Montezuma brothers punch tickets to state wrestling

MONTEZUMA — Two Montezuma Braves wrestlers, who happen to be brothers, have qualified for the state wrestling tournament.

Brett Plants, a senior, and his brother, Braxton Plants, a junior, stamped their state-bound tickets at districts Feb. 15 at Colfax-Mingo.

Brett and Braxton will both take the mat in their respective weight classes sometime between 1:30 — 5 p.m. Feb. 19 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

This is the second trip to state for Brett, who will wrestle in the 190 weight class. Braxton, a first-timer at state, will wrestle in the 215 weight class.

The brothers are the sons of Mike and Kelly Plants.

Asked what going to state means to him, Brett said, “It shows how hard we have been working.”

Braxton said he is looking forward to the experience and getting to wrestle with his brother.

The Plants boys come from a family of wrestlers.

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Their dad, Mike, who is the first-year Montezuma Varsity Wrestling Coach, wrestled at Montezuma during his prep days. He qualified for state in 2000, his senior year, winning one match before bowing out.

Asked what he loves about the sport of wrestling, Coach Mike said it’s all about being gritty.

“It’s only you on the mat, and you have to do it yourself,” he said.

Asked about following in their father’s footsteps, Brett and Braxton smiled and chuckled.

“We’ve already passed and outdone his accomplishments on the mat,” they said.

The Plants boys have a younger brother, Bo, who also wrestles.

In addition to a trip to state, the brothers have hit 100 wins in their wrestling careers.

Brett reached the milestone Jan. 16 at home against a wrestler from Moravia. Braxton reached the 100 wins at Ogden Jan. 25.

“It’s pretty special to get my 100th win,” said Braxton.

“Receiving a banner for my 100-win milestone is pretty cool,” said Brett.

Brett finished the regular season with a 46-10 record. Braxton finished his junior year campaign with a 47-5 record.

Two years ago, the Iowa High School Athletic Association ended sectional wrestling. To advance to state, wrestlers in each class have to finish one and two at districts.

The change opened the door for 24 wrestlers, rather than 16, to compete at state in each class

Brett finished in second at districts, and Braxton notched out a first place win.

Montezuma competes in Class 1A.

Asked what they love about the sport of wrestling, Brett, who started wrestling in a pee wee league in preschool, said, “I like to win and the competitiveness of the sport.”

“The competition is what I love most about wrestling,” said Braxton, who also started wrestling as a young boy.

Asked about having his two sons make it to state wrestling, Coach Mike smiled and said, “It’s pretty special. It has been an awesome season.”