A-W's Utesch brings home sectional title for second straight year

(Sentinel photo by Roy Tucker) A-W's Chet Utesch attempts to escape from the holds of Woodbury Central's Tyler Smith during the 119-pound championship Saturday. [Click to enlarge]

Like many high school wrestlers, Akron-Westfield's Chet Utesch also plays football.

But despite all that time spent in the weight room, the second-ranked Westerners sophomore has managed to keep his wrestling weight at 119 pounds during the wrestling season.

"During wrestling I don't lift as much," said Utesch, who picked up his second straight sectional title at Saturday's tournament at West Lyon. "I do mostly arm workouts that my brother has me do. Other than that, in the mornings I do a little bit of lifting, but mostly a lot of running and cardio."

The one time Utesch did fail to make weight was at last weekend's Woodbury Central Duals and it cost him his chance at an undefeated season as he fell to Class 3A No. 3 Chad Ryan on Sioux City North at 130 pounds.

Still, that just adds more fuel to the fire.

"It motivates me, telling me I need to go harder," Utesch said.

Utesch had little trouble storming his way through the 119-pound bracket at Saturday's sectional tournament hosted by West Lyon.

Utesch pinned Sioux Center's Josh Olvera in his first round match and pinned West Sioux's Jacobe Millikan in the semifinal.

Utesch scored a major decision victory over Tyler Smith of Woodbury Central in the final.

But Utesch and coach Mark Van Oort were still far from satisfied, considering Utesch claimed a technical fall victory over Smith earlier this season.

"Not his best day as a whole," Van Oort said. "Chet's had a great season. He's come off a couple of losses here as of late...It's good for him to build his confidence back up, come in here and win the sectional championship in pretty convincing fashion."

At the district tournament next Saturday in Sioux Center, Smith and Utesch will add Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn's Hank Voss and Graettinger-Terril's Tyler Manning to their quartet.

Voss took home the 119-pound title at the Okoboji regional while Manning was the runner-up. The four will square off beginning at noon with the top two finishers advancing to the state meet in Des Moines.