Flynn, Taylor Make History as Solon Gets Two Champs For First Time

Ryan Murken Follow @rmmurken February 22, 2020

Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

DES MOINES – Prior to Saturday night there was something missing from an otherwise full high school athletic career for Jax Flynn.

A three-sport standout Flynn played in a state football final and wrestled for a state dual title with the Spartans settling for a runner-up finish each time.

Flynn filled the championship void on Saturday night with a 8-4 decision over second-ranked Spencer Mooberry of Osage in the Class 2A 170-pound title match at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

“This has been a lifetime goal,” Flynn said. “Football I got second place, all throughout high school I was getting second place in team duals, AAU always getting second place, I’ve never got the first place one and there is no time I’d rather get it than right here my senior year.”

Flynn joined sophomore Hayden Taylor, who won his second straight state title on Saturday atop the podium giving Solon two champions for the first time in program history.

The two titles, along with seventh-place finishes from senior Seamus Poynton and sophomore Gage Marty vaulted Solon to fourth in the team standings with 63 points.

The fourth-place team finish was the consecutive top-five finish for the Spartans and third in the past four seasons.

“It feels great,” Flynn said. “One of the best feelings is doing it with Hayden, there is no other person I’d rather have it with than Hayden.”

Top-ranked Taylor got his own piece of program history when he became the Spartans’ first two-time champ with a 5-2 decision over eighth-ranked Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont junior Trestin Sales (45-3) at 145 pounds.

The championship match win by Taylor (52-0) completed just the second unbeaten season in school history and first since Lance Evans went 31-0 on his way to the 220 pound title in 2014.

“I feel happy at the end of the day, I got the job done,” Taylor said. “I still have to know in the back of my mind even after this win what I have to work on to keep moving forward.”

Taylor controlled the action from the outset, scoring a takedown less than a minute into the opening period and using an escape in the second to build a 3-1 lead.

He secured the win when he turned Sales for a two near fall points with 51 seconds left.

“He probably didn’t wrestle his best match but down here weird things happen and a win is a win,” Solon coach Blake Williams said. “He’s a two-time state champ and no one can take that away from him.”

Flynn followed up Taylor’s win with his first state crown, becoming the sixth state champion in Solon history.

“I always knew my teammates and my coaches and my family they’ve always know I could compete and be the best,” Flynn said. “I just proved it today.”

Mooberry scored a takedown less than a minute into the match but Flynn never flinched.

An escape followed by a takedown with 39 seconds left in the opening period gave Flynn (48-7) a 3-2 lead he would never give up.

“I’ve been down a lot in matches and it’s always been my mentality to never quit,” Flynn said. “I just battled back and did what I could.”

Flynn started the second period on top and got Mooberry (38-2) on his back for a three-point near fall that nearly turned into a pin.

The senior secured the win in the third-period when he scored a reversal and rode Mooberry for the final 70 seconds.

“He finally started feeling good this week and man was it awesome, I could not be more proud of that kid,” Williams said. “He is so gutty, so gritty. He just doesn’t let things phase him. Even that match he got taken down in the first 15 seconds and it didn’t phase him. Just awesome.”

The title capped a whirlwind weekend for Flynn who avenged a regular season loss to seventh-ranked Mason Griffin of Emmetsburg in the quarters before back-to-back wins over the top two ranked wrestlers at 170 pounds.

“No one really thought I could do it but me and my family and coaches,” Flynn said. “They always knew, they always believed in me and that’s all I needed.”

Class 2A State Meet

At Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines

Team scores (Top 10; area teams) – 1. Osage 85; 2. Union 78; 3. Centerville 66; 4. Solon 63; 5. West Delaware 62; 6. Bondurant-Farrar 61.5; 7. West Liberty 52; 8. Sergeant Bluff-Luton 51; 9. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 48.5; 9. Winterset 48.5