Ponderosa can’t shake the ghosts of what happened in the Class 5A state wrestling finals a year ago.
Jarion Beets, the team’s first-year head coach, will not let the Mustangs forget.
“Jarion brought out the second-place trophy and put it in the center of the mat the other week,” recalled Ponderosa 160-pound senior Murphy Menke. “He said: Just look at it.”
Welcome to a new era of championship expectations at one of the most storied wrestling programs in the state.
“From the beginning of the year, all the way up until now, I expect greatness from all of our kids,” said Beets, a former Division I All-American wrestler at Northern Iowa who was hired last spring after eight years as a Mustangs assistant. “Itap about getting them to believe.”
Ponderosa sends seven wrestlers to the final round Saturday at Ball Arena with its team in first place at 199 points. Thatap no surprise when you consider the Mustangs won eight consecutive team titles from 2003-10. But Ponderosa understands that no lead is safe at state.
Last year, the Mustangs also produced seven state finalists and carried a 12-point advantage into Championship Saturday. But the lead evaporated quickly after seven stunning Ponderosa losses — allowing Pomona to fight back and claim its fifth state title in six years.
“It fuels me every single day,” said Ponderosa’s Karter Johnson, a 170-pound senior, who will face Pomona senior Roman Cruz in the finals. “I go for my morning jogs and every time I work out, I think of second place. Itap not happening again this year.”
Ponderosa’s confidence is a reflection of Beets’ leadership. The Iowa native describes his coaching style as “direct and uplifting.” His message is working.
“All kids are different and you’ve got to approach all situations differently,” Beets said. “Some guys you can yell and scream at. Some guys you’ve got to keep building up no matter whatap happened to get the best out of them. … When I’m coaching on the mat, it always seems like I might be mad. But I just want to make sure they hear me.”
Beets spent a number of years working with Ponderosa’s youth feeder program. Menke is one of several Mustangs who began training with Beets in elementary school. Menke will face Cherokee Trail senior Matthew Buck on Saturday with another state championship on the line.
“(Beets) is a fantastic technician and makes sure we’re good in all other aspects. Not just wrestling. He’s kind of like a father to us. Practices are hard. But he knows exactly when to ramp it up or slow it down,” Menke said. “Losing in the state finals was like the biggest heartbreak I’ve had in my life. Even the kids who took third or fourth, they’re not happy with that. We’re all coming to win it.”
Beets, 33, brings a youthful energy to a traditionally strong wrestling program. But the Mustangs last won a state title in 2010. They finished as Class 5A runner-up in two of the past three years. It’s why Beets aims to establish a renewed wrestling identity at Ponderosa.
“In your face every second and every minute of every match. You’ve got to get through us. Thatap how we train and the style I brought from Iowa,” Beets said. “I’m hoping that it works. Itap not for everybody. But a lot of guys are at the point where it’s 100 percent all the time. Thatap all I really ask for.”
Pomona, once again, is lurking in second place (161.5 points) with four state finalists.
“We’re going to be the team to knock Pomona off this year,” Menke said.
PONDEROSA WRESTLING STATE FINALISTS
Sophomore Jacob Myers (120)
Junior Jacob Bostelman (138)
Freshman Tyler Eise (145)
Senior Murphy Menke (160)
Senior Karter Johnson (170)
Sophomore Westin Hoffschneider (182)
Senior Haegun Hoffschneider (220)
