Red Oak’s champion

DES MOINES — History was made Saturday night in Des Moines, as Red Oak’s Seth Esaias won the school’s first individual wrestling championship since the tournament started in 1921.

After steamrolling his way to the finals match against Garrett Smith of Denver-Tripoli, Esaias won the 182-pound 2A championship in overtime, 3-1.

Esaias, a senior at Red Oak High School, finishes the season with a perfect 50-0 record, one of only three wrestlers in the state with at least 50 wins and no losses.

Esaias had previously qualified for the state tournament in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He medaled in 2010 with a seventh place finish in the 171-pound weight class.

That medal was the first in Red Oak’s history since Roger Vincent’s fifth place finish in the 135-pound weight class 1998.

With his 50-0 2011 performance, Esaias also vaulted his way to the top of the Red Oak all-time win list with a record of 173-15.

The previous high for career wins was 118 by Brett Sandholm from 1994-1997.

Esaias was appreciative of all the community support, which included several people cheering him on from inside bars and restaurants as they watched television Saturday night.

“It’s great. The more support, the better,” he said. “It just makes you feel good too. It helps a lot.”

Esaias, who also lettered in football all four-years at Red Oak High School, plans on pursuing a wrestling career in college. He said he’s been approached by several schools, including Augustana, a Divisioin II school in South Dakota.

Esaias is the son of Amy Westerlund and Steven Esaias.