Setting a new school record, four West Branch wrestlers went to the state tournament and four came back with medals.
Senior Matt Smith finished sixth at 135 pounds, sophomore Jake Slocum finished sixth at 140 pounds, junior Rilen Carew finished fifth at 145 pounds and senior Jayson Madsen finished eighth at 160 pounds at Wells Fargo Arena last week in Des Moines.

“I’m glad we brought medals back for West Branch,” Slocum said.

“That’s a great accomplishment,” Madsen said. “It’s the most we’ve ever sent, and all placed.”

As a team the Bears finished 22nd with 31 points, placing in the top third of the 92 teams represented in Class 1A wrestling.

“That’s pretty good for four guys,” Smith said.

Carew could not help noticing the team set a record, but said each of the wrestlers felt the team could have won some of those closer matches.

“It was a good tournament for us,” he said.

“It was exciting to watch,” Slocum said.

Head Coach Marc Juergens called four medals at the state tournament “a great finish” to the season.

“Matt, Jake, Rilen, and Jayson all wrestled well and showed that they belonged with the best in the state,” he said.

Smith said it was hard work.

“It’s been a long ride,” Smith said. “And it’s a tough sport -- mentally and physically.”

Smith won his first-round match 1-0 over West Marshall State Center senior Matt Hemesath. Smith then beat Turkey Valley senior Mark Reicks. He then lost 4-3 to Hudson’s Ben Huber, bumping him to the consolation bracket. There, he lost to Van Buren senior Brad Goehring. 5-4. Lastly, he fell to Lisbon sophomore Tait Simpson.

“I feel pretty good,” he said. “I expected to place, but I think I could have placed higher if the cards lined up.”

He was ranked ninth in the state going into sectionals and districts, so he was pleased to finish higher.

Slocum won his first-round match by beating Don Bosco senior Troy Hansen 7-3. He then fell to Martensdale-St. Mary’s sophomore Robert Walker. Next, he beat Kingsley-Pierson junior Matt Steffen by a 15-5 major decision. Moving on, he beat Nashua-Plainfield sophomore Taylor Wedeking 8-1. He then fell to Interstate 35 Truro junior Dallas Houchins and finished in sixth place by losing to St. Edmond Fort Dodge senior Mason Waddell.

He said that, for him, a match at state feels like a match in the regular season. “I thought I would make it (to state) but I didn’t think I’d make it to the top six,” he said.

Slocum said he plans to make it to the top three as a junior and then win it as a senior. He hopes to stay in the 140 class.

Carew opened the tournament with a major 12-0 decision over Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn junior Wyatt Towne. He then won 4-3 over B-G-M Brooklyn senior Brandon Smith. In the next round, he lost 2-0 to East Buchanan senior Justin Hoffman. Shifting to the consolation round, he lost to Nashua-Plainfield senior Matthew Dettmer by a major 15-5 decision. Carew then beat Don Bosco senior Clay Welter to earn fifth place.

He called his first trip to state “thrilling,” adding that he got an adrenaline rush from walking into the arena.

“You look up and your heart starts pounding: ‘This is it!’” he said.

There were six juniors at the start of the 145-pound bracket, but Carew was the only one to make it to the top eight.

Madsen lost his first match to Guthrie Center senior Blake Faucher by a 17-3 major decision. He won the second match by pinning Newman Catholic Mason City junior Tevin Brinson. Madsen won again in the third round by a 7-5 decison over Eddyville-Blakesburg senior Randy Armstrong. Madsen then fell to Wapello senior Dylan Schrader. In his final match, Madsen lost 6-4 against AHST Avoca senior Gabe Fell.

Madsen said this year’s trip to state was more exciting than last year.

“Last year I was more nervous,” he said.

The senior said that all wrestlers pick up the intensity at sectionals and districts because that is where the state contenders are picked.

“It gets harder and harder because everybody is fighting for that goal,” he said.

Juergens said the team won a lot of the tough matches and lost some close ones.

“I feel that Matt, Jake, Rilen, and Jayson just went out and wrestled and didn’t let the crowd get to them,” he said.

Slocum predicts that the team will take back another four in 2011.

“We still have a lot of talent on the team,” he said.

Madsen said that Juergens coached them well this year.

“He’s a great guy and he definitely pushed us and helped us a lot,” he said.

Juergens said the wrestlers did a “great job.”

“Hard work pays off. It just goes to show what West Branch wrestling is capable of,” the coach said. “Good things have been happening over the last few years and I think West Branch wrestling will continue to get better in the future.”

Juergens said he learned some lessons this year “and will continue to make adjustments.”

“That is a never-ending process,” he said. “One major change will be focusing more on the potential of each wrestler and where that can take them.”

Smith and Madsen, the two seniors, finish their high school wrestling careers with more than 100 wins each.

Smith said he has just started his college search and is not sure if he will wrestle in college. He plans to major in engineering.

Madsen is also still looking; he plans to major in physical therapy.