STATE 2 FOR 1: Thompson reaches 100 wins, snags medal at 195
SH senior shrugs off injuries to reach goals; Swenson and Greenfield victims of Friday’s blood round
DES MOINES — The black sleeve that went from the middle of Trevor Thompson’s right thigh to his calf covered the massive amount of swelling that circled the knee.
It wasn’t good the further you traveled south on that leg either. A high ankle sprain — an injury that routinely takes weeks to heal — added to the South Hamilton senior’s ailments.
But Thompson, ranked fourth at 195 pounds, knew nobody was going to feel sorry for him. He didn’t feel sorry for himself either.
Rather than use the injuries as excuses, Thompson relied on his mental strength and athleticism to reach two important milestones on Friday — 100 career victories and a Class 1A state wrestling medal.
Not bad at all.
With a 3-1 victory over Iowa City Regina’s Ronan Poynton in the consolation second round — affectionally known as the blood round — inside Wells Fargo Arena, Thompson secure both.
“It’s really, really freakin’ cool,” Thompson said. “It was really exciting because my parents were sitting right next to the mat when it happened.”
Consecutive losses in his final two matches dropped Thompson (31-7) to eighth on the medal stand, but considering everything he’s had to endure to reach the podium, he was more than content.
Thompson, who will play football at Upper Iowa in the fall, needs surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee and the ankle sprain has been a month-long issue.
“It’s been pretty bad, but it’s more of a mental thing,” Thompson said. “I knew I was one of the best in the state and so I just went out there and did my thing. I just tried to be confident in my abilities. I’m a good wrestler and I know I’m strong enough because I’ve worked hard for those things.”
Thompson entered the South Hamilton lineup as a skinny 145-pound freshman in 2017, and then ballooned to a stout 195-pounder by his sophomore season. Hawks’ head coach Dan Brodie says his progression, tailored around his work ethic, is something all future wrestlers in the program can learn from.
“It’s truly amazing what he’s accomplished for someone that calls himself a football player,” Brodie said of Thompson, who ranks 10th on South Hamilton’s all-time wins list. “(Winning a state medal) was one of his goals coming into the year and to see that come to fruition on the biggest stage is really rewarding as a coach. I’m proud of his effort, I’m proud of the kid he is, and I’m proud of how he represents his team.”
While Thompson celebrated his blood round success, South Hamilton’s other two grapplers still alive for a medal were forced to accept heartbreak.
Second-ranked Lane Swenson (39-4), the Hawks’ unquestioned team leader and 2020 state medalist, fell one win short of a repeat podium appearance following a 5-3 loss to fifth-ranked Dahson DeJong of Sibley-Ocheyedan, who scored the go-ahead point on an escape with 39 seconds remaining and then put it away with a takedown 15 seconds later.
Swenson completed his career with 118 wins, the fifth-most in school history, and the overwhelming admiration of his coach.
“Lane has been our guy, and he was our guy even before he knew he was our guy,” Brodie said. “We’ve always looked to him for leadership and to do it the right way, to push the people around him to be better. It’s not the way he wanted to finish, but it doesn’t take away all that he’s accomplished in his career, putting himself up there with some of South Hamilton’s greatest. He’ll be missed, but I’ve enjoyed every second of being his coach.”
Greenfield (38-9), a junior, tumbled twice on Friday to fall out of medal contention. He drew the short straw in the quarterfinals — a face-to-face with top-ranked and eventual state champion Carson Tenold of Don Bosco, who took out Greenfield in 1:11.
Greenfield was pinned by No. 8-ranked Mason Juhl of Pekin in 3:35 in his consolation second round bout. Greenfield scored the opening takedown and led 2-0 after one period, but was unable to get off bottom in the second.
“We knew that quarterfinal match was going to be a tall task,” Brodie said. “In his second round consolation match, he knew there were some opportunities there. But he had a really good tournament and a really good season.”
Greenfield will be asked to fill the leadership void with the graduations of Swenson, Thompson and fellow senior Colton Willis, and Brodie thinks he’s up to the task.
“I think the keys are definitely on the table for Brent and it’s his choice whether or not he picks them up,” Brodie said. “I think the success that he had this year is going to propel him to being that guy for us next year.”
State Wrestling Tournament
Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines
Class 1A
South Hamilton Results
Friday
Quarterfinals
182 — Carson Tenold (Don Bosco) pinned Brent Greenfield (SH), 1:11.
Consolation Second Round
170 — Dahson DeJong (Sibley-Ocheyedan) dec Lane Swenson (SH), 5-3.
182 — Mason Juhl (Pekin) pinned Brent Greenfield (SH), 3:35.
195 — Trevor Thompson (SH) dec Ronan Poynton (IC Regina), 3-1.
Consolation Third Round
195 — Truman Krob (Lisbon) dec Trevor Thompson (SH), 2-0.
Saturday
7th Place Match
195 — Brandon Mier (Alta-Aurelia) pinned Trevor Thompson (SH), 6:00.