WILLIAMSBURG — When Charlie Karam stepped off the wrestling mat, he didn’t have a second to breathe before his peers surrounded him.
A slightly distorted voice coming from the speakers announced the news to the packed gymnasium at Williamsburg High School: Karam had earned his 100th career win after defeating Jude Carter, taking him to the championship match up for the 138-pound weight class at 2A Districts.
Beads of sweat dripped down his face. Karam panted as he was handed a poster commemorating his victory.
“It just shows the growth through all four years,” he said in the hallway just outside the gymnasium, a grin creeping up his face. “It’s awesome.”
And as Karam took the victory against Carter via technical fall, 16-1, Solon’s community came prepared to celebrate. Fans lifted vibrant, bright orange sheets of paper reading “100!” and accompanied them with cheers as Karam walked off the mat.
“Charlie had a specific vision for how he wanted his season to turn out,” Stacy Karam, Charlie Karam’s mom and organizer of the celebration, said. “We’re just so proud of him.”
Karam did not end up taking home first place, as he fell to Landen Davis of Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont High School in the championship match, but his efforts earned him the title of runner-up.
During districts, two athletes made the final push and came out victorious during their respective championship round: Jordan Schmidt in the 144-pound weight class and Lucas Feuerbach in the 215-pound weight class. Schmidt defeated Mason Howe of Mid-Prairie High School via pin, and Feuerbach took down Carson Grier of Williamsburg High School via a 7-4 decision.
Schmidt, Feuerbach, and Karam, along with Jackson Feuerbach, who competed in the 175-pound weight class, qualified for Boys State Wrestling.
While only two athletes won in their brackets, several Solon wrestlers fought until the very end of their bout, only falling by decision after three periods of entangled limbs and exerted effort.
Even when athletes walked away from the mat without the rush that comes after their hand is lifted high in the air from a referee — signaling a bout won — the energy was still positive.
That same energy is what has helped Iowa City, a mere 12 miles away from Solon, earn the nickname “Wrestletown, USA.”
The thudding sound reverberating from cheerleaders slapping the mat. The cheers and clapping from friends and family in the audience during contentious bouts. The wrestlers with headphones in, warming up in solidarity to embrace the victory-first mindset. Coaches yelling “circle” and “get up” and “off your heels” to their athletes on the mat.
All of that together makes up the scene that is Iowa wrestling — a sport that has drawn so many eyes and athletes to the state of Iowa.
And that same energy will be carried to Des Moines for the final contest of the year. Iowa Boys State Wrestling will take place Wednesday, Feb. 19-Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Wells Fargo Arena, where athletes will show off their chops against the best in the state.