Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Louden Bloxham overcomes injury for second straight Class 3A state wrestling medal

DES MOINES — At one point this season, Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Louden Bloxham thought his season might have been prematurely finish.

An undisclosed leg injury that sidelined him and threatened to end his senior campaign. Bloxham opted to delay surgery until after the season, enduring the pain and turning it into another prize.

“A month ago, I wasn’t able to walk,” Bloxham said. “I didn’t think I’d step on the wrestling mat the rest of the year, but I stayed calm, did everything I had to do, kept training, bike sprints (and) got myself ready to go. Just kept working.”

Bloxham displayed his toughness, gutting out a 4-0 decision over Dallas Center-Grimes’ No. 3 Kellen Wegner in the 190-pound quarterfinal of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 3A state wrestling tournament Thursday night at Casey’s Center. He secured his second straight medal, improving his eighth-place finish a year ago.

“It feels amazing,” Bloxham said. “I’ve been working every day for this.”

Bloxham was determined to return. He said it has been his goal for more than a decade and he was going to fight through anything and everything to climb the award stand. Bloxham secured a top-six finish.

“He has worked hard physically but the training has been mental,” Prairie Coach Derick Ball said. “He has bought in to the improve of neuroscience and how important it is to train not only the body but the mind.”

Ball said he has emphasized lessons about resilience daily. Bloxham has soaked in the messages and has had some members of the staff to overcome adversity.

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“He listens,” Ball said. “He is coachable. He has had to face some demons this year. He leans on our assistant coach Trey Blaha a lot. It’s amazing what a kid can accomplish when he connects with a coach and is willing to listen.”

Bloxham reached the quarterfinals in back-to-back state tournaments. He lost in this round last year and wasn’t going to be denied this time. Bloxham scored an escape in the second and iced the win with a takedown in the final minute.

“I was ready to go,” Bloxham said. “I was psyched. I want to make a step up this year. I worked really hard in the offseason, doing everything right making sure to get what I want.”

Western Dubuque’s Joe Hirsch also earned his second straight state medal by beating a DCG foe in the quarterfinals. He scored a late takedown and four nearfall in the final 22 seconds for an 8-1 decision over No. 6 Cole Hemmingsen.

“It feels great,” said Hirsch, who was fifth last year. “It makes me feel thankful for everything everybody does for me. My parents and all they’ve done for me. They have put in a lot of time. All my coaching staff (and) my grandpa.”

Hirsch was in on shots repeatedly, using secondary attacks when his primary offense didn’t yield points. He stayed persistent and finally capitalized on a scramble. Hirsch and Bobcats assistant Mitch Gansen have worked on that situation multiple times, so Hirsch felt comfortable, elevating Hemmingsen’s leg, getting his own hips high and putting Hemmingsen on his back.

“I thought of the training I’ve done these past four years,” Hirsch said. “I knew I wasn’t going to sell myself short. I put in too much time to come short of my goal. That’s really what it took.”

Iowa City West pushed two into the semifinals. Freshman Diego Robertty (113) and senior 126-pounder Alexander Pierce secured top-six finishes.

Robertty held on to edge Indianola’s Cain Crosson, 14-13, while Pierce dominated Prairie’s Aiden Kirk, 18-2.

Pierce is one win away from becoming a four-time state finalist, joining West Coach Nate Moore, Nick Moore and Hunter Garvin as the fourth in school history. Robert Avila reached his fourth finial at West after winning three 1A titles at Lisbon.

Pierce won the 106-pound title as a freshman and earned consecutive runner-up finishes at 113. He’s facing different foes at his highest weight. Each trek has been unique.

“It feels new and it feels different every time,” Pierce said. “I’m just taking it one match at a time. I’m happy to be here.”

Linn-Mar’s Barrett Mieras and Iowa City Liberty’s Landon Bell forged their ways to the 175 semifinals. Mieras blanked Dallas Center-Grimes’ No. 5 Tyde Nelsen, 4-0, to claim his first medal.

Bell produced another heart-stopping finish to earn his second straight trip to the awards stands. After reaching the quarters with a comeback win in tiebreakers, Bell scored a takedown in sudden victory to beat Southeast Polk’s Taylor Floyd, 4-1.

Fort Dodge 285-pounder and Oklahoma State signee Dreshaun Ross took another step closer to his fourth state title. He won his 141st straight win, advancing to the semifinals with a 41-second pin of SE Polk’s Cael Roberts.

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