Top-ranked East wrestler eyes title
By Steven Allspach | Posted: Tuesday, December 16, 2008
As a freshman 103-pounder on the East High wrestling team, Kory Kistner sometimes needed an extra dip of ice cream to weigh in for meets -- at 85 pounds.
"I don't think I was ever more than 90 pounds or so back then,'' said Kistner, The Journal's Metro Athlete of the Week after pinning four foes last week to hike his career win total to 102.
That number is one less than the weight he's still wrestling at as a senior.
"I decided about a month or so before the season that I'd stay at 103 and not go up to 112,'' explained last year's third-place finisher at 103 pounds in the Class 3A state tournament. "I really don't have to cut much weight and I feel real fit and healthy.''
The 17-year-old son of Kory and Penni Kistner pinned his three opponents last Saturday in a tournament in Jackson, Minn., and earned the outstanding wrestler award for his performance.
The three wins at Jackson and another fall in a dual earlier in the week raised his career record to 102-24.
"I didn't have much success when I was a freshman (15-16), but I was always determined to get better,'' said Kistner, who was 46-1 last season, losing only to eventual state champ Adam Perrin of North Scott in a controversial semifinal duel.
In that loss, Perrin was awarded two points for Kistner stalling in the final seconds. "I thought there was just one stalling call and the match would go into overtime. It was heart-breaking, but I learned from it.''
Perrin then handed North's Chad Ryan his fifth loss of the season in the state finals. Ryan's other four losses had been to Kistner in four showdowns between the city rivals.
East Coach Vince Pederson calls Kistner "The Ghost.''
"That kid is so fast, so quick,'' explained Pederson. "Fast-twitch (muscles). One second he's there and then he's gone. Maturity, smarts, speed and aggressiveness. That's Kory Kistner.''
A 3.6 student in the classroom, Kory hopes to wrestle in college and eventually become a mathematics teacher.
Kistner is 10-1 this season, losing only to touted Woodbury Central freshman Jordan Bremmer, 9-6.
"I knew he was good. I didn't take him lightly,'' recalled the East senior. "I didn't have a very good match, but I get to wrestle him again later this season.''
At state last year, Kistner rebounded from his wild 10-9 semifinal loss to Perrin by pinning Waterloo East sophomore Kirk Sallis Jr. in a consolation contest and edging Waverly-Shell Rock freshman Jordan Rinken 6-4 for third.
Back at 103 with Kistner, ranked No. 1 for the second season in a row, are sophomore Jordan Jones of Des Moines North/Hoover, sixth last year and ranked second, and Dubuque Senior's Bryce Lynn, ranked third after finishing eighth.
"I really don't look back at the loss last year,'' said Kistner, who was 31-6 as a sophomore two seasons ago. "My focus is on this year.''
Perrin's upset of Kistner, incidentally, prevented a first-ever state title match between two Sioux City preps.
North's Ryan, who beat Rinken in the semis last year, has moved up to 125 pounds and is currently ranked No. 1 in that division. Perrin is ranked No. 2 at 112, but only because freshman Eric DeVos of Waverly-Shell Rock, rated No. 1, moved in from Apple Valley (Minn.) High School, where he won state titles as a seventh- and eighth-grader.
In Minnesota, seventh-graders are eligible for varsity athletics.
Special Mention
BOYS BASKETBALL
Darian Davis, East: The 6-4 senior, a transfer from Lincoln (Neb.) North Star, pumped in 32 points and totaled a whopping 31 rebounds in Black Raider victories over Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson and Spencer.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Jalyssa Ceasar, North: The senior and returning all-stater tallied 43 points and grabbed 19 rebounds for the second-ranked Class 4A Stars in dominating wins over Thomas Jefferson and Sioux Center.
"I don't think I was ever more than 90 pounds or so back then,'' said Kistner, The Journal's Metro Athlete of the Week after pinning four foes last week to hike his career win total to 102.
That number is one less than the weight he's still wrestling at as a senior.
"I decided about a month or so before the season that I'd stay at 103 and not go up to 112,'' explained last year's third-place finisher at 103 pounds in the Class 3A state tournament. "I really don't have to cut much weight and I feel real fit and healthy.''
The 17-year-old son of Kory and Penni Kistner pinned his three opponents last Saturday in a tournament in Jackson, Minn., and earned the outstanding wrestler award for his performance.
The three wins at Jackson and another fall in a dual earlier in the week raised his career record to 102-24.
"I didn't have much success when I was a freshman (15-16), but I was always determined to get better,'' said Kistner, who was 46-1 last season, losing only to eventual state champ Adam Perrin of North Scott in a controversial semifinal duel.
In that loss, Perrin was awarded two points for Kistner stalling in the final seconds. "I thought there was just one stalling call and the match would go into overtime. It was heart-breaking, but I learned from it.''
Perrin then handed North's Chad Ryan his fifth loss of the season in the state finals. Ryan's other four losses had been to Kistner in four showdowns between the city rivals.
East Coach Vince Pederson calls Kistner "The Ghost.''
"That kid is so fast, so quick,'' explained Pederson. "Fast-twitch (muscles). One second he's there and then he's gone. Maturity, smarts, speed and aggressiveness. That's Kory Kistner.''
A 3.6 student in the classroom, Kory hopes to wrestle in college and eventually become a mathematics teacher.
Kistner is 10-1 this season, losing only to touted Woodbury Central freshman Jordan Bremmer, 9-6.
"I knew he was good. I didn't take him lightly,'' recalled the East senior. "I didn't have a very good match, but I get to wrestle him again later this season.''
At state last year, Kistner rebounded from his wild 10-9 semifinal loss to Perrin by pinning Waterloo East sophomore Kirk Sallis Jr. in a consolation contest and edging Waverly-Shell Rock freshman Jordan Rinken 6-4 for third.
Back at 103 with Kistner, ranked No. 1 for the second season in a row, are sophomore Jordan Jones of Des Moines North/Hoover, sixth last year and ranked second, and Dubuque Senior's Bryce Lynn, ranked third after finishing eighth.
"I really don't look back at the loss last year,'' said Kistner, who was 31-6 as a sophomore two seasons ago. "My focus is on this year.''
Perrin's upset of Kistner, incidentally, prevented a first-ever state title match between two Sioux City preps.
North's Ryan, who beat Rinken in the semis last year, has moved up to 125 pounds and is currently ranked No. 1 in that division. Perrin is ranked No. 2 at 112, but only because freshman Eric DeVos of Waverly-Shell Rock, rated No. 1, moved in from Apple Valley (Minn.) High School, where he won state titles as a seventh- and eighth-grader.
In Minnesota, seventh-graders are eligible for varsity athletics.
Special Mention
BOYS BASKETBALL
Darian Davis, East: The 6-4 senior, a transfer from Lincoln (Neb.) North Star, pumped in 32 points and totaled a whopping 31 rebounds in Black Raider victories over Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson and Spencer.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Jalyssa Ceasar, North: The senior and returning all-stater tallied 43 points and grabbed 19 rebounds for the second-ranked Class 4A Stars in dominating wins over Thomas Jefferson and Sioux Center.
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