team title to Dowling by 1.5 points, but not before scoring a school record 102 points. Seniors Chad Gallagher-112 and Sean Martin-119 placed fourth, junior Matt Ironside-130 and senior Ed Burnell-140 garnered fifth, while senior Mike Solberg-275 took sixth. Senior Jeremy Jones-135 also qualified. Dick Briggs copped 3A State Coach of the Year honors as voted on by his peers in the Iowa Coaches and Officials Association. Briggs remembers the team as one that, “just flat out loved to wrestle, all year long.” The seniors competed in over seven hundred off-season matches alone. As a total unit they were emotional and fiery, full of intensity and deep pride. They possessed an inner arrogance that would periodically bubble to the surface and they thrived on challenges. At 119 the competition to break the varsity lineup was so fierce that Mike Waldron, a senior returning state qualifier, was third at his weight (freshman Mark Ironside was fourth). Collectively they acted and lived like a family, which often meant getting into scrapes with each other or protecting each other’s back. The ups and downs that comprised the roller coaster season ultimately took a downturn when a post-state tournament mental hangover caused the team to lose their regional qualifying dual to West Waterloo, spoiling a bid for a second team trophy at the state duals. The J-Hawks finished the dual season 9-2. But it was clear that with seven state medallists and eight varsity wrestlers posting twenty-five plus win seasons their hard work and commitment made them one of Jefferson’s most successful and memorable teams.

1991 For the third year in a row a Jefferson wrestler achieved immortality by bringing home the coveted gold medal from the Big Barn. This time, it was quiet senior Matt Ironside-135 lbs. In addition, for the third year in a row there was a team trophy sitting on the head table as a centerpiece for the team banquet. In winning his crown Matt set the school record for takedowns, match points and falls. Coach Briggs remembers Matt as, “having no weaknesses. He is as complete a wrestler as I’ve coached. He is a hammer that may have had the most dominant state meet of any J-Hawk state champion I can remember.” Alongside Matt, but two steps down, younger brother Mark Ironside-125 placed third, just missing out on a finals match of his own losing in the semifinals 7-6 to eventual champion Derek Mountsier a senior from Newton. Mountsier went on to wrestle for Iowa State University where he was a two-time all-American. Mark became only the second wrestler in school history to earn a state medal as a sophomore. Juniors Eric Baker-103 and Darrin O’Brien-112 placed fifth and sixth respectively. Also qualifying were seniors Anthony Johnson-152 and Nathan Means-189. Unfortunately, Means had won seven tournaments on the year and finished the season 33-1, but without a medal at the state meet. Ironically, Darrin O’Brien finished the year 19-11 with a medal around his neck from the Barn. Sadly, state tournament bracketing did not allow for a wrester to wrestle-back after a loss unless the opponent he lost to made the finals. In O’Brien’s case that happened, in Mean’s it did not. The cruelty of this system was finally addressed the following year, one season too late for Nathan Means, ranked number one all season and one of Jefferson’s finest athletes. As a team the 1991 version finished 8-2 running roughshod over everyone but suffering lopsided loses to Prairie and City High. They won three tournaments and placed second twice-including districts, meaning they would not qualify for the state duals. It was however the third year in a row a state team trophy was garnered for Jefferson’s trophy case. Would future campaigns see the streak continue? Footnote: Matt Ironside would go on to become a two time All-American winning one NJCAA individual national championship for Iowa Central.