Long wins against Team USA

CNA photo by LARRY PETERSON Position push: Andrew Long (right) of Iowa and USAÕs Thomas Williams battle for upper-body position in their 119-pound bout.

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IOWA CITY — Andrew Long solidified his No. 1 national prep ranking Saturday with a 6-2 victory over No. 2 Thomas Williams of California. Long, Creston’s only three-time state champion, was one of five Iowa winners against a national all-star team in the Cliff Keen/Wrestling USA Dream Team Classic at Iowa City West High School. The USA team, undefeated in the 12 years of the event that rotates to host state sites, defeated the Iowa senior all-stars 40-15. But it was better than the last time it was held in Iowa, a 60-0 USA romp in Cedar Rapids in 2003. “We were hoping for a few more matches, but the USA kids are tough,” Long said. The closest dual in the series came last year when an Ohio all-star squad lost three matches by a collective four points and was defeated 27-16. The USA team had taken a 10-0 lead Saturday on a pin at 103 and major decision at 112 pounds before Long turned the tide at 119. Williams, with a career record of 179-17 and 2007 California state champion headed for a wrestling scholarship at American University, opened the match with an exciting scramble with Long that resulted in no scoring. “He didn’t panic when they were in that scramble situation and they both had each other’s ankles,” said Matt Long, Andrew’s father and one of the assistant coaches for head coach Kent Kersten of Logan-Magnolia. “It was a great workout for him.” Scoring start Long started the second period in the down position with the match still 0-0. He dumped Williams off his back on the whistle and quickly turned it into a reversal for a 2-0 lead. Williams escaped, but Long countered a Williams shot for a go-behind takedown and a 4-1 lead entering the final period. Williams again escaped early in the third to close it to 4-2, but was unable to mount any offense. Another counter move by Long resulted in his second takedown and the final 6-2 margin. “I kind of shot and missed a leg,” Long related. “Then he came at me. I avoided his leap, and kind of slithered around him.” Long will wrestle on scholarship at Iowa State University. Cyclone head coach Cael Sanderson and assistant Dylan Long, Andrew’s brother, sat near a contingent of Panther fans. Long was one of two future Cyclones winning matches against the USA team Saturday. The other was heavyweight Eric Thompson of Waverly-Shell Rock, a 4-1 winner in double overtime over Elijah Madison of Oak Park High School in Kansas City. “Andrew looked pretty good,” said Dylan, a former All-American at Northern Iowa and two-time state champ for Creston/O-M. “After that first scramble, I think Andrew was just waiting to see what the kid was going to do. The kid was bouncing around a lot, so it was hard to get ahold of him. Andrew stayed in position and was able to score.” It was Long’s second career victory over Williams, the first coming last summer in the Junior National Duals. Long said wrestling in the Dream Team Classic was a great way to end his prep career. “It’s fun to go out and wrestle in something like that,” Long said. “The crowd was just amazing. You could hear them up there.” The crowd that nearly filled the West High gymnasium included some of the biggest names in wrestling, including Division I coaches Tom Brands (Iowa), Sanderson of ISU and J. Robinson of Minnesota, as well as Dan Hodge Award winner Brent Metcalf of Iowa. Two future Hawkeyes from Iowa City West were among the Iowa winners. Top-ranked Nate Moore followed Long’s win with a dominating 9-3 decision over No. 2 Brian Owen of Washington, and fourth-ranked Gabe Gambrall upset No. 1 Quentin Wright of Pennsylvania, 6-0, at 171 pounds. Moore’s win brought Iowa within 10-6 in the team score, but Hawkeye recruit Matt McDonough of Linn-Mar was unable to give Iowa its third straight win when he ran into the versatile Jordan Oliver of Pennsylvania. Oliver, headed to Oklahoma State, rolled up a 16-5 major decision. Upset winner The fifth Iowa winner was unranked Tanner Kampen of Humboldt, the 2008 state champion at 145 pounds. He knocked off second-ranked Jon Burns of North Carolina, 8-4. Kampen’s college plans are undecided. Both Andrew and Dylan Long will be involved in competition in two weeks in Las Vegas. Dylan will be vying for a position in the top seven at the Senior Nationals, which would keep him in contention for the 2008 Olympic Trials. Andrew, meanwhile, will participate in the FILA Juniors, which is a qualifier for the Olympic Trials, and the Junior Nationals, a separate tournament. “I’ll be able to wrestle college kids,” Andrew said, “so it’ll be a good experience.” DREAM TEAM 40, IOWA ELITE 15 103 — Gilberto Camacho (D) pinned Kris Thompson 3:28. 112 — B.J. Futrell (D) major dec. Ridge Kiley 17-6. 119 — Andrew Long (I) dec. Thomas Williams 6-2. 125 — Nate Moore (I) dec. Brian Owen 9-3. 130 — Jordan Oliver (D) major dec. Matt McDonough 16-5. 135 — Colin Johnston (D) dec. Mark Ballweg 9-6. 140 — Jason Chamberlain (D) major dec. Nate Herda 17-8. 145 — Tanner Kampen (I) dec. Jon Burns 8-4. 152 — Alex Meade (D) tech. fall Jeret Chiri 19-4 in 5:29. 160 — Jason Welch (D) tech. fall Marcus Edgington 24-9 in 5:22. 171 — Grant Gambrall (I) dec. Quentin Wright 6-0. 189 — Ryland Geiger (D) dec. Josh Ihnen 6-5. 215 — Tyrell Fortune (D) pinned Byron Tate 1:32. Hwt. — Eric Thompson (I) dec. Elijah Madison 4-1 OT. —————— Larry Peterson can be reached at 782-2141, ext. 232 or lpeterson@crestonnews.com