When the final medals, along with team trophies, were handed out on Saturday night the Cowboys were able to have a nice showing of three wrestlers occupying a step on the 2A awards podium. Garrett Seaba (160) took fourth, Reed Abbas (138) was fifth and Kain Nelson (220) finished eighth after a long three days of mat action on the big stage of the largest high school tournament in the nation.
Seaba started his run with a 7-0 win over Reinicke (Dike-New Hartford), then followed that with a 5-2 win over Worthen (Union). He lost in the semifinal to Appleseth (Panorama) by a close 3-1 score, but came back through the consolation side with a 9-7 win over Kirby (Grinnell) to move into the third-place match. He lost 6-0 to Catour (Assumption) to end his season with a 34-4 record.
Abbas began his journey with a win by fall in 2:44 over Wilkins (Decorah), then pulled out a 4-2 win over Luensman (Monticello). After losing in the semifinals by fall to Weber (Independence), he moved into the consolation semifinals and lost 7-5 to Thomas (Crestwood). He would finish the tournament with a win, beating Ortner (Vinton-Shellsburg) by fall in 1:15 to finish 35-4 for the year.
Nelson opened with a fall in 1:17 over Wallington (Mid-Prairie), then lost 20-4 to Simon (West Liberty). Moving into the backside of the bracket, he righted the ship by pinning Sloan (PCM) in 5:34. He lost two straight decisions, 5-0 to Burnikel (Crestwood) and 13-2 to Fleshman (West Lyon) to finish eighth and 24-5 for the year.
Remi Hanson (145) was not able to place, winning only an 8-6 decision over Fenton (PCM) in the opening round. He finishes 29-4 for the season.
Manchester West Delaware took the team title, followed by Osage and Independence. The Cowboys were 14th in the final 2A standings.
