Coming off a 43-1 senior campaign that was capped with a Class 2A state title at 120 pounds, Doolittle was named to the academic all-state first team for the third consecutive season by The Predicament earlier this week.

Doolittle, who maintains a 4.0 grade point average, earned first-team academic all-state honors after his sophomore and junior seasons as well. Freshmen aren’t considered for the award. He shares the No. 1 ranking in the WCHS Class of 2019 and is also the president of the National Honor Society.

Perry senior Kaleb Olejniczak and Southeast Polk senior Cade DeVos joined Doolittle as three-time honorees.

“It’s great to get recognized for doing well in school,” Doolittle said. “I wouldn’t have gotten that award without my family, friends and everyone that’s always pushing me to do my best in school.”

WCHS 120-pound state wrestling champion Drake Doolittle (top) tosses Centerville’s Nathaniel Genobana to his back during the opening period of their finals bout back in February. On Tuesday, the Lynx all-time wins leader was named to the academic all-state first team for the third straight year. DFJ file photo/Troy Banning

On the mat, Doolittle will be remembered as one of the top two or three wrestlers ever to put on a WCHS singlet. He’s the program’s only four-time North Central Conference champion and one of just two individuals — Lynx assistant coach Tyler Patten is the other — to win four state medals.

With a career record of 175-16, Doolittle holds career school records for wins, pins (114), takedowns (553) and team points scored (1,190), as well as numerous single-season records.

Third at 113 pounds as a freshman, Doolittle reached the championship round and settled for second as a sophomore at the same weight. He moved up to 120 for his junior campaign and placed fifth.

This past season, Doolittle set out on a mission that he completed with a 9-4 victory over Nathaniel Genobana of Centerville in the 120-pound final. He became just the fifth WCHS grappler to win a state title and the only individual to drop a match in the finals only to return and right the wrong.

Doolittle is still undecided on where he will attend college.

ACADEMIC ALL-STATE TEAMS

By The Predicament

First Team

Drake Doolittle, sr, Webster City; Kaleb Olejniczak, sr, Perry; Cade DeVos, sr, Southeast Polk; Spencer Trenary, sr, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows; Paul Ryan, sr, Mount Vernon; Drake Ayala, soph, Fort Dodge; Aidan Noonan, soph, Cascade; Joey Busse, sr, Humboldt; Jacob Wempen, sr, Linn-Mar; Wade Mitchell, jr, Woodbury Central; Cael Happel, jr, Lisbon; Cobe Siebrecht, sr, Lisbon; Garet Sims, sr, Iowa Valley; Caleb Rathjen, soph, Ankeny; Lance Runyon, sr, Southeast Polk.

Second Team

Daniel Kimball, sr, Don Bosco; Baylor Crigger, sr, Camanche; Garrett Keehner, sr, MFL-Mar-Mac; Keaton Zeimet, soph, Central DeWitt; Gabe Christensen, jr, Southeast Polk; Ben Monroe, jr, Ankeny Centennial; Matthew Lewis, soph, Centerville; Justin McCunn, jr, Red Oak; Devin Ludwig, sr, Western Dubuque; Chase Luensman, sr, Monticello; Kain Luensman, soph, Monticello; Joe Pins, sr, Dubuque Hempstead; Colter Bye, sr, Crestwood; Beau Lombardi, sr, West Des Moines Valley.

Honorable Mention

Caleb Lalonde, sr, Mediapolis; Nathaniel Genobana, soph, Centerville; Wes Cummings, sr, PCM; Lucas Roland, sr, PCM; Colby Tool, soph, PCM; Gabriel Lewis, jr, Denver; Chase McAlister, sr, South Central Calhoun; Zach Williams, jr, Osage; Collin Lewis, sr, North Scott; Evan Rosonke, jr, New Hampton/Turkey Valley; Connor Lange, sr, Missouri Valley; Ryan Phillips, sr, West Delaware; Will Esmoil, jr, West Liberty; Brock Beck, jr, Grinnell.