Indianola's Swim takes perfect record, attitude into Districts

BY MATT PFIFFNER

Indianola sophomore 119-pounder Cody Swim has a perfect 26-0 record heading into this weekend's Class 3A District Tournament at West Des Moines Valley.

The only thing more perfect than Swim's record may be his attitude, as he looks to improve on an outstanding third-place finish at State as a freshman.

The Indian grappler is confident in his abilities, but not cocky. He expects to win, but isn't crushed with a loss. He seems to be content with knowing that as long as he works hard and tries his best on the mat, whatever the outcome is, he can live with.

"My goal right now is a State title. But if I fall short, I'm going to wrestle my butt off to come back and get third place again," he said shortly after winning the CIML Invitational title on Feb. 1 in Ames.

The second-ranked Swim (pictured on top) claimed the league title with a solid 12-3 major decision over highly-ranked Travis Evans of Ankeny. After a close first two periods, Swim took control in the third and ended the bout with Evans on his back.

As if he didn't know it already, Swim said the nine-point win over Evans was proof of his abilities.

"It definitely shows me I can run with the top guys. I think he's ranked fourth and I just majored him," he said.

The win was even more impressive due to the fact that Swim had edged Evans just days earlier, 8-6.

"I think he just wrestled a more solid match. Evans is tough and we've worked hard to beat him," Indianola head coach Matt Young said.

Swim said having the 17-team league tournament just a week before Districts can be hard on the body, but good for the mind.

"This definitely prepares me for Districts and the State Tournament. It's a big tournament with tough competition," he said. "I was definitely looking forward to this tournament."

Swim's dreams of making the State finals at 112 as a freshman were dashed with a 7-5 semifinal loss to eventual champ Nick Trizzino of Bettendorf. He rebounded nicely from that disappointment with two solid wins to finish with the bronze medal.

"It was pretty sweet coming out in third place as a freshman. It prepares me a lot for this year. I know what it's like now," he said. "I'm still going to be nervous, but it won't be as bad. I'll get that first one out of the way."

Young said his sophomore stand-out learned some valuable lessons at State last year.

"It makes you realize you have to wrestle six minutes each match. It shows you that every kid up there is tough," Young said.

Swim entered State with one loss last season and could go into the tournament undefeated this year as one of the favorites to win the gold. But he and his coach both know the record doesn't matter once the State Tournament begins.

"The goal is obviously where you finish at the State Tournament. There's been a lot of kids win State with a loss," said Young, who was a two-time State place finisher for the Indians in the early 1990s.

So what is it about Swim that gives him what appears to be the perfect balance between ability and attitude when it comes to wrestling?

"He's a good worker. He loves to wrestle and works hard at it and loves to compete," Young said. "And like most good wrestlers, he just wants to win and has that competitiveness inside him. And you can't coach that. You just have it or you don't."