South Winneshiek junior Manning Kuboushek controls Slade Sifuentes of Lake Mills early in the first round of the 2017 Iowa State High School Wrestling Tournament last week. Despite a strong start to the match, Kuboushek was knocked out of the championship bracket by the future 195 pound champion. (Kris Van Sickle photo)

Kuboushek goes 1-2 at State

By Zakary Kriener

The Iowa State Wrestling Tournament is one of the toughest in the entire country. Facing a tough draw, South Winneshiek junior 195-pounder Manning Kuboushek was thrown into the ring as he drew undefeated and 2016 state champion Slade Sifuentes of Lake Mills.

Despite keeping the score low, the returning champion who had not been beaten in two years, was able to pin Kuboushek and send him to the consolation bracket. Sifuentes went on to claim his second straight Class 1A 195 pound championship.

In the first round of the consolation bracket, Kuboushek earned a win by fall over Panorama High School’s Dalton Holmes. 

In the second round of the consolation bracket, however, Kuboushek faced off against Don Bosco’s Walker Even.

After a competitive 6-4 match, Kuboushek’s season was officially over as Even went on to place third in the tournament.

The South Winn junior’s spectacular campaign included a 37-6 overall record and 22 wins by fall, both team-highs.