DeJong and Goemaat of NM Qualify for State

For the second year in a row, Paul DeJong is going to State. 

This past Saturday, Feb. 13, the North Mahaska sophomore punched his ticket to Wells Fargo Arena finishing in second place of the 120-pound Iowa Class 1A District 5 tournament. 

After pinning Tyler Gibson just over a minute into his opening match, DeJong found himself facing undefeated Marcel Lopez of New London once again. 

The two met a week prior during Sectionals and like that match, Lopez once again emerged victorious. 

With the loss, DeJong had to wrestle one more time in order to earn his spot at State and in the wrestle-back match he pinned Jacob Pierick of Colfax Mingo in the second period. 

DeJong, determined to continue his season, scored an early takedown and never looked back. 

“Paul looked adversity in the face and punched back,” said North Mahaska head coach Ryan Groom. “He could have laid down and let the match go the same way it did last time. His grit during this match showed him and everyone else what us coaches see every day. He is a champion and Saturday he showed it.”

In 2020, as a freshman, DeJong lost both of his matches at State and Coach Groom knows that experience has him hungry for even more this year. 

“Paul is focused on finding his way onto the podium this year. He is more than capable of doing this and I think this year, he agrees,” Groom said. 

DeJong won’t be alone at state this Thursday, Feb. 18, joining him will be fellow sophomore Trace Goemaat who placed second in the 285-pound District tournament. 

Goemaat, who was a win away from qualifying in 2020, started his day off with a tightly contested 4-1 victory over Kenny Schlosser of Colfax Mingo. 

It was the final match of the opening round and had everyone in the gym’s attention. Goemaat’s conditioning helped push him to victory as Schlosser seemed gassed in the final round. 

“Trace had everything to lose in that match,” Groom said. “He is on a whole different level when he believes it. I love that hard work gets rewarded in wrestling and Trace is the epitome of hard work. Hard work beats talent every time.”

In the finals, Goemaat was pinned by Matthew Kaufman of Pleasantville. After the match Goemaat and Coach Groom’s attention immediately turned to the wrestle-back match taking place at the same time. 

Once Schlosser pinned Chad Kent of Waco, Goemaat, Groom and the entire North Mahaska squad erupted in celebration. Since Goemaat defeated Schlosser earlier on, there would be no wrestle-back and Goemaat was headed to State. 

Goemaat and DeJong’s teammate Matt German ended his 2021 season with a third-place finish, picking up one victory by pin over Jesse Smith of Pleasantville. 

The State qualifying Warhawks now turn their attention to Wells Fargo Arena. Goemaat (33-4) begins his state run against Mack Ortner (32-7) of Don Bosco while DeJong (26-12) takes on Jace Rose (33-1) of Riverside.