Messenger file photo by Britt Kudla Humboldt’s Joey Busse celebrates his state wrestling title in Des Moines.

Messengerland wrestlers packed the medal stand at state this past decade with a number of championship-level performances.

Area wrestlers won 13 state championships and had 18 silver medals between 2010-11 and 2019-20.

The Portillo brothers from Clarion-Goldfield/Dows combined to win five state golds, while the Cowboy program had eight of the 13 area titles in all.

Webster City racked up three of the championships, including current sophomore Cameron Phetxoumphone, the reigning Class 2A 106-pound champion.

It was difficult to narrow down an all-decade team due to the sheer volume of wrestling talent. We did the best we could to highlight the best of the best.

Josh PORTILLO

Clarion-Goldfield/Dows, 2016

Josh Portillo wrapped up hs career as a Cowboy standout with three state titles.

In his senior year, Portillo finished on the middle stand with his brother for Justin for the second straight time. Josh finished 44-1 at 126 pounds.

As a junior, Portillo went 46-1. He posted a perfect 28-0 mark during his sophomore campaign.

Portillo finished his career as a Cowboy with 118 wins and only two losses.

JUSTIN PORTILLO

Clarion-Goldfield/Dows, 2016

Justin Portillo compiled a 39-2 record in his final run with the Cowboys, grabbing the 113-pound state crown to become a back-to-back gold medalist.

Justin’s first title came as a junior 106-pounder, when he was 42-1. In his first season as a sophomore after moving into the C-G/D district, he was 25-3 as a 106 pound state runner-up.

Portillo was 109-5 for his career with the Cowboys.

SPENCER TRENARY

Clarion-Goldfield/Dows, 2019

Spencer Trenary climbed his way up the podium in Des Moines, starting with a seventh-place performance while at Pocahontas Area as a freshman. He earned 43 victories that year.

Trenary finished third when he joined the Cowboys in 2017 after posting a 17-1 record.

As a junior and senior, Trenary had a combined record of 100-5, finishing second as a junior and claiming the 285-pound crown during his final season.

Trenary closed his career with a record of 160-16.

DRAKE DOOLITTLE

Webster City, 2019

Drake Doolittle, who is now wrestling at Duke University, was a four-time medalist for Webster City.

He finished his career as the 120 pound state champion in 2019 after compiling a record of 43-1.

As a junior, Doolittle went 44-5 and was fifth. He finished with a silver medal as a sophomore (43-3).

Doolittle’s career began in stunning fashion, as he lost his first state match but roared back with five straight victories to claim bronze.

Doolittle’s career record was 172-16.

JOEL HABERMAN

Clarion-Goldfield/Dows, 2015

Joel Haberman capped his career as a Cowboy with a 132-pound state championship in 2015. He went 43-8 at 132 pounds.

In 2014, Haberman reached the finals but took second at 126 pounds with a mark of 35-8. He qualified with a record of 32-9 as a sophomore.

In his final three seasons, Haberman was a combined 110-25.

SHEA RUFFRIDGE

Pocahontas Area, 2018

Shea Ruffridge capped his career as state champion.

Ruffridge went 51-1 as a senior at 126 pounds. He was fourth at 120 pounds in 2017.

Ruffridge sported a 92-6 record in his last two seasons as an Indian.

JOEY BUSSE

Humboldt, 2019

Joey Busse took one step closer each year he competed in Des Moines until he reached the top.

Busse was a state qualifier his first two years on the mat, then broke through to the podium as a junior. He placed sixth at 145 pounds, winning 44 matches.

In his final year as a Wildcat, Busse went unbeaten in 47 matches to earn the 145-pound state title.

Busse was 91-7 as a junior and senior, and finished his career as Humboldt’s all-time wins leader after accumulating a record of 161-26.

KYLER FISHER

Southeast Valley, 2019

Kyler Fisher was a workhorse on the football field and the same on the wrestling mat. By the time he graduated, Fisher owned almost all of the school’s records in both sports.

Fisher was the school’s wins leader with a career mark of 165-18 after grabbing three silver medals.

After recovering from an injury in his senior campaign, Fisher was second at 182 pounds with a mark of 28-1. He was 54-2 as a junior and 48-4 as sophomore. He qualified as a freshman.

Fisher is now a preferred walk-on for the Iowa football team.

TYLER PATTEN

Webster City, 2011

Tyler Patten had a banner career for the Lynx, as he finished as the school’s wins leader with 137.

Patten won 35 matches his senior year, and he was as a back-to-back silver medalist.

Patten was also a two-time bronze medalist for the Lynx.

PAYTON RICE

Manson NW Webster, 2014

Payton Rice was a four-time medalist for his dad, head coach Stacy Rice, at Manson Northwest Webster.

Payton started his career with a sixth-place showing. As a sophomore, he jumped to silver.

Rice then capped his career with fifth- and third-place medals, respectively, for the Cougars.

GAVIN DINSDALE

Webster City, 2016

Gavin Dinsdale showed a flare for the dramatic in his senior season with the Lynx.

Dinsdale won the 220-pound championship with a fall in overtime to finish his senior season 44-1.

As a junior, Dinsdale was fifth at 285 pounds with a record of 46-4.

Dinsdale was 90-5 in his final two seasons for WCHS.

SECOND TEAM

BRANCE SIMMS

Twin River Valley/Humboldt, 2012

Brance Simms won a state championship for Twin River Valley in 2011. He also placed second and fifth as a sophomore and freshman, respectively.

Simms competed at Humboldt for one season when the schools consolidated. Going into his senior year, Simms was 120-8 and took over the spot as the school’s all-time wins leader.

BRADY BROTT

Clarion-Goldfield/Dows, 2016

Brady Brott reached the state championship in 2016 with a record of 47-4 at 145 pounds. He took home silver.

Brott was also fourth at Wells Fargo Arena in 2015.

RYLAN RICHARDSON

South Central Calhoun, 2016

Rylan Richardson cruised through his senior season, suffering his only loss of the year to Colton Hansen of Mason City Newman in the 220-pound championship match.

Richardson was fourth with a record of 53-4 as a junior at 195 pounds.

COOPER LAWSON

Webster City, 2018

Cooper Lawson was a state runner-up in his final season with the Lynx. He finished the season 37-2 at 285 pounds.

Lawson also took eighth for Webster City as a junior.

ANDREW WELLIK

Emmetsburg, 2013

Andrew Wellik wrapped up his career at Emmetsburg with two state medals. He earned bronze in each his final two seasons.

As a senior, Wellik’s only loss came in the semifinals. He finished with 41 victories in his final prep campaign.

AUSTIN McCARTAN

Emmetsburg, 2013

Austin McCartan had a strong senior campaign with the E-Hawks, losing his only match in the 195-pound championship.

McCartan was 40-1 in his final year at Emmetsburg.

AREA WRESTLERS IN FINALS MATCHES

2010-2011

Brance Simms, Twin River Valley, 1st; Tyler Patten, Webster City, 2nd.

2011-2012

Aaron Anderson, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, 2nd; Payton Rice, Manson Northwest Webster, 2nd.

2012-2013

Jake Haberman, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, 2nd; Nick Schany, Emmetsburg, 2nd; Austin McCartan, Emmetsburg, 2nd.

2013-2014

Josh Portillo, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, 1st; Justin Portillo, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, 2nd; Joel Haberman, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, 2nd.

2014-2015

Justin Portillo, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, 1st; Josh Portillo, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, 1st,; Joel Haberman, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, 1st.

2015-2016

Justin Portillo, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 1st; Josh Portillo, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, 1st; Gavin Dinsdale, Webster City, 1st; Brady Brott, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, 2nd; Cooper Lawson, Webster City, 2nd; Drake Doolittle Webster City, 3rd; Rylan Richardson, South Central Calhoun, 2nd.

2016-2017

Drake Doolittle, Webster City, 2nd; Kyler Fisher, Southeast Valley, 2nd.

2017-2018

Shea Ruffridge, Pocahontas Area, 1st; Kyler Fisher, Southeast Valley, 2nd; Spencer Trenary, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, 2nd.

2018-2019

Drake Doolittle, Webster City, 1st; Joey Busse, Humboldt, 1st; Spencer Trenary, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, 1st; Kyler Fisher, Southeast Valley, 2nd; Spencer Griffin, Emmetsburg, 2nd.

2019-2020

Cameron Phetxoumphone, Webster City, 1st.