DES MOINES — There was never any doubt. None whatsoever.
Woodward-Granger senior Cody Fisher (52-0) defended his Class 2A state championship Saturday with a 6-0 decision over second-ranked West Liberty junior Kobe Simon (37-1). The triumph caps what all observers expected from the start of the season — the monster was still on the loose and not about to be stopped.
Fisher bows out at 198-10 for his prep career. He was the state runner-up as a freshman and a sophomore at 195, an underappreciated accomplishment as few underclassmen — especially freshmen — even reach the state tourney at that weight, let alone attain a spot in the finals.
He stepped up to 220 and terrorized the state last year in finishing first at 44-1. The reign of terror continued this year, with Fisher rarely even surrendering a point. Fisher tore through the state tournament this week with a pair of pins in 64 seconds each before advancing to the finals with a 12-3 major decision.
Simon had several inches on Fisher but could not utilize the edge in reach to his advantage, as Fisher scored a pair of take downs to open a 4-0 lead. The West Liberty standout took three shots at Fisher in the third period, but the W-G beast slipped away each time, catching his foe and scoring a third take down with a minute remaining to put the match out of reach at 6-0.
The usually reserved Fisher showed some emotion after the pin, flexing and lifting his index finger while acknowledging the W-G and Madrid faithful. Fisher, like fellow Hawk heavyweight Tyler Lawrenson, also a senior, are Madrid students wrestling for W-G as part of a sharing agreement. Lawrenson reached the state tourney each of the last two years, finishing 1-2 in Des Moines in both seasons.
The title win by Fisher gives head coach Dave Smeltzer his second champion, and Smeltzer was on the receiving end of a big bear hug at the conclusion of the match.
Fisher will continue his outstanding mat career at Iowa State University next year.
