieted his doubters by placing eighth on Saturday inside Wells Fargo Arena.
Lynx senior 106-pounder Trey Nelson saw his career come to an end Friday afternoon in the consolation second round. He finished one win short of a medal.
A second-team all-state linebacker for the Lynx state runner-up football team this past fall, Olson now admits he contemplated taking the winter off. Much like teammate and junior Zane Williams explained earlier this month, Olson wasn’t sure if he was mentally ready for the winter grind.
“I was like Zane, I thought about quitting the first few weeks because I didn’t know if I liked it,” Olson, who finished the season with a 24-9 record, said. “But making the podium makes me want to get back there.”
Olson clinched his top-eight finish Friday afternoon with a win by medical forfeit over second-ranked Michael Fritz of Fairfield. Earlier in the day he was shoved to the backside of the bracket following a quarterfinal-round loss by fall to fifth-ranked Zac Stork of Atlantic.
A loss to eventual fourth-place medalist Matthew Landsperger Friday night put Olson in Saturday morning’s seventh-place match where Ballard’s Seth Moore was waiting.
Olson upset Moore in Thursday’s opening round courtesy of a third-period fall, but his third encounter with Moore in less than two weeks went to the Ballard grappler by fall in 1:27.
“It was a good experience,” Olson said. “Honestly, I really didn’t expect (to medal). But it feels great to get on the podium knowing I have two years left.”
The consolation second round — better known as the blood round where a win assures a wrestler of a medal while a loss packs his bags — got the better of Nelson. Sixth-ranked Brock Beck of Grinnell notched two takedowns on his way to a 7-3 win over the Lynx senior.
Nelson (34-12) ended the season with 11 more victories than he amassed in his first three prep seasons combined.
Led by Drake Doolittle’s runner-up finish at 113, WCHS compiled a 6-10 record during the tournament and accumulated 30 points to place 20th in the 2A field.
Lisbon (1A), Solon (2A) and Southeast Polk (3A) captured the team crowns in their respective classes.
2017 State Tournament
At Wells Fargo Arena
Des Moines
CLASS 2A
Friday
Quarterfinals
113 — Drake Doolittle, Webster City maj. dec. Ashton Meyers, Keokuk, 14-2.
195 — Zac Stork, Atlantic pinned Caleb Olson, Webster City, 3:06.
Consolation Second Round
106 — Brock Beck, Grinnell dec. Trey Nelson, Webster City, 7-3.
195 — Caleb Olson, Webster City medical forfeit Michael Fritz, Fairfield.
Semifinals
113 — Drake Doolittle, Webster City dec. Chase Luensman, Monticello, 8-2.
Consolation Third Round
195 — Matthew Landsperger, Knoxville pinned Caleb Olson, Webster City, 2:54.
Saturday
7th Place Match
195 — Seth Moore, Ballard pinned Caleb Olson, Webster City, 1:27.
Championship Match
113 — Aden Reeves, Albia dec. Drake Doolittle, Webster City, 8-7.