Barkema assured a medal in first state trip

DES MOINES — Bulldog sophomore 138-pound wrestler Carl Barkema shook off a second-round loss to top-ranked and unbeaten Jalen Schropp of Williamsburg to win his consolation to place himself on the medal stand.

Barkema trailed early against West Liberty’s Talen Dengler only to go ahead and eventually pin the Comets’ wrestler in 4 minutes, 20 seconds.

He described what it took to come back from a tough loss to stake a place on the stand.

“It’s like my coach said, ‘I could feel sorry for myself but it can only be for a minute or two,’” Barkema said. “I have to go out and compete in my next match and I did that as much as I could.”

When asked how it felt to know he’s assured of a medal, Barkema was succinct.

“It feels great,” he said.

Coach Patrick Hansen added, “It’s a huge accomplishment for him to place at state. If you would have told me at the beginning of the year he would place at state, I would have said a lot of improvement would have had to happen and it did. Couldn’t have happened to a better kid.”

Barkema was pinned in 24 seconds against Schropp (56-0).

“His technique was way better than mine,” Barkema said. “I wouldn’t necessarily say he was stronger than me. I made a little mistake and he capitalized on it, like a normal wrestler should do. I should have done better in that match, but I understand that I’m at state. I just have to move on and win and I did.

“I had a little bit more fire in my belly this time. I used the first match to motivate myself for this one.”

Barkema faces a familiar face tonight, Alberto Salmeron of Iowa Falls-Alden. He is 0-3 against him, being pinned the first two times, however, he closed the gap with loss by 12-7 decision in the North Central Conference final.