Red Oak’s Greatest Wrestler
DES MOINES — Since the beginning of the season, Seth Esaias has focused on one goal, which had eluded him before, winning a state championship. As he took down team records left and right, that focus was still there.
Esaias’ realized his dream Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena when he won the 2A State Championship for 182-lbs. by defeating Denver-Tripoli’s Garrett Smith in overtime, 3-1.
“Going to overtime, I knew he was more tired than I was,” Esaias said.
Esaias stuffed a takedown attempt by Smith in overtime and was able to get the takedown and pinfall halfway into the overtime period.
“The kid had very good defense and didn’t get out of position much,” Tigers Head Coach Tiegan Podliska said about Smith. “The one time he did get out of position in the match, we put him on his back and stuck him.”
The match was close as both Esaias and Smith prevented takedown attempts during the first period.
Smith scored the first point of the match during the first minute of the second period via an escape. Smith almost escaped early in the period, but Esaias was able to keep him down for a few additional seconds.
“He’s pretty good on bottom, he has a pretty good base. You couldn’t really break him down,” Esaias said.
Smith had a couple of chances to score a takedown during the second period, but Esaias was able to either stuff the takedown, or both were out of bounds.
“That’s mat positioning, that’s part of wrestling. You know where you’re at, at all times,” Podliska said.
Esaias tied the match early in the third period when he was able to escape. Both wrestlers had attempted takedowns, but Smith missed out on a near takedown attempt. The score remained tied at 1-1 as it went to overtime.
“I was trying to work for a takedown, but he kind of stalled in the third period,” Esaias said. “I was trying to push the pace.”
Following the win, Esaias celebrated by leaping into Podliska’s arms as the Red Oak contingent in the arena cheered.
“That’s a dream every wrestler and every coach ever has. You want to jump into the arms and you want to catch the athlete,” Podliska said. “It’s all about seeing the wrestler, seeing your athletes get better.”
It’s the first Red Oak state wrestling title since 1921 when Audra Liegerot won the title at 95 lbs.
Despite Smith’s loss, Denver-Tripoli still went on to win the 2A team title. Thanks to Esaias’ run to the state title, the Red Oak team itself finished with a score of 29 points, putting it in 16th place out of 76 teams that brought wrestlers.
Esaias wasn’t the only Hawkeye Ten wrestler to win a state title
Saturday as Creston Orient-Macksburg crowned two state champions in Jake Marlin (138 lbs.) and Collin Bevins (285 lbs.)
Esaias started his state tournament run with a win Thursday over Sean Fitzgerald, by a second period pinfall.
Esaias’ second pinfall at the state tournament came in the quarterfinals on Friday morning when he got it over Erik McKillip of West Liberty. Later that night, Esaias won a 15-5 major decision over Jacyn Goebel of West Delaware, to advance to the championship match.
With his wins, Esaias finishes the 2011-12 season with a 50-0 record, which now makes it the best season record, as well as most wins in Red Oak wrestling history.
“It’s amazing to have the opportunity to come in here and meet a kid like Seth and become a friend and a coach to him,” Podliska said. “He’s always been a tremendous wrestler. He just needed a little bit more, to be able to come in here and provide with that, it just makes you feel awesome.”
Esaias had entered the state tournament as one of 31 wrestlers looking to run the gauntlet and the regular season undefeated. Dylan Peters of Denver-Tripoli, John Meeks, Gabriel Moreno of Urbandale, Zach Witte of Cedar Rapids-Prairie, Jared Bartel of Mason City, Ross Larson of Ankeny, Willie Miklus of Southeast Polk, Doug Miner of Spirit Lake Park, Adam Reth of West Delaware, Hunter Washburn of Alburnett, Martensdale-St. Marys David and Robert Walker, Troy Mills’ Logan Mulnix and Brendan Schott, Marco Naughton of St. Albert and Tri-Center’s Loren Williams all were crowned state champions and were undefeated during the season.
“You can’t find a more deserving kid than Seth Esaias,” Podliska said.
In the career total wins category, Esaias is far ahead of everyone in Red Oak history. He finishes his high school career with 173. He’s tied on the state wins list with Shenandoah’s Matt Anderson, Iowa City High’s Jeff McGinness and Lewis Central’s Travis Paulson.
T.J. Sebolt of Centerville has the wins record at 207.
Esaias didn’t travel alone as both Red Oak district qualifiers Geoff
Sellers and Jordan Vrba were at the state tournament.
“It’s a little more casual when there’s just a few of them and a few coaches and we’re in a Suburban for three days because you have to joke or you’re going to go crazy,” Podliska said. “It was just awesome to hang out with those guys and continue to build that team atmosphere and build that family atmosphere.”