Gast making a comeback story

By Kristi Nixon

DES MOINES — Nothing about Osage 165-pounder Max Gast’s senior year has gone according to plan.

When he had elbow surgery shortly before the start of the 2023 baseball season, he had no idea how much time he was going to miss.

“I just thought if I did it before baseball so I could be back for my senior year, football, wrestling, everything,” Gast said. “But, it didn’t work out, I had to get another one.”

Two surgeries later and Gast was allowed to proceed with wrestling, missing all but the past month.

“It didn’t heal right, I guess,” he said. “They said the surgery went well, but my bones weren’t healing, or connecting together. Right before football, I had a check-up and they said the best option was to have surgery.”

Osage head coach Brent Jennings called the surgery ‘a growth plate surgery.’

“It was a growth plate in his elbow that wasn’t closed,” Jennings said. “It was weak and didn’t fully close, and he hurt it last year. And, they went in and put a screw in to pull that growth plate together with the bone. It didn’t work the first time, so they had to chip a bone out of his hip and put it in there and close that gap right and it’s kind of what they’ve done. He’s on surgery two and they might not be done yet.”

It was especially tough on Gast because baseball is what he has committed himself to for the future. He will be going to Iowa Central to study and take part in the baseball program.

“It was tough initially, but I got over it,” Gast said. “I got my mindset right.”

He opened Wednesday’s state wrestling action with a win by 10-5 decision over Clear Lake’s Christian Dunning with three takedowns in the third period and all five in the first two periods and then was warned for stalling in the third.

“It’s tough, because it’s something that still hurts,” Jennings said. “It still causes him some pain. So, he’s wrestling through those things. It kind of shows his mental toughness and what he’s willing to do. We’re having to adjust a little bit about how we want to try to make sure we get through the tournament.

“Not only for the team, but for himself. He’s missed baseball all last summer and football all fall. He didn’t get those same opportunities as a senior, so it’s tough. We’re trying to make sure he gets those opportunities here that he tries to achieve through the highest level he can achieve with what he’s got.”

And, Gast admits that he isn’t in the best of shape after all of the time away from activity.

“I’m not in great shape, no,” he said. “I guess I didn’t train hard enough when I was hurt.”

He faces Colin Seaba of Clarion-Goldfield-Dows in the quarterfinal on Thursday morning. With Gast, as well as top seeds Blake Fox (138), Anders Kittelson (144), Tucker Stangel (157) and Mac Muller (285) all winning by bonus points, the Green Devils are in third place following the opening session with 27.5 points.

“One match at a time,” Gast said. “Keep winning. Have fun, (it’s your) senior year, so have fun. Just win, score points. I think we are up there after the first round.”

Both Gast and Jennings feels fortunate that he is able to compete in the state field a final time.

“I’m lucky to wrestle this year,” Gast said, “so I’m going to take the opportunity and run with it.”

Jennings added, “I’m grateful he’s here, I’m glad he’s part of our team, Obviously, he’s been part of our team since he’s been really little, so we wouldn’t want to be here without him.

“Get on the podium and put up with that and do what he’s doing. You’ve got to love the kid.”