Lashbrook sixth for his third state medal

DES MOINES – A break from wrestling, Trey Lashbrook said, is what cost him a higher spot on the Class 1A state wrestling podium.

The AGWSR junior 120-pounder placed sixth for his third state medal, but after losing in the state semifinals, Lashbrook dropped his last two on Saturday to fall to his place.

“I’ll take sixth,” Lashbrook said after his final match on Saturday, Feb. 22, a 7-3 loss by decision against Don Bosco’s Garrett Funk. “It’s not what I want, but it gives me a reason to work and motivation for next year, for sure.

“I didn’t wrestle year-round and I struggled with that. In this sport you have to wrestle, can’t stop wrestling, I took a bit of a break off wrestling and it showed, the kids that are higher on the podium worked harder than me this year.”

In his consolation semifinal, Lashbrook was taken down with a lateral drop that went for the fall by Logan-Magnolia’s Hagen Heistand in 1 minute, 48 seconds.

“Something was missing, motivation, drive, I was very pleased with his last match, had the fire there, competing for positions, lot better than what we were at A-P tournament against him,” AGWSR coach Chad Gerbracht said, “but flat earlier [against Lo-Ma kid], just flat, had to ask him ’Still having fun?’ he said, ‘Yeah, I am.’ Just had aches and pains like everybody here. Talked a little bit about what these matches mean, the minute he lost and went to the backside those matches are training for state championship year next year, that’s how he has to focus and see what’s happening next nine months.”

Lashbrook was in his second semifinal of his career, but lost by a 10-2 major decision to Brandon Paez, sending him to the consolation. AGWSR finished with seven team points, tied for 55th with five other teams.

“Earning a medal, winning first two matches at state is great,” Gerbracht said. “One match away and takes a turn for the worse there and you often see this kind of let down on the backside, in the past we’ve benefitted from these reactions, but it’ll be alright, he’ll bounce back, put in the work this year and follow through with it.”

Lashbrook said that he’ll use this as motivation.

“I’ll work all year come back and hopefully win that state championship that I want,” Lashbrook said.