Forget the score, forget how much time remains, forget everything. If the South Hamilton junior 182-pounder is still standing, he’s always got a chance.

He’s wrestling’s version of a chip and a chair.

“Every time I’m down, I just tell myself that I’m not out of it and it’s paid off a lot this season,” Greenfield said following his latest thrill ride during the opening day of the state wrestling tournament on Thursday.

Trailing Collins-Maxwell freshman Brody Sampson 7-2 after two periods in a Class 1A opening-round bout inside Wells Fargo Arena, Greenfield (38-7) turned the tables with a headlock throw and pin in 4:40 to advance to today’s quarterfinal round. It was reminiscent of last week’s district tournament when he trailed fifth-ranked Drew Fox of Riceville in the wrestleback before he connected on the same move to punch his first state tournament ticket.

South Hamilton’s Lane Swenson (front) snaps off a takedown in his Class 1A 170-pound consolation round win over Gage Clausen of Missouri Valley yesterday in Des Moines. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Sampson made the mistake of leaving his head exposed, and Greenfield was more than happy to take advantage.

“I’m kind of a head hunter and it worked out like that,” Greenfield said. “I’ve used that move a lot and I’m pretty good at it.”

Somewhere in the stands, Greenfield’s dad, Mike, was almost assuredly screaming himself hoarse after watching his son give up a pair of takedowns and three near-fall points prior to the throw.

“I bet he was going insane,” Greenfield said. “He told me before (the match) that ‘I may be far away, but I’ll be the loudest screamer there.’ I’m pretty pumped because this just moves me one more step toward my goal.”

To reach the semifinals, Greenfield will have to climb the tallest peak. He’ll meet top-ranked and 2020 state runner-up Carson Tenold (35-1) of Don Bosco in this morning’s quarterfinals, but Hawks’ head coach Dan Brodie says his grappler has nothing to lose.

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

“Brent’s playing with house money right now,” Brodie said. “He proved that he belongs here and he’s not done either. I still think he’s got a lot of noise left to make.”

Greenfield was South Hamilton’s lone first-round winner. Keyton Remsburg (113), second-ranked Lane Swenson (170) and fourth-ranked Trevor Thompson (195) all tumbled into the consolation round; Swenson and Thompson survived to compete again, while Remsburg saw his season end.

Swenson (39-3), a seventh-place state medalist in 2020, dropped a 10-2 major decision to 10th-ranked Carson Hartz of Waterloo Columbus, but rebounded with three takedowns in a 12-7 consolation win over Gage Clausen of Missouri Valley.

Thompson (30-5) was unable to fend off second-ranked Matthew Francis in a 6-0 loss. He then worked over Kyle Kuhlmann of Sumner-Fredricksburg, 8-1, by spending more than four minutes in the top position.

“For those guys to respond like that shows true leadership, it shows heart, and they’re one win away from the podium,” Brodie said. “They just have to keep building on it.”

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

In the consolation second round, Swenson will face the loser of the quarterfinal between fifth-ranked Dahson Dejong (41-3) of Sibley-Ocheyedan and third-ranked Cael McLaren (34-1) of Council Bluffs St. Albert. The South Hamilton senior topped McLaren, 15-11, in the first round of the 2020 state tournament.

Thompson will tangle with either ninth-ranked Blake Brocka (37-4) of Tripoli or Ronan Poynton (19-3) of Iowa City Regina in the blood round. Thompson and Brocka split their two bouts at sectionals and districts.

Remsburg (23-15) dropped a pair of matches to ranked wrestlers. No. 4 Dawson Schmit of Wapsie Valley built a 10-0 lead before getting the fall over Remsburg in 4:38 in the opening round. No. 7 Noah Strohmeyer of Colfax-Mingo led Remsburg 4-2 in the consolation round when he ran an arm bar for the fall in 2:45.

“Keyton just ran up against a super stud in the first round and then he ran into a senior on the backside, and senior urgency is a real thing,” Brodie said. “But this doesn’t take away from a great freshman campaign for Keaton.”

State Tournament

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines

Thursday

South Hamilton Results

(Ranked wrestlers noted)

First Round

113 — No. 4 Dawson Schmit, Wapsie Valley pinned Keyton Remsburg, 4:38.

170 — No. 10 Carson Hartz, Waterloo Columbus maj dec No. 2 Lane Swenson, 10-2.

182 — Brent Greenfield pinned Brody Sampson, Collins-Maxwell, 4:40.

195 — No. 2 Matthew Francis, West Hancock dec Trevor Thompson, 6-0.

Consolation First Round

113 — No. 7 Noah Strohmeyer, Colfax-Mingo pinned Keyton Remsburg, 2:45.

170 — No. 2 Lane Swenson dec Gage Clausen, Missouri Valley, 12-7.

195 — No. 4 Trevor Thompson dec Kyle Kuhlmann, Sumner-Fredricksburg, 8-1.

Friday

Quarterfinals

182 — Brent Greenfield (38-7) vs. No. 1 Carson Tenold (35-1), Don Bosco.

Consolation Second Round

170 — No. 2 Lane Swenson (39-3) vs. Loser of No. 5 Dahson Dejong (41-3), Sibley-Ocheyedan and No. 3 Cael McLaren (34-1), Council Bluffs St. Albert.

195 — No. 4 Trevor Thompson (30-5) vs. Loser of No. 9 Blake Brocka (37-4), Tripoli and Ronan Poynton (19-3), Iowa City Regina.