On today’s countdown of the top 10 Norwalk sports stories from the 2024-25 school year, the success of the Norwalk boys wrestling team takes the number 9 spot.
Led by a cast of eight varsity seniors, Norwalk finished 21-5 in duals, falling one win shy of tying the school record. They defeated four State Duals qualifiers in North Scott, eventual Class 2A runner-up West Delaware, Independence and Osage.
In February, the Warriors qualified eight individuals for the traditional State Wrestling Tournament, scored 45 points to place 22nd in Class 3A, and had a pair of state medalists in seniors Kolton Borcherding-Johnson and Dominic Tigner.
Borcherding-Johnson, who overcame two shoulder surgeries during his career, placed third in the 3A heavyweight class and finished his senior year with a 39-2 record. His only loss at state was an ultimate tiebreaker defeat in the semifinal round. Norwalk coach Jake Brown tells KNIA Sports that Borcherding-Johnson showed remarkable perseverance to perform at a high level in football and wrestling after his junior season was cut short by injury.
“I’m proud of him, for sure,” Brown said. “He had a good career… battled through a lot of adversity. Just getting him (to state) and him getting on the podium is a win in itself. But he’s a competitor. He doesn’t look at it like that. He was coming there to win it, and that says a lot about him as well.”
Tigner, a three-time state qualifier, ended his career by placing seventh at 157 pounds for his first state medal. He finished 32-8 on the season. Coach Brown says that Tigner was the only wrestler all year to score a takedown on eventual champion Maximus Dhabolt of Ankeny Centennial in their quarterfinal match. He clinched his state medal by avenging a loss to Waukee Northwest’s Gabe Rubino earlier in the season.
“It was just great to see because he’s been so close so many years,” Brown said. “He’s beaten so many guys that have been on the podium and done this and that. We’re proud of him for all he’s done and for finishing on the podium.”
Additional state qualifiers for Norwalk included junior Asaiah Martinez at 113 pounds, junior Madox Ward (120), senior Blake Lee (144), senior Tyler Stanford (175), sophomore Victor Esparza (190) and senior Harrison Tripp (215).
Brown adds that the Warriors were close to having 11 or 12 wrestlers advance to the state meet, and he was pleased with the team’s 16-14 match record in Des Moines.