Bormann and Kulper will represent Central/Ed-Co at state
Braxton Bormann (left) is making his third trip to state after placing first at the district meet in Denver on Feb. 15. Teammate Preston Kulper qualified for the first time. (Photos by Tia Dundee)
Due to injury, districts was the first time Braxton Bormann had wrestled since mid-January. He thanked his coaches and teammates for getting him through.
Preston Kulper won a wrestleback to place second and punch his ticket to state at 150 pounds.
By Willis Patenaude | Times-Register
Over the hills and through the snow, the Central/Ed-Co wrestling team braved the elements on their way to Denver for the Iowa High School Athletic Association District #2 state-qualifying meet on Feb. 15. The combined team sent 10 wrestlers to Denver, all vying for a trip to the “The Well” in Des Moines.
Among this year’s group was 113-pound senior Adam Kloser, who finished the season with a 38-13 record. Kloser secured a pin in the quarterfinals over Chance Neal (Starmont), but lost a 15-0 tech fall in the semifinals, dropping him into the consolation rounds and an outside shot at making it to state. In the consolation semifinal, Kloser defeated Rylan Fogt of Hudson by 8-4 decision, but couldn’t overcome an early takedown in the third-place match to force a wrestleback for second.
“Very proud of his efforts and leadership on the team. We will miss him next year,” Koehn said.
At 120 pounds, Zane Embretson ended his freshman season going 1-2 at districts and just missing the podium, though he “wrestled well and improved each match,” Koehn said.
Cooper Brown, competing in a tough 138-pound weight class, went 0-2 and Mack Perrinjaquet finished 1-2 at 157 pounds.
“Very proud of his efforts and how far he has come this season,” Koehn said.
Collin Jaster got a medical forfeit into the 132-pound semifinals, but dropped his final two matches to end the season. Jaster was winning both matches, but got caught in a “couple tough situations,” Koehn said.
Parker Funke bumped up two weight classes to 175 pounds for a chance at state. He finished the meet 1-2 but ended the season 6-6 while filling in on varsity. Competing at 165 pounds, Colton Hoisington went 2-2, winning championship round one over Ethan Harper (Columbus Catholic) by fall and consolation round one over Abe Elliot (Hudson) by 17-1 tech fall. Hoisington wrestled a team-high 61 matches and “never batted an eye,” Koehn said. He had 19 wins.
At heavyweight, Conner “Diesel” Davis wrestled five matches, including a fall over Henry Wiley (South Winneshiek) in the quarterfinal, before being knocked down into the consolation rounds. Davis made a run at state with wins over Trevin Melville (North Linn) in the consolation semifinal and Wiley again in the third-place match. The win over Wiley put Davis in the wrestleback match for second place against Alston Loeb of Hudson, who pinned Davis.
“He definitely wrestled his best tournament of the year and we, as coaches, are very proud of his efforts and leadership that he’s provided this season,” Koehn said.
At 150 pounds, Preston Kulper overcame a close 10-9 decision loss to Xander Peterson of Denver in the quarterfinal to put together a dramatic run through the lower bracket. With pins over Jaimee Villegas-Nava (Columbus Catholic), Trenton Elledge (East Buchanan) and a revenge victory over Peterson in the third-place match, he made it to the wrestleback for second place.
There, Kulper looked across at Tate Woods of North Linn, who scored an early takedown. Kulper hit a reversal and a takedown of his own and secured a pin 15 seconds before the end of period one, punching his ticket to state for the first time in his wrestling career. He’s the 26th state qualifier in Central’s history.
“The team definitely wrestled their best tournament of the season today and I am extremely proud of their efforts. Some of their seasons didn’t end the way they wanted to and that’s how it goes sometimes. They left it all on the mat and there is nothing to be ashamed of about that,” Koehn said.
However, before Kulper became the 26th state qualifier, another wrestler took to the circle to become the 25th. In a season cut short by injury, the indomitable Braxton Bormann went to Denver with an eye toward making it to state for the third time and finally standing on the podium in Wells Fargo Arena. The 144-pound star, who earlier this season collected his 100th victory at the Central Invitational, stands out as the new standard bearer for the Warrior wrestling program. He is a leader in the locker room, a tactician on the mat and, in overcoming an injury to qualify for state, is an example of perseverance and persistence.
Despite missing most of the season, Bormann’s attitude remained upbeat, commenting on how fun the season was being combined with Ed-Co and getting to know the other wrestlers. It “opened up a new atmosphere” he said, while providing more partners to train with. More importantly, along with the coaches, it was those teammates who were there during weeks of recovery.
“I give thanks to my coaches for helping me overcome my injury and pushing me to become the best version of me, not only in the sport of wrestling, but as a person, and my teammates who are always pushing me to get better and better every day,” Bormann said.
Preparing for state meant practicing, drilling moves and “fine tuning the little things.” It also meant physical therapy at Rock Valley Physical Therapy with Kris Marks, who was there from the beginning of the season to get Bormann’s injury healed “as best and quickly as possible.”
Koehn always expected Bormann’s name to be penciled in at 144 pounds for Denver. On Saturday, Bormann walked into the Cyclone Center to wrestle for the first time since mid-January, even missing the Upper Iowa Conference Tournament.
When he stepped onto the mat for his quarterfinals match against Brady Schuman of Columbus Catholic, questions remained about the injury and what version of Bormann would wrestle. But 29 seconds later, all doubt was cast aside when he scored a takedown and finished with a pin. It was a statement to the rest of the weight class that, injury or not, the path to state was going through him.
The semifinal match only emphasized the point further, when Bormann pinned Wally Kaufman of Wapsie Valley in 51 seconds.
His toughest test came in the first-place match against Westyn Price of North Linn. Bormann scored seven points early with a takedown and a four-point near fall, but Price battled back with a reversal near the end of period one. A takedown in period two set up a decisive third period. Leaning on experience and preparation, and with his dad urging him on mat side, Bormann held off Price to win the bracket and advance to state with a 7-5 decision.
“The experience at Denver was an amazing one. The finals matches are loud and everyone is cheering with the spotlight on you. It’s a new experience for sure, but a good one,” Bormann said. “The finals match was closer than I would have liked it to be, but it is districts. Everyone is there to win. It also showed me what I need to work on before state”
Bormann will head back to “The Well,” and this year, he doesn’t have to do it alone.
“I am really excited for Preston, who also made it to state this year. It will be an exciting atmosphere for the both of us having more than just one wrestler in Des Moines,” Bormann said.
The experience in Denver, and at every qualifying tournament, is unique, which is why Koehn described it as “weddings and funerals.”
“You’ve got your highest of highs and lowest of lows, watching one teammate earn their first ever trip and watching a senior’s season come to an end. Wrestling might be an individual sport, but it builds team camaraderie like no other. I am extremely grateful to be a part of this team,” Koehn said.
The state tournament starts for Kulper and Bormann on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 1:30 p.m., at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
