MADRID — Iowa State University wrestling recruit Cody Fisher is the current Class 2A 220-pound state champion. The Madrid student — who wrestles for Woodward-Granger as part of a sharing arrangement — was 44-1 last season, his lone setback a 2-1 decision to the top-ranked grappler in 3A.
The state runner-up at 195 pounds as both a freshman and a sophomore, Fisher will enter his final prep campaign with three finals finishes, a title, and a gaudy 146-10 record.
Such accomplishments make Fisher well-known in Iowa wrestling circles. His performances at a pair of national tournaments this summer have made his name more familiar in a far wider circle.
“I just went out there (at both tourneys) thinking I could compete with the best and proved to myself I could,” Fisher said. “I didn’t finish at the top and found plenty of things I need to continue to work on, areas where I can improve, and I am actually glad to be able to see them, because now I can work on correcting them.”
Prep wrestlers in Iowa compete in a Folkstyle format, with the two summer tourneys Fisher attended offering both Freestyle and Greco-Roman styles. In a nutshell, the former differs from Folkstyle in having no overtime and some differences in top/bottom positioning, with Greco-Roman (used in the Olympic Games) focusing on upper body moves and positions.
Fisher was part of Team Iowa at the National Junior Duals, held in June in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The event featured teams from across the nation, stocked with state champions. The Hawk standout finished 4-0 in Greco-Roman competition and 5-1 in Freestyle, outcomes that helped Team Iowa finish fourth in Freestyle and 10th in G-R in the group standings.
Fisher recently returned from Fargo, N.D. where he competed in the Junior Nationals. He finished fifth in the G-R portion of the tourney and seventh in the Freestyle portion.
He will focus on improving his already considerable skills during the fall in preparation for his title defense this prep season. Fisher works privately with noted instructor Pablo Ubasa.
“I have learned so much, but there is always more to learn,” Fisher said. “It is hard work, but I am fine with that because you don’t get anywhere without it.”
