Schlabaugh reaches quarterfinals before frustrating finish

By Jeff Yoder
Posted 2/25/22

Easton Schlabaugh was dominant for 90 percent of his three matches at the state wrestling tournament over the past weekend, but a couple of mistakes kept him from adding to his medal …

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Schlabaugh reaches quarterfinals before frustrating finish

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Easton Schlabaugh was dominant for 90 percent of his three matches at the state wrestling tournament over the past weekend, but a couple of mistakes kept him from adding to his medal collection. 

After a first-period pin of Nashua-Plainfield freshman Nic Brase, Schlabaugh built 5-0 and 10-2 leads through two periods in his next two matchs. 

But his junior season came to a heartbreaking end after dropping both the quarterfinal and consolation matches by fall. 

The outcome was especially difficult to process for Highland coach Nick Cole because of how close Schlabaugh was to ending each match with a pin before the third-period disasters. 

“Easton wrestled a pretty flawless match in both the quarterfinal and the consolation match for two periods or more,” Cole said. “Complete domination in both matches.  

“I might be biased and a little bit bitter still, but from what I watched right in front of my eyes, we should have been off that mat in the first period. The kid was flat and we didnt get the call.”

  Cole said that his wrestlers can’t allow a close or questionable call to decide a match. 

“We didnt get the call and we have to stay composed and keep scoring points,” he said. 

Tegan Slaybaugh of AC/GC won the match and went on to finish fourth at 113 pounds.

Cole thought the consolation match was over as well in the first period when Schlabaugh had his opponent locked in a tight cradle.

“We didnt get the call and we continued to wrestle a good match up until another small mistake,” he said. 

“We took a shot that we necessarily didnt need to and our nose got close to our knee and we got cradled.  

“I told these guys before we left for Des Moines that the little mistakes will be costly, and they certainly were.”

Schlabaugh had four takedowns over the three matches and added nine nearfall points in his two losses. He did not give up a takedown until the third period of his final match.  

“Easton wrestled very well,” Cole said “He prepared very well.  We went out that first match and looked dominant and got the fall.  I was feeling good about where he was mentally and physically, and I feel like he was getting some eyes from other coaches about what he went out and did.  We just have to finish the job in each of the matches.  

“There were lessons learned as an athlete and a coach.  We have to learn to manage a match.  We got pretty tired towards the end of both matches and thats where your mind can start playing games with you and I think it forced us to make some mistakes that cost us.”

While the finish was disappointing, Schlabaugh showed an ability to dominate a couple of state placewinners for nearly five minutes in back-to-back matches. 

“Overall, I was proud of how he competed,” Cole said. “He’s a competitor at heart and losing doesn’t sit well with him.  We just have to bounce back and prepare for what’s next.” 

Carlos Valenzuela faced Central Springs senior Brock Mathers in the consolation bracket after dropping his opener to eventual state runner-up Garret Funk of Don Bosco. 

Valenzuela took a 2-1 lead with a reversal in the final period, but a locked hands call cost him a critical point. But he rode out the final 1:42 of regulation to extend his season. Mathers got the only takedown of the match half a minute into overtime. 

“I think we wrestled hard, but we went away from some things that we’re really good at,” Highland coach Nick Cole said. “When we’re on top and we’re in an advantage situation-wise, we’ve got to be able to turn him. We had 75 percent of the hold finished. We’ve just got to turn him over.”

It was first trip to the state tournament for Valenzuela, a junior.”

“I told Carlos, we’re here and it feels good, but losing here sucks really bad,” Cole said. “It’s super emotional for me to lose a guy that’s worked so hard all year. But what he does from now until next February will determine what we get coming back here.”