CEDAR FALLS — Two-time state champion Cody Fisher of Woodward-Granger was named the Class 2A Dan Gable Wrestler of the Year by the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association at a luncheon Saturday.
Candidates were nominated by their coaches and then submitted to a series of elimination votes on-line, in which fans could vote once per day. Each of the three classes were eventually reduced to three finalists, regardless of their grade or weight. Those finalists were then invited to a lunch ceremony held before the War at West Gym All-State event.
Fisher was the 195-pound state runner-up as both a freshman and a sophomore, then moved up to 220, where he finished a combined 96-1 after a 52-0 senior campaign and a 44-1 junior season. His last two losses came in January of 2019 to the then top-ranked 3A wrestler, a 3-2 decision at the Perry tourney. The state final of 2018 is how far back it requires to find his second-most recent setback.
His stellar prep career ends at 198-10, with the Hawk standout never seriously threatened as he ran through his final year. He will compete for Iowa State University.
Other 2A finalists included 152-pound champion Will Esmoil (42-0) of West Liberty, a senior who is the younger brother of UNI grappler Bryce, the champion over Fisher in the Hawk star’s first two seasons. Also considered was Solon sophomore Hayden Taylor (52-0), who dominated the 145-pound weight class en route to a state title.
Fisher, a Madrid student who competes for W-G as part of a sharing arrangement, was coached by Dave Smeltzer and Jay Gohn.