Houchins strikes gold for I-35

A school-record three finalists -  including 152-pound champion Dallas Houchins - and one other place finisher, led the Interstate 35 wrestling team to a fourth-place finish at the 2011 Class 1A State Tournament last week at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

The Roadrunners climbed as high as second place during the tournament behind eventual champion Logan-Magnolia, but was passed by Don Bosco and Alburnett to just miss out on a team trophy.

"We knew we had to win two in the finals and things just didn't work out for us," I-35 head coach Randy Calvert said. "But we had a great time up here. We're very proud of how all the kids did."

Finishing on top

Houchins entered the State Tournament undefeated and left that way, with four wins in four days.

The top-ranked Roadrunner capped off a brilliant week of wrestling with a 6-4 victory over second-rated Austin Kessler of Durant-Bennett.

"It's a dream and an accomplishment. I overcame some things and came out on top," Houchins said.

Houchins struck early with a takedown 20 seconds into the match with a slide-by. Kessler escaped later in the period and nearly had a takedown at the end, but Houchins took a 2-1 lead into the second.

"He fought off a pretty good attack. There were a couple times I thought he was going down. All week he was in those positions and came out on top," Calvert said.

Kessler earned the lone point of the second period with an escape, to send the two into the third knotted at 2-2. Houchins chose down in the third and quickly escaped to regain the lead. Houchins hit another slide-by for a takedown moments later, to take a 5-2 lead.

"I just tried to stay in good position the whole time. That move, the slide-by, is a great move to stay in good position," Houchins said.

It appeared the Roadrunner had the bout in complete control, but a Kessler reversal midway through the period cut the lead to one. Kessler let Houchins go for an escape and the Roadrunner was able to hold off Kessler in the final moments for the 6-4 title match victory.

"Honestly, as the week went on I got less and less nervous every day. I don't know why. I just did," Houchins said. "Before this match I felt great. Coming out and getting that first takedown, I always thrive on that first takedown. I get in go mode and just start grinding."

For more on this story see the Feb. 24 edition of the Osceola Sentinel-Tribune.