John Harris Tournament celebrates 50th anniversary with another loaded field

BY MATT PFIFFNER
This weekend, wrestling fans in the state are treated to a pair of the biggest 
and best annual high school tournaments. Both are so big, in fact, it takes 
two days to get them done.

The John J. Harris Wrestling Tournament is held in Corning. This tournament 
is special every year, but this year it's even bigger, as it celebrates 
its 50th anniversary.

Many of the top teams and individuals in Southwest Iowa will be packed 
into the Corning High School gym, along with some of the most rabid fans 
in the state. This one is definitely standing room only. I know, I've tried to squeeze 
my way in there a few times.

The action will start with pigtail matches Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. and won't 
get over until around 5 p.m. Saturday. It isn't 25 non-stop hours of wrestling, but 
when you leave the gym after the finals, it will feel like it has been with all the 
action you take in.

This year, 21 teams will compete in this mini State Tournament. They are Atlantic, 
Bedford, CAM (Anita), Carroll Kuemper, Central Decatur, Chariton, Clarinda, 
Clarke (Osceola), Corning, Creston, Griswold, Lenox, Mount Ayr, Nodaway Valley, 
Red Oak, Riverside (Oakland), Shenandoah, Sidney, Tri-Center (Neola), Wayne 
and Winterset.

Expect tough competition at every weight and no one is guaranteed a title here.
Here is a quick breakdown of each weight class, including the possible big 
matches and how it may
all turn out.

103
Freshman Andrew Long of Creston, brother of former Creston and Northern Iowa 
standout Dylan, is one of the favorites here. Even though the Panther freshman is 
undersized at this weight, he is tough as nails and has great technique. He has 
risen to No. 6 in the latest Class 2A rankings. But he recently lost to Winterset's 
Brad Robinson, so it may be a Creston-Winterset showdown. One of the other top 
competitors could be sophomore Cody Smith of Central Decatur, who was ranked 
in 1A earlier in the season, but has had an up and down first half of the season.

112
Derek Weller, ranked fourth in 1A, is the pick to take this weight, although he is 
one of four ranked wrestlers who should be competing for the gold. Weller missed 
the first half of the season, but is back and appears better than ever. Looking to 
knock off the Bulldog will be 1A's 10th-ranked Lucas Orstad of Griswold and a pair 
of 2A ranked grapplers - No. 7 Tyler Linderman of Creston and No. 10 Ryan Brown 
of Atlantic. This weight could treat fans to a pair of excellent semifinal bouts
on Saturday.

119
This should be another outstanding weight class, with a trio of ranked wrestlers 
and a freshman with a familiar last name. San Groves of Nodaway Valley is ranked 
fifth in the latest 1A rankings and he will receive some tough tests is he wants to 
win the crown. Marcus Nagl of Carroll Kuemper is ranked seventh in 2A and Quin 
Leith, a freshman from Creston, is ranked 10th. Another promising freshman will be 
looking to make some noise as well. Brock Mason, brother of all-time wins leader
Brandon, is a freshman at 119 for Shenandoah. He has wrestled very well to 
start the season and is just on the edge of the rankings.

125
This weight class should give wrestling fans the third battle of the season between 
a pair of top-ranked wrestlers. Laramie Shaffer of Winterset is the top dog in 2A and 
is looking to add the 125-pound crown to the 119-pound title he claimed last season. 
He has already defeated 1A's top-ranked Austin Baier of Nodaway Valley twice this 
season, once by a point and the last time by a 5-0 score. Those are the only two 
losses for Baier, who placed second at State at 125 last season. He will be looking 
for a bit of revenge this weekend, but it won't be easy. Someone who will be looking 
to throw a wrench into the expected third meeting between Shaffer and Baier is 1A's
ninth-ranked Jonnie Wyman of Griswold, who already owns a win over 1A's 
second-ranked Kirk Landon of Audubon. 

130
This weight could feature another outstanding Winterset vs. Nodaway Valley battle. 
Dylan Frost of Winterset is ranked eight in 2A and Logan Queck of the Wolverines 
is ranked fourth in 1A and has been wrestling tremendously this season. Two wrestlers 
to watch who could derail Frost and Queck's title hopes are Stoney Stuart of Creston, 
who recently tagged a 4-0 loss on Frost, and Jake Clevenger of Tri-Center, who is a 
very tough sophomore wrestling fans will be becoming more familiar with.

135
Ryan Byler of Winterest, ranked third in 2A, is the clear favorite at this weight. He is 
the lone ranked wrestler in this weight class and is would take a big upset to knock 
him off. Joe Audlehelm of Central Decatur is one wrestler to watch here. He is 20-7 
this season and 17-3 at 135. He recently placed third at the very tough Centerville 
Big Red Invitational, losing only to 3A's second-ranked Zach McKray of Iowa City High.

140
Hans Larson of Mount Ayr is the lone ranked wrestler at this weight, as he comes 
in at No. 8 in 1A. But he is far from the clear-cut favorite. Seth Williams of Chariton 
has had a solid season for the Chargers and Jared O'Riley of Lenox is always 
dangerous. He is a three-time State qualifier and placed last season. He hasn't had 
the start to the season you would expect from a returning place finisher, but he has 
proven he can step up and win matches on a big stage, and they don't get much
bigger in the regular season than the John Harris.

145
This weight is loaded with talent and should give fans some very thrilling bouts. 
Josh Abel of Winterset, ranked second in 2A, is the favorite to win, but he will 
more than likely face a stiff test or two along the way. Caleb Brus of Creston 
isn't ranked in 2A, but only lost to Abel 5-3 earlier this month. Tom Slater of 
Shenandoah is ranked seventh in 2A and will be a tough out, but he may also 
be at 140, where he would become a co-favorite with Larson of Mount Ayr. 
There are also a pair of ranked 1A individuals here. Stud freshman Kaleb Evans 
of Lenox has been outstanding in his rookie campaign, with his lone loss a close 
one to Abel in the  Winterset Tournament finals a couple weekends ago. He is 
ranked fifth in 1A while Max Starlin of Griswold is right behind him in sixth. This 
should be one of the more entertaining weights to watch throughout the tournament.

152
Winterset appears to have the man to beat once again, as Calvin Barber comes 
in ranked eighth in 2A and is the lone ranked wrestler. But don't forget about 
returning 2A State qualifier Jim Weiser of Clarke (Osceola) or senior William 
Nichols of Griswold, who could easily be ranked right now in 1A with his sparkling 
record.

160
Three ranked 2A wrestlers highlight this weight class, but watch out for that 
1A ranked wrestler from Griswold or he may just sneak up on you. Curtis 
Barber of Winterset is the highest ranked wrestler here from 2A, as he was 
No. 6 in the latest rankings. That may change, however, as No. 7 Matt Williamson 
of Creston handed Barber a 3-1 loss on Jan. 13. Barber may get his chance for
revenge this weekend. Justin Retallic of Atlantic is ranked No. 10 in 2A and 
Tony Orstad of Griswold is the seventh-ranked man in 1A. Both of them are 
very capable of winning the gold.

171
This is the only weight class in the tournament where we don't have a ranked 
wrestler competing, so outside of Southern Iowa, the champion here will probably 
be unfamiliar to wrestling fans. One wrestler who may rise up and take this wide 
open weight class is Matt Richards of Nodaway Valley. He already owns some 
impressive wins this season, but has been inconsistent for the Wolverines.

189
A pair of outstanding 1A individuals who had great first halves to their seasons 
could face off at this weight. Thomas Hess of Bedford is ranked fourth in the latest 
1A poll and Cole Wilson of Riverside (Oakland) comes in at No. 6. This would be 
a highly-anticipated match, but Ben Hansen of Red Oak, ranked 10th in 2A, 
probably has other ideas for the finals match. Cory Van Pelt of Winterset is another 
possible roadblock to a Hess and Wilson meeting.

215
Rory Miller of Oakland (Riverside), ranked second in 1A, is the heavy favorite 
here. No one is ever a lock to win a tournament as tough as the John Harris, 
but if there is anyone close to a lock this year, it would be Miller, who finished 
sixth at State at 189 last season and has had no problem adjusting to the jump 
up in weight class.

275
It's not every day you here this, but the heavyweight division could be one of the 
more entertaining ones at this tournament. Four ranked wrestlers should be on 
the mats in Corning, including the top men in 1A and 2A. Tyler Blum of Atlantic, 
who won a 2A State title at 215 last season, is ranked No. 1 in 2A at heavyweight 
this season. He took last weekend off to play in the High School All-American 
game in San Antonio, Texas. He should be back and ready to go in Corning this 
weekend. If all goes according to plan, Blum should face Adam Lyons of Central 
Decatur in the finals. Lyons is undefeated on the year and ranked No. 1 in 1A. He 
has only been pushed the full six minutes twice this season in his 24 wins. He 
placed second at State as a sophomore and was seventh last season. Looking to 
knock off one of the favorites will be Wade Garren of Tri-Center, ranked eighth in 
1A and Jake Ward of Clarke (Osceola, who is ranked ninth in 2A. Jesse Cody of
Oakland (Riverside) is a name to watch for from outside the rankings.