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Teske stays unbeaten

-Messenger photo by Britt KudlaBrody Teske of Fort Dodge celebrates after beating Alex Thomsen during the finals of Council Bluffs Classic on Saturday at Mid-America Center

COUNCIL BLUFFS — It seemed almost impossible, this idea of a dream matchup between undefeated high school wrestling titans Brody Teske and Alex Thomsen actually living up to the unprecedented expectations.

As it turns out, the reality didn’t meet the hope or the hype. It exceeded it.

A takedown in the closing seconds capped a furious final-period comeback that kept Teske’s perfect career record intact, as the Fort Dodge senior rallied for an 11-9 victory in the 126-pound finals at the Council Bluffs Classic here on Saturday.

The Dodgers’ three-time defending state champion showed his usual flair for the dramatic, which only heightened the anticipation of the showdown’s conclusion. Teske trailed 7-3 heading into the last frame before digging deep, reaching another gear and recording the winning takedown with less than 10 seconds remaining.

Teske, a Penn State University recruit, improved to 148-0 overall in his prep career. The loss was the first for Thomsen, the Underwood High School star and University of Nebraska commit, in 153 matches.

”I’m not scared to put it all on the line. I’m not afraid to take chances and risk the (possibility of losing),” Teske said. ”But I am motivated by the fear of an ‘L.’ That’s what keeps me going — knowing that I can’t stop putting in the time and the work. You have to embrace challenges like these when they come along, even if the end result may not be what you had hoped for. It’s more about the process.”

Teske tried not to let the advanced billing and historical context of Saturday’s mega-showdown compromise his focus, though he did admit, ”it was a little distracting both leading up to it and during (the early stages)” of the match itself. An early Thomsen takedown — and the crowd’s reaction to it — snapped Teske into his usual predatory zone on the mat.

”I kind of felt like the whole place was against me other than the ones wearing red and black,” Teske said. ”Whether or not that was the case, I don’t know. But in my mind, I fell behind and became the underdog. I heard the crowd cheer (when Thomsen drew first blood) and that got me going. I wanted to prove the critics wrong and shut them up.

”Later on, I remember him arguing a call (with the official), which fired me up, too. I got more comfortable as (the match progressed) and started to feel like myself.”

Conditioning also seemed to play a deciding factor late — again, something that has become a trademark of Teske bouts.

”I like getting into deep water,” Teske said. ”I’m comfortable there. Most people get into deep water and they panic or let their mind get the best of them. Then all of a sudden, they’re flailing away and out of breath. But I know I train harder than anyone, so that when the water gets deep, I’m able to keep my composure and swim when others sink.”

Teske didn’t reach the finals without a fight. The highly-anticipated bout was nearly derailed by Fargo Greco-Roman Fargo champion Phillip Moomey, the nationally-ranked Kearney (Neb.) junior who had Teske down for nearly their entire match before the Dodger registered a takedown and two back points in the closing seconds to escape, 7-5.

”Brody’s motor … it’s something you just can’t coach or teach,” FDSH head coach Bobby Thompson said. ”We saw it against Moomey. We saw it against Thomsen. We’ve seen it before (Saturday); that mindset that he’s never out of a match, regardless of the score or the time, makes him very dangerous. It’s a mentality a lot of wrestlers talk about but very few actually have.

”Brody will be the first to tell you that, relative to his ability and standards, he didn’t wrestle particularly well this weekend. He had to grind it out. But when push came to shove, he found a way because that’s what true champions do.”

Teske was prepared to accept his fate if it meant a blemish on his overall record, adding, ”I just stayed as positive and focused as I could so that I didn’t look back on the match and the experience with any regrets.”

”I thought about (the possibility of) not winning, yeah,” Teske said. ”I was ready for it either way. It’s one match. He’s a great competitor. I did my best to approach it like was any other match — just another Saturday tournament. Sometimes that’s easier said than done, though.”

To some, defeating Thomsen may have been a defining moment in Teske’s career. He knows better than to rest on his laurels now.

”I was down for basically the whole (semifinal round). I got taken down twice (Saturday). I got reversed. I got nine points scored on me in the finals. I’m not even close to being where I need to be, so (beating Thomsen) isn’t going to make anything other than (Teske’s overall record) perfect, because I know I’m not.

”I’ll get right back at it (Sunday), because getting better is a never-ending process — especially if your goal is to be the best.”

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