ALL-DECADE TEAM: Wrestling

T-R WRESTLER OF THE DECADE: DALE HILLEMAN, West Marshall

T-R WRESTLER OF THE DECADE: DALE HILLEMAN, West Marshall

He didn’t have an undefeated season, nor was he a four-time medalist. But what Dale Hilleman of West Marshall did have was vice grips for hands, an undeniable determination to win and two, count ’em two, state titles.

West Marshall’s four-time state qualifier capped his 171-28 high school career with back-to-back Class 1A state championships at 170 pounds, posting a 48-3 record as a junior and a 37-4 senior campaign that came with a punctuation mark.

Hilleman, the T-R’s Wrestler of the Decade, vaulted to the top of the state bracket in 2015 with four wins by pin in a combined time of 8 minutes, 17 seconds, finished off with a first-period flattening of Alburnett’s Austin Hoyle. That was a year after Hilleman decked Alburnett’s Dylan Windfield in 2:42 for his first of two state championships.

106: Nick Meling, East Marshall/GMG, 2013-17

When you average 45 wins a season, you’ve made your mark.

Nick Meling

Nick Meling’s indelible imprint on East Marshall/GMG wrestling included three trips to the state tournament, a sixth-place finish at 120 pounds in 2017 and a 180-24 career record.

113: Trey Lashbrook, AGWSR, 2017-present

There’s another year left to write about what Trey Lashbrook has achieved.

The AGWSR junior has reached the podium in each of his three seasons, peaking so far with a third-place finish at 120 pounds in 2019.

He has a 116-19 career mark for the Cougars with a year left.

Trey Lashbrook

120: Brady Fritz, South Tama County, 2014-18

Acombined 174-28 record between East Marshall/GMG and South Tama has Brady Fritz as a lock for this or any lineup.

Fritz placed sixth at 113 pounds, seventh at 126 and finally second at 132 at state in his career, winning 40 or more matches in three seasons.

126: Kyle Blocker, West Marshall, 2009-13

Undefeated state championships don’t happen every day.

Brady Fritz

Kyle Blocker capped his career with a 54-0 season and a 138-pound state title in 2013. Splitting his years between East Marshall/GMG and West Marshall, Blocker piled up a 181-12 record and three state medals.

132: Blake Meling, East Marshall/GMG, 2008-12

The only thing missing from Blake Meling’s prep wrestling career was that elusive state title.

Meling finished sixth or better in each of four trips to state between 135 and 152 pounds, placing third twice and compiling a remarkable career record of 166-26.

138: Gustavo Martinez, Marshalltown, 2006-10

Kyle Blocker

The more he wrestled, the better Gustavo Martinez got.

Marshalltown’s state runner-up at 145 pounds in 2010, Martinez found greater reward in lesser risk as he became more experienced on the mat. Still he reached the podium in both of his trips to Wells Fargo Arena.

145: Isaac Judge, South Tama County, 2014-18

He had the acumen and the aggressiveness, and he became South Tama’s only two-time state champion.

Isaac Judge topped the 152-pound bracket in both 2017 and 2018 to close out a 164-20 career. He was a three-time state placewinner, taking third in 2016 as well.

Blake Meling

152: Ryan Valline, East Marshall/GMG, 2007-11

Ryan Valline reached the pinnacle at the last possible moment on the wrestling mat.

The three-year state qualifier completed his third medal run with a 152-pound state title in 2011, requiring a last-second takedown to defeat Benton’s Chase Skoneczka, 6-4.

160: Kyle Lux, South Tama County, 2007-11

The state championship he worked so hard for didn’t get away.

Gustavo Martinez

South Tama County’s Kyle Lux closed out a 40-0 senior campaign with a 160-pound state title in 2011, successfully hanging his third state tournament medal in as many trips to Des Moines.

170: Erik Lux, South Tama County, 2009-13

A year after his brother won a title, Erik Lux did too.

Lux was a four-time qualifier who won the 160-pound crown in 2012 and finished third at 170 with a 50-1 record in 2013. He avenged his only loss in the third-place match and was 150-21 for his career.

182: Josh Edel, Marshalltown, 2012-16

Isaac Judge

Back-to-back fourth-place finishes is a lot more than most MHS wrestlers get.

Josh Edel closed out his Marshalltown career with consecutive fourth-place medals at 170 pounds in 2015 and 2016, wrapping up a strong career with a 121-33 record at the state’s highest level.

195: Sam Upah, East Marshall/GMG, 2006-10

Brute strength and sheer determination went a long way for Sam Upah.

The former East Marshall/GMG grappler went 179-14 for his career, which saw four top-four finishes between 171 and 189 pounds. He was unable to reach the top of the podium, placing 4th, 2nd, 3rd and 4th.