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12th ANNUAL BATTLE OF WATERLOO WRESTLING TOURNAMENT AND HALL OF FAME RECEPTION

The 12th annual “Battle of Waterloo” wrestling tournament will take place Friday and Saturday, December 16 and 17 at Young Arena, 125 Commercial Street in Waterloo. East and West high schools are hosting the event with the support of Experience Waterloo, Waterloo hotel/motel tax, Waterloo Sports and Leisure Commission, and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame – Dan Gable Museum.

The Battle of Waterloo Dual meet wrestling tournament features 32 boys’ teams and 16 girls’ teams from across the state and is considered the premier dual meet wrestling tournament in Iowa. The tournament also provides a financial boost to the local economy bringing athletes and fans to Waterloo’s hotels, restaurants, shops, and other businesses.

There are two sessions on Friday and two sessions on Saturday. The cost is $10 per session at the door or purchase online for $8 plus handling of approximately $1.

On Friday, December 16, the boys’ teams will be seeded and placed in one of four standard eight-team brackets and the girls’ teams will be seeded and placed in one of two standard eight- team brackets. Two of the boys’ brackets and one of the girls’ brackets will compete in the morning session with matches at 9am, 11am, and 1pm. The other two boys’ brackets and the other girls’ bracket will compete during the afternoon session with matches at 4pm, 6pm, and 8pm. The three matches will determine each team’s place in the second day’s round-robin championship brackets.

On Saturday, December 17, each of the four boys’ qualifying teams will compete in a round-robin Division I group to determine first-fourth tournament positions. The four runner-up teams from the qualification tournament will compete in Division 2 for 5th through 8th positions and so on. The 5th through 8th place bracket finishers will compete during the morning session of matches at 9am, 11am and 1pm. The 1st through 4th place bracket finishers will compete during the afternoon session of matches at 4pm, 6pm, and 8pm. The girls’ teams will be placed in four teams with the 7th and 8th pools, the 5th and 6th pools, and the 3rd and 4th place pools competing in the morning sessions at 9am and 11am. The 1st and 2nd pools will compete in the Saturday afternoon sessions at 4pm and 6pm to determine the overall girls champion.

Each year the Battle of Waterloo inducts a new class of former coaches, wrestlers, officials, or community supporters into the Battle of Waterloo Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame reception and ceremony will take place on Thursday, December 15 from 5-7pm (Social Hour at 5:00pm and Program/Recognition at 6:00pm) at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame – Dan Gable Museum, 303 Jefferson Street in Waterloo. The persons being inducted this year are Rich Binek (West High); Quinten Haynes (East High); Steve Gillen (BOW Community); Cassy Herkelman Jakoubek (BOW Competitor); 1964 Waterloo East High State Championship Team; 1977 Waterloo West High State Championship Team; Morkel Family (BOW Wrestling Family); East High Individual State Champions, 1933-1959; and West High Individual State Champions, 1933-1959. The reception is open to the public.

Boys’ teams competing in the 2022 Battle of Waterloo: Alburnett, Ankeny, Assumption- Davenport, Bishop Heelan-Sioux City, Cedar Falls, Charles City, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, Clear Lake, Columbus Catholic-Waterloo, Crestwood-Cresco, Denver, Don Bosco, Epworth-Western Dubuque, Independence, Indianola, Iowa City-City High, Lake Mills, Linn-Mar, Lisbon, Nashua-Plainfield, New Hampton-Turkey Valley, North Scott-Eldridge, Osage, Pleasant Valley, Prairie-Cedar Rapids, Union-LaPorte City, Wapsie Valley, Waterloo East, Waterloo West, Waverly-Shell Rock, West Delaware, and West Des Moines Valley.

Girls’ teams competing in the 2022 Battle of Waterloo: Bettendorf, Cedar Falls, Charles City, Crestwood-Cresco, Dallas Center-Grimes, Dubuque Senior, East Buchanan, Independence, Linn- Mar, North Scott-Eldridge, Norwalk, Osage, Waterloo East, Waterloo West, Waverly-Shell Rock, and West Des Moines Valley.

Mission:
The Waterloo Schools community commits to a comprehensive system of education and support to assure that each and every student will graduate prepared for college, career, and citizenship as evidenced by continuing education, pursuing a career path, and contributing to a community.

Making plays for a future: an alumni story

Waterloo alumnus Nate Ewell playing football as a linebacker for the Grand View Vikings
Waterloo alumnus Nate Ewell playing football as a linebacker for the Grand View Vikings

According to Nate Ewell, 2021 West High graduate, teachers at all grades can help their students navigate life, offering impactful advice and lessons throughout their academic career. 

“I used to get in trouble so much as a kid,” said Ewell. “I’d always get my work done and be bored. I remember Mr. Z pulled me aside and said, ‘you’re going to be in my class,’ which ended up helping me out a lot. I have a real tight bond with him still today.” 

Now a sophomore at Grand View College in Des Moines, Ewell plays football as a linebacker for the Vikings, occasionally making the trip back to Irving Elementary to help inspire the next generation of Waterloo athletes. 

Ewell and his two nieces Dakaiyya and Dekeyah
Ewell and his two nieces Dakaiyya and Dekeyah

Thankfully, he’s got two nieces who constantly encourage him to stop by. Ewell says he enjoys the visits where he can reconnect with childhood mentors. Having played football since second grade, Irving is where his love for the sport first began. 

“My mom and auntie were talking about football before I got started,” said Ewell. “In high school, playing against my friends kept me on my toes, and kept me competitive.”

Playing at Grand View is something Ewell enjoys, and wants to share to help inspire other WaHawk and Trojan athletes. He says the support from his family and friends is what has made it all worthwhile. 

For aspiring student-athletes, Ewell says, “Don’t give up, no matter what happens. You always have yourself, so never give up on yourself. Everything is already mapped out for you, you just have to follow the path.” 

Grand View finished their football season 13-1 this fall, making it all the way to the NAIA Semifinal playoffs with Waterloo’s favorite #10 player. 

Ewell on the field as number ten for the Grand View Vikings
Ewell on the field as number ten for the Grand View Vikings

DAN GABLE TO BE HONORED FOR BEING AWARDED THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM AT THE METRO WRESTLING MEET AT WEST HIGH ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2022

Dan Gable receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House in 2020

WATERLOO – Waterloo West and Waterloo Schools will be honoring Dan Gable, 1966 West High Alumnus, at the Metro Wrestling Meet to be held at the Bob Siddens Gymnasium at West High on Monday, November 28, 2022. Coach Gable was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on December 7, 2020 at the White House.

The Metro Wrestling Meet will feature Waterloo East, Waterloo West, Waterloo Columbus Catholic, and Cedar Falls competing in dual meets following the brief recognition ceremony at 5:00 p.m.

The wrestling meets are scheduled as follows on two mats (All meet times are approximate and will proceed as soon as possible after the conclusion of the previous round).

  • Reception in the West High Commons at 4:00 p.m.
  • Dan Gable Presidential Medal of Freedom Ceremony – 5:00 p.m.
  • Round 1 – 5:15 p.m.
    • West vs. Cedar Falls
    • East vs. Columbus
  • Round 2 – 6:45 p.m.
    • West vs. Columbus
    • East vs. Cedar Falls
  • Round 3 – 8:15 p.m.
    • West vs. East
    • Cedar Falls vs. Columbus

Dan Gable National Wrestling Hall of Fame Bio

Any textbook on dedication, determination and desire should use Dan Gable as its model. His relentless pursuit of excellence carried him to the highest pinnacles of achievement. Gable won every major championship available to an American wrestler, climaxed by a gold medal in the 1972 Olympic Games.

He was an undefeated, three-time state high school champion at West Waterloo in Iowa. Starting in his senior year, he won six consecutive Midlands Championships. At Iowa State, he captured three Big Eight titles and National Collegiate honors in 1968 and 1969. He won 100 college matches in a row. Such was the stature of this magnificent athlete that he is best remembered for a match he lost, the 101st of his collegiate career, the 1970 NCAA finals to Larry Owings of Washington. Yet defeat only spurred him to new heights.

He won three National AAU Freestyle titles and won gold medals at the Pan American Games and the World Championships in 1971. In 1972, he won the Soviet Union’s famed Tbilisi Tournament in Tbilisi Georgia and was named Outstanding Wrestler, receiving a horsehair cape that weighs 15 pounds. Thousands of miles of roadwork, thousands of hours of training had brought Dan Gable within sight of his goal.

He was ready for the Olympic challenge. He overwhelmed all six opponents in the Games at Munich, without giving up a single point, and was widely acclaimed as outstanding wrestler of the 1972 Olympics.

Turning to coaching, Gable joined the Iowa staff in 1973 and became head coach in 1977. Starting in 1978, his Hawkeyes won a record nine consecutive NCAA team titles. He stepped down in 1997 with a 355-21-5 dual meet record, 15 NCAA team trophies, and 45 individual champions. His Hawkeyes won all 21 of their Big Ten meets. He also was World Freestyle coach and the 1980 and 1984 Olympic coach.

As one of the great athletes of wrestling history, and a living example of the values of dedication in pursuit of a goal, Dan Mack Gable is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

If you have any questions, contact the West High Athletic Office at 433-2707 or the East High Athletic Office at 433-2475.

Waterloo Schools Mission:
The Waterloo Schools community commits to a comprehensive system of education and support to assure that each and every student will graduate prepared for college, career, and citizenship as evidenced by continuing education, pursuing a career path, and contributing to a community.

Kingsley through the Generations

Leo, Harper, and Avery on their first day of school this year

The Moore family officially has three students at Kingsley elementary this year, Avery in fifth grade, Harper in third grade, and Leo starting his first year in kindergarten. Thankfully, their grandma and grandpa live right across the street where they have resided for roughly 52 years, watching the ebb and flow of the neighborhood as Waterloo continues to grow. 

Mason Moore, their father, once attended these same elementary halls himself, as did his father, Patrick Moore, and his father, Elmo Moore, founder of The Overhead Door Company of Waterloo. 2022 marks the year that all four generations of the family have officially made their mark at Kingsley elementary, as they’ve begun making memories and milestones at 201 Sunset Rd.

Family photo of Mason Moore when he attended Kingsley Elementary

According to Mason Moore, Kingsley elementary has been the heartbeat of the neighborhood as long as he can remember.  Growing up, his mother was a big advocate for the community while on the school’s Parent-Teacher Association. 

“She was a big proponent of keeping it a neighborhood school,” said Mason Moore. “Kingsley is a part of the neighborhood, it’s where we played, it’s where we met, it’s a community neighborhood school. It’s important to have that.” 

Band report card for Patrick Moore from 1960

Even today, after the last school bell has rung, kids can be seen coming to play in the school yard before the sun has time to set. 

One memory that still makes Mason Moore laugh is when Mr. Krull, the school’s custodian, helped find and safeguard their family dog, Duke, who got out of the house one day. They couldn’t find him, and then the next day Mr. Krull called them up saying Duke had come over to say hi and that he was safe and sound. 

“Everybody wants the best for the school,” said Mason Moore. “They’re all our neighbors.” 

Yearbook photo of Michael Moore during his school year at Kingsley Elementary

Finding a BOLD New View with Cole Kelley

Cole Kelley practices his video production skills

“Remember to be respectful,” said Cole Kelley, 2021 West High graduate. “Everyone is a potential connection.” 

After graduating last year, Kelley decided to pursue his love for video production at the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC.) Kelley said he’d begun learning all about camera operations and potential career opportunities during his classes at the Waterloo Career Center (WCC.)  

“My final project in the video production class really helped me see how all the pieces fit together,” said Kelley. “It was after that class that I knew this is what I wanted to do.” 

Matthew Dunkerton, interactive media instructor at the WCC, remembers watching as the spark of storytelling caught Kelley’s attention his senior year. 

“I enjoyed seeing him explore his curiosities as he searched for a career path. It was evident that digital media was the right fit,” said Dunkerton. “He’s put in a great deal of hard work over the past few years to position himself for success and I am confident and excited to see where it leads him next.” 

“I really enjoyed his tenacity to learn everything he could, whether it was video production or marketing, he worked hard to make whatever he was doing quality,” said english instructor, Samuel Bass. 

According to Kelley, the feeling was mutual, saying the encouragement and inspiration throughout the WCC was a key component to his decision to dive into video production. 

“They were all very open to listening to ideas, always helping and inspiring students to create,” said Kelley. 

Digital graphics instructor, Todd Kern, remembers Kelley’s impeccable work as a student, always striving to learn the foundations of concepts instead of just a surface level understanding.

“Cole always had a professional vibe around him,” said Kern. “He wanted to learn everything taught to him. He challenged me on issues and concepts to fully understand whatever was being discussed and he gave one hundred percent on all the work he turned in.”

Recently, Kelley got to learn on location with a film director, soaking up another exciting learning experience. Although, due to a customary non-disclosure agreement, he is unable to share details about the project, he says seeing a professional documentary director intently observe their surroundings to set up future shots is something that’s helped him start envisioning his potential career paths after graduating from DMACC.

Wherever his love of filmmaking takes him next, Bass, Dunkerton, Kern, and the rest of the WCC, will be there cheering for him each step of the way. 

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