Scheuermann advances to day 2 in second state tourney appearance

By Brandon Hurley
Managing Editor
news@beeherald.com

Greene County’s Gavin Scheuermann got the victory he was searching for.

The sophomore recovered from a tense, opening round loss to Crestwood’s Cole Butikofer Feb. 17 (a 4-2 defeat) to secure a bounce-back, 15-2 major decision over Atlantic’s Brian South in the first round of the 152 pound consolation bracket.

The triumph advanced Scheuermann to day two of the sate tournament for the first time in his career. The sophomore wrestler, who finished the year with a 41-7 record, was making his second straight state tournament appearance.
Unfortunately, Scheuermann couldn’t quite keep the momentum rolling as he fell to Burlington Notre Dame’s Noah Fenton in the consolation second round on the morning of Feb. 18 via a 12-3 major decision. Fenton would end up finishing seventh overall, defeating Butikofer, 8-2 in their seventh place match.

The forward progress was encouraging, Greene County head coach Zach Beekman said, knowing Scheuermann lost both his matches in quick succession last winter, but there are plenty of lessons to be learned.

“He knows how tough it is,” Beekman said. “When you get to this point, every match you go into you have to be ready for a six minute battle.”
I hope he takes back that he’s got a lot of work to do.”

Scheuermann improved his career record to 58-19 thanks to a breakout season in which he secured his first career district title and first Heart of Iowa Conference championship, bolstered by a career-best 41 victories. The next goal,
Beekman said, is for the soon-to-be junior to not simply reach the state tournament in 2023 but to place in the top eight of his weight class.   

“If he wants to get on the podium in the next two years he’s got to put in work,” Beekman said. “He’s got some bad habits that we need to break.
He’s got to be disciplined and every decision he makes has to be geared toward getting on the podium.”

Scheuermann was one of three Greene County state qualifiers, joining 120 pound champion Kale Petersen and 132 pound runner-up, McKinley Robbins.