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Championship redemption for WACO’s Louden Huisenga
Warrior’s Ian Maize earns runner-up honors, Gage Samo sixth
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
DES MOINES — A year ago, WACO’s Louden Huisenga was left feeling unfulfilled after falling short of a state title with a loss in the state finals.
But no more.
The WACO senior, who amassed a perfect 42-0 record this season, found himself atop the Class 1A 190 podium on Saturday night after a thrilling 7-6 decision victory over Wilton’s Gatlin Rogers.
It’s been a tough road for Huisenga, who made the trip to Wells Fargo all four years. The first two of those ended with season ending injuries.
“It's amazing. I'm just blessed. I couldn't be happier,” Huisenga said, “Just straight grit. Freshman year in the blood rounds I tore my knee up and got surgery. I came back off surgery the next year and I get kicked out of the tournament because of a concussion. It suck and it’s terrible but I'd do it all over for this outcome.”
Huisenga took an early 3-0 advantage over Rogers with a first period take down, but the Beaver made it tough.
Beginning in the down position, Rogers notched back-to-back escapes in the second period to bring it within one, 3-2. Rogers then followed up with a take down of his own to put Huisenga down 3-5 late in the second.
After back-to-back escapes by both wrestlers, the match sat at 4-6 in favor of Rogers.
Calmness and belief is all that Huisenga needed.
“In my head I was like ‘Stay calm’,” Huisenga said. “Wind the clock down a little bit and get the take down. I knew I would fake and tie up and the shrug would be there. It’s been there all four years, why wouldn’t it be there now.”
As time ticked away, Huisenga looked over at the clock with around 34 second remaining. Ten seconds it all it took.
With all but 20 second to decide a champion, Huisenga got to Rogers’ back to give him what was the decisive points.
Huisenga becomes the fourth state champion in school history and the first since Eric Davis in 2005.
It’s also the first state champion for WACO head coach Seth Pugh. Pugh a state champion himself for Columbus in 2006 has watched Huisenga only get better each and every year.
“I’m grateful that I got the opportunity to coach him,” Pugh said. “I’m so proud of him. I started coaching him when he was in junior high. I’ve been coaching him for six year. He’s the most coachable kid that I’ve ever worked with. He’s just great to be around. He makes everyone around him better. The amount of work he put in over the last six years is impressive. The weight room, any optional practice, he was always there. Getting to this point where we were close last year and didn’t get it and finally getting his hand raised on Saturday up here, that meant everything.”
For Huisenga, being a WACO Warrior means everything.
“It means the world,” Huisenga said. “I dont want to represent anyone but WACO. Everyone’s been texting me, just great people. The best people in Wayland, Iowa.”
As the top seed, Huisenga kicked off the tournament with a bye. In his first match of the tournament, he downed Hayden Heun of Underwood 7-2 decision.
The most dominant performance of the tournament for Huisenga took place in the quarterfinals, when he defeated Gabe Anderson of Hinton by major decision 17-5.
In the semifinals, he won a close one over eventual third-place finisher Jayden Dickerson of Shenandoah 4-3.
Huisenga wasn’t the only Warrior to finish on the podium. The other two WACO wrestlers to compete did as well.
Freshman Ian Maize put together a fantastic first season, finishing with a record of 37-4 at 106. Maize made it all the way to Saturday night’s state finals as well, but had to settle for second after an overtime loss to Kaiden Belinsky of Don Bosco 6-3.
Maize battled back after falling behind 3-0 in the championship bout, securing a take down to tie it at 3-3 early in the second period.
The two stayed at 3-3 through the third, needing overtime to decide a winner. In the extra period, Belinsky notched the sudden victory take down to take the title.
“I just got a little flat footed,” Maize said. “He got me and I couldn’t get out of it. He’s a tough wrestler. I just got to keep working.”
Regardless it was one heck of a season for the Warrior freshman.
“I’m really proud of myself,” Maize said. “I could be a little more proud if I went and got the state title, but more than anything I’m still proud of myself.”
For Maize, senior teammates Gage Samo and Huisenga mean everything.
“Their the biggest part of my journey,” Maize said. “Their my biggest supporters. They help me every single day in the practice room. Their always in my corner. Right after I got done, they gave me a hug and told me their proud of me. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Maize won his first match after his opening bye 14-0 over Carver Hinz of Jesup. In the quarterfinals, Maize defeated Logan-Magnolia’s Crosby Yoder 9-6.
In his semifinal bout, Maize won by decision as well, topping Ethan Humphrey of West Branch 7-2.
WACO senior Gage Samo finished out his career on the podium as well, ending sixth at 120.
“It’s been great,” Samo said of being a WACO Warrior. “I finished on the podium and that’s where you want to be. First three time placer at WACO and it feels great. Ian Maize had been a big part and we both got each other a lot better. WACO has the best coaches you’ll ever have.”
Samo wrestled six matches at state. After a first round bye, Samo defeated Tayler Kibbee of Janesville 9-0.
A tough loss in the quarterfinals to Jesup’s Cooper Hinz, 7-3, bumped him down to the consolation bracket.
Samo followed with back-to-back wins over Boston Mateer of Interstate 35 6-4 and pinned Westwood, Sloan’s Jesse Burton.
For a chance to get back to the third-place match, Samo came up just short. He was downed by Owen Henriksen of Alburnett 6-3.
In his final match of the tournament for fifth, Samo fell 3-0 to Mount Ayr’s Brock Ahaha.
