DES MOINES — There was never any doubt.
Top-ranked Cody Fisher fulfilled all expectations Saturday, dominating ADM junior Kaden Sutton (35-7) for the third time in three weeks to claim the Class 2A state championship at 220 pounds. He becomes the first state title winner in W-G history and lifts his career record to 146-10 after three seasons.
Fisher (44-1), a junior, had been stopped in the finals at 195 pounds as both a freshman and a sophomore. The Iowa State-bound standout was a 3-0 winner over eighth-ranked Sutton in the sectionals, then posted a 13-6 win in the district tourney.
He had complete control Saturday, scoring twice in the first period to take a 4-1 lead. He led, 6-3, after two frames, and quickly moved into a 9-3 lead in the third.
Sutton did all he could, scoring a take down to close within 9-5, but Fisher simply could not be stopped, recording another take down en route to an eventual 12-7 triumph.
Fisher was like a monster turned loose in the 220-pound bracket this year. He won, 18-3, in the first round before recording a pin, in 1 minute, 22 seconds in the quarterfinals. An 11-4 decision over the third-ranked wrestler in the semis set up the eventual 12-7 championship decision. Though Fisher yielded 14 total points, 12 of those were single-point escapes he intentionally allowed, knowing he would be dominant on his feet. Sutton’s third-period take down was the only one allowed by the Hawk standout in four matches.
Fisher had been joined at the state tourney by classmate Tyler Lawrenson (37-9) who finished 1-2 in the heavyweight bracket.
The Hawks are coached by Dave Smeltzer, who is in his seventh year at the helm.
