Sophomore Cale Vandermark helped the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team to a fourth-place finish in the Class 3A state tournament last week at Wells Fargo Arena. It matched the Jaguars’ highest finish in school history.
Vandermark took fourth for the second year in a row, this time at 113 pounds. He finished the season with a 36-7 record.
Here is some inside info on Vandermark:
Congratulations on another outstanding season. Are you ready for a break from wrestling, or will you continue to keep training right away?
I would like to go right back on the mat, but I know it is necessary to take a break to recover.
Overall, what did you think of your performance at the state tournament?
I felt my performance didn’t fully demonstrate what I’m capable of and the work that I have put in, but I plan to fine-tune the mistakes I made to win next year.
The highlight of your week was a 2-1 victory over Mac Crosson of Indianola on Thursday that allowed you to reach the semifinals. You scored the winning takedown in the final second of that match. Would you call that the most exciting win of your career?
That win was right up there with my quarterfinal match last year and winning in the last seconds, and I look forward to hopefully having a more exciting win in the state finals next year.
You then dropped a 5-2 decision in the semifinals to No. 1 Alexander Pierce of Iowa City West, who also defeated you in last year’s semifinals (11-4) and at this year’s district tournament (4-0). Do you feel like you’re closing the gap on him, though?
With Pierce, I am definitely getting closer as my shots are getting to his legs now but not finishing. Last year in the semifinals, he just controlled the whole match.
Pierce then lost in the finals, 10-4, to Tyler Harper of Norwalk–who had posted a 3-2 decision over you at the Keith Young Invitational back in December. Were you surprised that Pierce lost?
I am not very surprised that Harper won. He is a much more offensive wrestler.
You then pinned Ashton Grace of Ottumwa in a consolation semifinal before losing a rematch against Crosson, 6-2, in the third-place match. After you got an early takedown against Crosson, what was the difference the rest of the way? Did he make some adjustments?
After I got that takedown against Crosson, I just tried to hang on to my lead and wrestled not to lose. If I had wrestled like I did in the quarters and kept trying to score, I win that match every time.
Your team had six placewinners among its 11 state qualifiers. Were you happy with the team’s performance, even though you guys came up nine points short of winning a third-place trophy?
I am happy with my team’s performance knowing the placewinners that are coming back will be higher on the podium next year, and I’m looking forward to seeing how high we can place next year.
Your brother, Cody, also placed fourth at 120 in his final state tournament. I’m sure you’ve learned a lot from him over the years by growing up in his footsteps. Will it seem strange next year when he’s not around?
It will be weird without my brother in the room since we are constantly pushing ourselves in the practice room and without him I wouldn’t be the wrestler I am today.
I know you were happy when Cody advanced to the semifinals with a 3-0 decision over Mitchell Pins of Dubuque Hempstead on Thursday. Since you had defeated Pins in overtime in last year’s quarterfinals, did you give Cody any advice on how to wrestle him?
With me beating Pins last year, Cody knew he just had to stay out of his scrambles and wrestle tough, especially since last year (Pins) slowed me down and I had to go to overtime.
Your team will also graduate two other placewinners, Lucas Bruhl (fourth at 150) and Ari Ehlts (sixth at 165). Because of those losses, will you be looking to take over more of a leadership role for the team next year?
I will definitely be taking a big leadership role next year. We’ll be missing a lot of seniors, especially Lucas–who had a big impact on the team.
I’m sure your ultimate goal is to win a state title in one of the next two years. What would that mean to you to accomplish something that no other Centennial wrestler has done?
A state title would be a big deal to show the work not only I have put in but my coaches also and to do it for all of the wrestlers that have failed to do it in the past.