Double-threat Schwaller twins prove victory is twice as sweet

Okoboji took an exciting journey to the Iowa State Wrestling Championships in Des Moines this past week, Thursday, Feb. 18 through Saturday, Feb. 20, bringing home two place winners.

The Schwaller twins have both set records this season for the Pioneers during their senior year and both wrestlers placed at state. Doug Schwaller earned a fourth place finish, the highest placing for the school in 13 years and the top performance at 215 pounds in Okoboji history. Dustin Schwaller placed seventh overall at 285 pounds, also breaking the school's record for number of pins in a single season with 27 falls.

Okoboji took 27th place with 25 points after all rounds were completed, but was tied for 11th place at the end of round one after winning three out of four matches. Don Bosco of Gilbertville won the state title in Class 1A with 119 points. Eddyville-Blakesburg was a distant second with 70.5 points.

"We had a great three days in Des Moines and I could not be more proud of the way the kids wrestled and represented our school," said Okoboji coach, Justin Bouse. "As a coach there is nothing more rewarding than seeing kids who really deserve success achieve their goals. We took four very deserving kids to Des Moines."

Doug Schwaller's story started with a pin in the first round on Thursday morning. Schwaller, ranked sixth in the state, won a 13-4 major decision over Ryan Fouts of Woodbine. He then won a 7-3 decision against Ian Halliday of St. Ansgar on Friday morning. In the third 1A session, Schwaller lost an 8-2 decision to top-ranked Jon Meyers of Coon Rapids-Bayard who had a season record of 46-0. He then won a 7-2 decision over Mitch Montgomery of Lisbon, which allowed him to wrestle for third place. Saturday morning, Schwaller wrestled Al Horstman of West Hancock, but lost in a 10-7 decision to take fourth. He ended his final season with a 38-7 record.

Dustin Schwaller finished seventh after a tough start. In the first 1A session, Schwaller, ranked second at heavyweight, was pinned by Dylan Lame in 51 seconds. He then pinned ninth-ranked Jacob LeClair of West Manona in 31 seconds, which tied the school's pins record. In the second session on Friday morning, Schwaller won a 7-2 decision over fifth-ranked Darin Adam of Pekin, but lost a 3-2 decision to Brendan TerWee of West Lyon, who he previously lost to in overtime at districts. On Saturday, he pinned Adam Steger of Maquoketa Valley in 1:36 to break the schools record for pins in a season. He finished with a 43-6 overall record.

"For Doug and Dustin, it was an awesome ending to their careers. Both of the boys are perfect examples of what true hard work and determination can do for someone. When they started their high school careers, I don't think medaling at state was even a dream for them, let alone a goal, and now they are one of the toughest wrestlers in the state in their respective weight classes," said Bouse. "It is always pretty emotional when a senior wrestles their final match, but their situation was even more emotional for me. The fact that they wrestled their final match at state, side by side, right in front of the Okoboji crowd, for a medal, was almost a storybook ending. We knew they were likely going to be wrestling at the same time, so we were trying to figure out as coaches what to do. I am so happy that I was able to greet each boy as they came off the mat for the final time as a Pioneer."

The only other twin brothers to advance to state in the same year for Okoboji were Rick and Randy Wittrock.

Tanner Taylor (135), ranked seventh in the state, had a great start in his state journey, winning his first match against Loren Williams of Tri-Center with a 6-4 decision. On Friday, he lost by injury default to top-ranked Cole Welter of Don Bosco, who's record was 40-0 on the season. He trailed 13-0 when he was injured with 40 seconds left in the match. Taylor then lost a 4-2 decision to Matt Hemesath of West Marshall, which eliminated him from the tournament. Hemesath finished eighth at 135 pounds.

Tenth-ranked Zach Jones (160) won his first match on Thursday morning over Andrew Deregnier of English Valleys in a 9-3 decision. In the second session, Jones lost a 10-8 decision in overtime to sixth-ranked Jayden DeVilbiss of South Winneshiek. He then lost a 7-0 decision to Gabe Fell of AHST, eliminating him. Devilbiss ended up earning a fourth-place spot on the medal stand.

"Tanner and Zach both came within one move of bringing home a medal, which will certainly be their motivation in the offseason," said Bouse. "I think they each realize they are good enough to be a place winner right now, as they both beat kids this year that were on the award stands. I have no doubt they will have even more determination next season."