McFadden’s three wins lead Baxter wrestling at state tournament

DES MOINES — Baxter’s wrestling team has been on an upward trajectory since the program became Bolts a few seasons ago.

The positive trend continued this winter as Baxter recorded its first-ever win at the state wrestling tournament and another grappler advanced farther than anyone before him.

It all culminated in four wins total for the Bolts at the Iowa High School State Wrestling Championships at Wells Fargo Arena.

The first victory in the Bolts’ state tournament history went to Ruger Kincaid and Aiden McFadden won three times to advance further than any other Bolt in the history of the program.

“I’m extremely proud of our entire team,” Baxter head wrestling coach Joe Amadeo said. “By many different measures, we had the most successful season of Bolt wrestling yet. That includes our best state tournament yet, qualifying three, which is the most we’ve ever had.”

The three Bolts competing inside Wells Fargo Arena were McFadden, Kincaid and Callyn Bishop.

McFadden was 3-2 at 285 and advanced to the third day, while Kincaid was 1-2 at 120 and Bishop lost both of his matches at 170 and ended their runs on Day 2.

Both Kincaid and McFadden won their first-round matches by fall but each one was trailing at the time of the pin.

McFadden (33-7) was the No. 9 seed at Class 1A 285. He trailed No. 24 seeded Zach Pierce of Rockford 7-4 after two periods but scored a win by pin 33 seconds into the third.

Kincaid (22-19) was down at the time he stuck 22nd-seeded Ronnie Orres of Fort Dodge St. Edmond in the second period.

“We have a saying ‘live by the gas and die by the gas,’” McFadden said. “You have to keep pushing until you die by it I guess.”

McFadden faced eighth-seeded and 12th-ranked Payton Jacobe of ACGC in the second round on Wednesday. He lost by fall in the second period to move to the backside of the bracket.

His first match Thursday was an elimination bout against No. 23 seed Cade Bonnette (22-23) of Denver. McFadden led Bonnette 2-0 after the first period before scoring a pin in the second.

That set up another elimination match with a familiar opponent. He faced No. 16 seeded Isaac Cox of Cardinal and advanced to Friday with a 7-3 win.

McFadden led Cox 4-1 after one. Cox (30-11) got within 4-3 before McFadden pulled away with a late takedown.

Cox was a much-improved wrestler from the first time he faced McFadden.

“I wrestled him at Sigourney and pinned him in the second period. He took really good shots today,” McFadden said. “Winning three matches feels amazing. I have had dreams about this since I was a little kid. I have always wanted to be here and I have worked so hard to get here.

“I really wanted to make it last year, but that didn’t happen. It feels great to be a part of this team.”

McFadden was a favorite to reach state last season but suffered an injury that took him out of contention for the state tournament.

This season, he came up one win shy of a podium finish as No. 5 seed David Hammer of Ogden eliminated McFadden on Friday with a win by fall in the third period. Hammer went on to finish fourth in the weight class.

Top-ranked and top-seeded Wyatt Smith of Lisbon completed an undefeated run with a state title at 285. Smith (51-0) registered two pins and defeated third-ranked and third-seeded Mack Ortner of Don Bosco 1-0 in the championship match.

Kincaid was the 11th seed at 120. His win over Orres (30-18) set up a second-round match with sixth-seeded and eighth-ranked Tayten Coufal (40-11) of Alburnett.

The match lasted just 54 seconds as Coufal sent Kincaid to the backside of the bracket with a win by fall.

Kincaid’s elimination match came against 21st-seeded Bradyn Burns of East Sac County. Burns led 2-0 after one and 6-1 after two before knocking out the Bolt freshman with a 7-3 victory.

Top-seeded and top-ranked Brandon Paez of Lisbon finished off his undefeated season with a state title at 120. Paez (53-0) registered two pins and two technical falls in his four wins.

Bishop (32-9) was the 17th seed in the 1A 170 bracket.

He faced a familiar opponent in the first round in 16th-seeded Wyatt VanWeelden of North Mahaska. VanWeelden (39-10) scored his third win over Bishop this season when he won 7-2 on Wednesday.

In the new 24-team format, no wrestlers are eliminated on the first day so Bishop’s elimination match against 18th-seeded Ian Kohnen (24-7) of Manson Northwest Webster came on Thursday. Bishop was knocked out of the tournament following a 15-0 loss.

“For Callyn, this is two years in a row as a qualifier and he’s only getting better,” Amadeo said. “We are far from done and look forward to building on the success we had this season.”

Top-seeded and top-ranked Maximus Magayna (47-1) of Columbus Catholic won the 170-pound title following a tournament run of three pins and one technical fall.