119
Tony Sweeting, Sr., Highland, Riverside
Jeremiah Butteris, So., Lisbon
Shane Clouser, Jr., Gilbert
Erich Hinschberger, Jr., Belle Plaine
Damon Boorn, Jr., Wilton
Andy Beaver, Sr., Woodbury Central, Moville
- Goodness, Tony Sweeting… I was a Freshman that year. He was so good, that nobody really spoke about the mere possibility that he could even be beaten that year. It just seemed like a foregone conclusion that he was going to win.
- About a month after the state tourney, I ran into Butteris at a Freestyle tournament at Belle Plaine and when I saw him I was energetic and was like, “DUDE!!! Great job at state this year!!!” He got a very sad expression on his face and quietly said, “thank you,” and looked at me as if he were trying to figure out whether I was being serious or not. I was being serious. I thought 2nd at state as a Sophomore was awesome and that losing to Tony Sweeting was something that would happen to anybody who wrestled him. It was at that moment that I realized, “holy cow, some guys have loftier goals and higher expectations for themselves than I do. I should try to step it up.” The thought of actually beating Sweeting wouldn’t have come to my mind, being an underclassmen that year and all. And here was JJ, a guy who had been my size and weight for 5 years and only a year older, he was pissed off that he lost to him. I guess that’s the difference between a 2 time state champion and a one time placer.
- I believe Butteris threw Sweeting to his back in the finals match. Made the crowd roar. Nobody really ever saw Sweeting in a compromised situation like that so it was kind of surreal.
- Damon Boorn and Nick Marolf from Columbus Jct. had a battle earlier that year.
