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Wrestler who collapsed at state tourney released from hospital

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The high school wrestler from southwest Iowa who collapsed last Wednesday after completing a match in the State Dual Team Championships has been released from the hospital. Eighteen-year-old Tayler Pettit was discharged from a Des Moines hospital Sunday evening.

The senior at Creston/Orient-Macksburg was hospitalized after he collapsed and quit breathing. Medical personnel shocked the teen twice with an automated external defibrillator (AED), while he was still on the mat. Tayler’s parents released a statement explaining a test found their son had “an extra electrical pathway in his heart that caused a rapid heart rate.”

Surgery was performed on Friday to correct the problem and doctors said Pettit should be able to return to playing sports this spring.

Full statement from Scott and Melissa Pettit:

Our son Tayler and his teammates from Creston Orient Macksburg (COM) were focused on bringing home a state team wrestling championship when they took the mat in Des Moines on Wednesday. Shortly after completing his second match Tayler complained of shortness of breath to trainer Chris Leonard, assigned to the team by Greater Regional Medical Center, and COM head coach Darrell Frain. Tayler collapsed, experienced seizures and went into cardiac arrest. Within seconds an Iowa High School Athletic Association team of medical professionals staffing the tournament joined Chris and Darrell and began helping Tayler as he began fighting for his life. Paramedics, trainers and physicians started CPR and tried to revive him. An AED was available in the arena and was used to shock his heart back into rhythm. We believe this rapid care and always having someone with Tayler saved our son’s life.

The biggest question for us was how did this happen? As a three sport athlete Tayler had never experienced seizures or heart problems. The physicians at Mercy Children’s Hospital Pediatric Emergency and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit started care and used a respirator to help him breathe while a cardiologist monitored his heart. By Wednesday night they were able to remove his breathing tube and we discussed testing.

The tests were performed Thursday by Iowa Heart Center cardiologists and they found the cause. Tayler’s heart did not fibrillate from a blow to the chest during his wrestling match and it had nothing to do with maintaining or losing weight. The test found an extra electrical pathway in his heart that caused a rapid heart rate. The cardiologist called it Wolf-Parkinson-White Syndrome. We never knew Tayler had a heart issue and the cardiologist said he could have had it since he was born. We were told the syndrome is the most common cause of rapid heart rate disorders, especially for infants, children and adolescents.

Friday, Tayler had a surgical procedure called an ablation to correct the extra electrical pathway and reduce the potential of future problems. He has continued to gain strength and our cardiologist said Tayler should have a complete recovery and be able to return to sports and play soccer this spring.

We are overjoyed by the outcome but it would not have been possible without all of the support, prayers and caring from our wrestling community and people we don’t even know. You have all given us strength.

We’d like to thank our trainer Chris and our coach Darrel; for not leaving Tayler alone for a second. We thank the Iowa High School Athletic Association for its medical planning and assembling a great medical team to deal with injuries, or in this case a life or death emergency. The physicians and staff with Mercy Children’s Hospital Emergency and Intensive Care Units provided great care. Our cardiologists with Iowa Heart Center at Mercy helped us understand Tayler’s heart problem and fixed it.

As parents, our experiences made it very clear how important it is to have an AED available and know how to use it. AEDs can save lives and we can’t imagine not having them readily available at athletic, school and community events. We hope everyone will learn more about these devices so you can help someone should they experience a medical emergency.

 

Retired IHSAA director enjoying stress free wrestling tourney

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Rick Wulkow

Rick Wulkow

Rick Wulkow is enjoying his role of spectator at the state high school wrestling tournament. Wulkow retired as executive director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association last month.

“It’s very relaxing, no tension in the shoulders and neck…it’s just fun to come and be a spectator for a change,” Wulkow says.

It is the first time in more than 30 years that Wulkow has not been working at the tournament and he says that gives him time to visit with people. He says it is fun to see how the tournament has developed over the years.

The wrestling tournament has always been one of if not the toughest ticket for any sporting event in Iowa. “it’s the largest state wrestling tournament in the country, we have a great fan base, the coaches, our wrestlers are wrestling all over the country at the college level,” Wulkow says, “It is a great sport that was kind of born here in the state of Iowa, thanks to Dan Gable and a lot of old-timers who have done such a great job of developing it.”

Wulkow says he is proud of what the tournament has become as they’ve made a lot of changes through the years from weight management to the dual tournament. “Basically after a little time of change in tradition, people are embracing it,” Wulkow says.

 

 

State wrestling tournament gets underway

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Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson sophomore McGwire Midkiff did not take long to advance in class 3A at the state wrestling tournament. Midkiff advanced to the quarterfinal round with a first period fall over Derick Wyatt at 106 pounds.”I want to get the first one out of the way early because I am here because I want to win a state title. I want to send a message for the tournament,”Wyatt says.

Midkiff says he felt confident coming into the tournament, and after finishing eight last year as a freshman Midkiff wants to finish this week at the top of the podium. Midkiff improved to 50-3 with the win.

Bettendorf’s Jacob Schwarm won the state title at 113 pounds last year. He opened the 120 pound weight class in 3A with a 12-0 major decision over Joseph Sibomana of Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

Schwarm says overall he was satisfied with the match, though he wanted to get a pin for the team points.

Oskaloosa senior Skylar DeJong used a cradle to record a first period pin of Conner Christensen of Ames at 126 pounds. He says he was setting up his shots and he saw the cradle move was there and decided to grab it.

DeJong says he was thrilled to get the opening round win. “Knowing you’ve done your best the first round and keeping that momentum going forward is awesome,” DeJong say. “Last year I lost my first round 2-1 and was just down in the dumps, but I came back and just kept that momentum going.” DeJong finished eighth a year ago at 120 pounds and hopes to end this tournament as a champion.

Waverly-Shell Rock 160 pounder Bryce Steiert used a second period fall over Ben Rebik of Marshalltown to advance. After winning the state crown at 145 pounds Steiert will take a 50-1 record into Friday’s 3A quarterfinals. “I truly believe I can win every match now going forward, and that’s going to help me,” Steiert says.

Steiert says the key at the tournament is to be consistent, doing the same things you’ve done from the start of the years.

The future UNI Panther says he enjoys the atmosphere of Wells Fargo Arena. “Feels like this arena gets smaller and smaller each year for some reason,” Steiert says.

Fort Dodge junior Sam Cook improved to 39-1 with a 9-2 victory over Dedrick Jordan of Waterloo West at 195 pounds. Cook finished third at 182 pounds last year and believes he can win it all this week.

“I believe I can if I wrestle 100 percent, my 100 percent is better than anybody else’s,” Cook says.

Urbandale’s Jake Heinrich will be one of the state’s top football recruits next year and he is also enjoying success on the mat. Heinrich advanced to the 3A quarterfinals at heavyweight with a 7-2 victory over Tyler Pasker from Cedar Rapids Prairie. “Feels good, last year came here and lost 2 and went 2 and out, it feels good to get that win in,” Heinrich says. Heinrich registered three takedowns to improve to 37-5 on the season.

Heinrich says the sport of wrestling benefits him on the football field, especially as a heavyweight because he says you have to stay inside and move people and be physical. “That’s real similar to the offensive line, so it’s great practice for me,” Heinrich says.

English Valley’s wrestler hopes to move to the top of the podium

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Wells-Fargo-wrestlingWhen the traditional state wrestling opens on Thursday there will be 24 defending or former champions the field and many others with the goal of getting there for the first time.

One of those looking for the first gold medal is English Valley’s 152 pounder Zach Axmear who will take a 49-0 record into Thursday night’s class 1A opening round.

“He hasn’t had very many matches under a major decision yet this year and we’ve met some pretty good kids this year. He’s just solid and he’s put some work in..he goes to camps and clubs, he’s just moving in the right direction,” according to English Valley’s coach Brock Moore.

As a freshman last season Axmear made it to the semifinals at 145 pounds before falling to Bryce Paul from Alburnett. Moore believes Axmear can make it to the top of the podium this week. He says as a coach he believes Axmear has the best draw he could have and if they get to the semifinals he could face Paul again, and Moore says that would be a different match than last year.

The traditional state tournament begins Thursday morning with the opening round in class 3A. Tomorrow afternoon will feature the opening round in 2A.

By Chris Varney at KGRN Grinnell

 

Brands wants Hawkeye wrestling team to continue improving

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Herky

Herky

Iowa wrestling coach Tom Brands says this is not the time for his team to be satisfied. The top ranked Hawkeyes host 11th ranked Illinois on Friday night after posting their most lopsided victory at Oklahoma State in two decades with a 30-7 win last Sunday.

“There’s a lot of room for improvement too, there was a little bit of sloppiness sometimes or things you can really tighten up to make it go even more our way. And that’s what we want,” Brands says.

Brands says the Hawkeyes need to be focused on continued improvement and keep doing what they’ve been doing as far as winning and add to that “slamming the door in situations where it is a total team effort.”

Iowa is 8-0 and Illinois is 8-1.

 

Iowa and Oklahoma State meet on the mat

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College wrestling’s most dominant programs collide Sunday in Stillwater, Oklahoma when top ranked Iowa visits eighth ranked Oklahoma State. The Cowboys have 34 national titles and the Hawkeyes have 23.

“They have a style that they coach and preach and we have a style that we coach and preach and that’s probably the uniqueness or it’s a little bit of a difference in philosophy,”Iowa coach Tom Brands says.

Brands says it is just one of several rivalries the Hawkeyes take part in. “this is big for this weekend, but it seems like every time out you someone trying to knock you off your block a little bit,” according to Brands.

 

Story County releases information on arrest of Webster City wrestling coaches

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Ted Larson

Ted Larson

The Story County Sheriff’s Office has released more information about the weekend arrests of two Webster City High School wrestling coaches. Fifty-year-old Ted Larson and 52-year-old Terry Nessa are facing felony charges after deputies say they drove a Webster City School District vehicle to a home near McCallsburg in rural Story County, broke into the home and assaulted the home’s owner.

A news release issued today states the men went to the home Saturday night looking for Larson’s wife, 44-year-old Tara Larson, and she was at the home. Deputies said the home owner, 45-year-old Lyndal Olson, had severe lacerations over both eyes and was taken to a hospital. In addition to assaulting Olson, Larson and Nessa allegedly damaged property in the home, vandalized two of Olson’s vehicles and broke out windows in a barn.

Ted Larson is the head wrestling coach at Webster City High School and serves as the district’s director of transportation. Nessa is a volunteer assistant coach. Both men were still being held in the Story County Jail this morning on $40,000 bond. Webster City Schools Superintendent Mike Sherwood says Larson has been placed on administrative leave.

 

Webster City wrestling coaches arrested after burglary

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Two high school wrestling coaches in north-central Iowa are facing multiple charges after a weekend incident. The Story County Sheriff’s Department arrested 50-year-old Ted Edward Larson and 52-year-old Terry Lee Nessa. Story County Sheriff’s Captain Barry Thomas said deputies responded to a rural home around 10 p.m. Saturday to investigate a report of an assault.

Witnesses reported that the suspects broke into the home, assaulted one person and ransacked the residence. The two men are also accused of damaging vehicles parked at the home. Larson and Nessa are charged with first degree burglary, second degree criminal mischief and willful injury, which is a felony. The victim in the case was treated and released from a hospital.

Larson is the head wrestling coach for the Webster City Lynx and he serves as school transportation director. Nessa is a volunteer assistant wrestling coach. Webster City Schools Superintendent Mike Sherwood said Larson has been placed on administrative leave. Investigators said the two coaches drove a marked Webster City Community School District vehicle to the home where the alleged incident occurred.

(Reporting Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City)

 

Iowa wrestling schedule released

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The University of Iowa has released the wrestling team’s 2014-15 schedule. The Hawkeyes will meet Iowa State in Iowa City at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 28, the day after Thanksgiving. Other highlights on the home schedule include duals with Michigan State, Illinois, Northwestern, and Michigan.

Carver-Hawkeye Arena will also serve as a host for two rounds of the Cliff Keen National Duals on February 15 and 22. The Hawkeyes’ road dates include meetings with Oklahoma State on January 11, Minnesota on February 1, and four-time defending NCAA champions Penn State on February 6.

2014-15 Iowa Wrestling Schedule

Nov. 21 (Friday) Iowa City Duals Iowa City, Iowa

(Baker, Cornell, Iowa CC)

Nov. 28 (Friday) Iowa State Iowa City, Iowa

Dec. 6 (Saturday) Michigan State Iowa City, Iowa

Dec. 29 (Monday) at Midlands Evanston, Ill.

Dec. 30 (Tuesday) at Midlands

Jan. 2 (Friday) at Rutgers Piscataway, N.J.

Jan. 4 (Sunday) at Ohio State Columbus, Ohio

Jan. 11 (Sunday) at Oklahoma State Stillwater, Okla.

Jan. 16 (Friday) Illinois Iowa City, Iowa

Jan. 23 (Friday) Northwestern Iowa City, Iowa

Feb. 1 (Sunday) at Minnesota Minneapolis

Feb. 6 (Friday) at Penn State State College, Pa.

Feb. 8 (Sunday) at Maryland College Park, Md.

Feb. 13 (Friday) Michigan Iowa City, Iowa

Feb. 15 (Sunday) Cliff Keen National Duals Iowa City, Iowa

Feb. 22 (Sunday) Cliff Keen National Duals Iowa City, Iowa

Mar. 7 (Saturday) at Big Ten Championships Columbus, Ohio

Mar. 8 (Sunday) at Big Ten Championships Columbus, Ohio

Mar. 19 (Thursday) at NCAA Championships St. Louis

Mar. 20 (Friday) at NCAA Championships St. Louis

Mar. 21 (Saturday) at NCAA Championships St. Louis

 

Graceland wrestling coach signs recruits from across the country

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Graceland University wrestling coach Zack Mullins is leaving no stone unturned as he builds the program. The Lamoni school offered wrestling for the first time since 1982 this past season and Mullins has gone coast to coast to build the talent base. “There’s talent everywhere and I have been kind of bound and determined to go out and find it. We’ve got kids from Alaska to Delaware to right here in our own back yard with Missouri and Iowa,” Mullins says.

Mullins expects the program to make big strides in year number two. “It doesn’t happen overnight and that’s what I’ve been preaching to the guys who are returning,” Mullins says. He says he tells the team they have to work hard to get to where they want to be.

Mullins says his second recruiting class will add a lot of depth and increase the competition in the wrestling room. The first year he brought in 13 kids and was down to 7 after some left and there were injuries. Mullins has 21 to 22 commitments this year which will up the numbers and create more competition.

The school was without a wrestling program for more than three decades but the sport has a storied history. Mullins says they had 22 straight conference wrestling titles in the past and bringing back the team has excited fans.