-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Brody Teske of Fort Dodge wrestles against Johnston James Edwards on Thursday

CEDAR RAPIDS — Brody Teske and Alex Thomsen put on another show here Saturday, as the rematch from their memorable December bout somehow wound up being just as intense and entertaining.

Though Teske — Fort Dodge’s iron-willed 126-pound senior — ultimately dropped the first match of his career in a 10-8 overtime decision to Underwood’s Thomsen in the finals at the Cedar Rapids Jefferson Invitational, the dream of an unblemised career record almost seemed secondary to what was happening in real time on the mat. Teske and Thomsen went toe-to-toe for the second time in six weeks, and like before, the outcome was hanging in the balance until the very end.

Thomsen, a University of Nebraska recruit who suffered his first-ever prep loss to Teske in Council Bluffs, scored a single-leg takedown in the extra frame to prevail and even the personal score with his star counterpart.

”As we’ve said all along, it’s just one match and it won’t define either wrestler — but it does make them better, win or lose,” FDSH head coach Bobby Thompson said. ”Both are elite competitors who weren’t going to back down from this opportunity. Given Brody beat him the first time and had the (undefeated record), it would have been easy for him to say, ‘I proved my point and there’s no reason to risk it again.’ But that’s not how Brody is.

”I thought Brody really came out strong and had the match at his pace in the first period, but he (inadvertently) got hit (in the head by Thomsen’s upper leg while escaping a shot attempt) and wasn’t quite the same that last four minutes. Officiating kind of factored into the equation (during a scramble late in the second period), too. But what’s done is done. We’ll move on; this gives Brody even more motivation and something to work on the rest of the way. Our sport could use more guys like this.”

Teske credited Thomsen afterward, saying, ”I felt strong and great until (midway through the match), but no excuses. His hand was raised.”

Teske (27-1) had gone 162 matches without a setback — a span that has included a school-record three individual state championships. Thomsen, a three-time Class 1A title-holder, improved to 168-1 overall with the win.

Teske is ranked seventh nationally at 126; Thomsen is eighth.

”That dude is a hell of a competitor,” Thomsen told the Des Moines Register. ”I wish I could move my hands as much as he did. I’m always looking to find the best competition out there, and he’s the perfect example of a great competitor.”

Teske and Thomsen will both try to become the state’s 26th four-time individual champs next month in Des Moines. Only six Iowa high school wrestlers have finished their career without a loss.

Teske won the December matchup, 11-9, after rallying from a 7-3 final-period deficit.