Osage high fives it into the semis
By Kristi Nixon
DES MOINES — With Mac Muller relaxed as can be, he capped off a 5-for-5 quarterfinal round for the top-ranked Osage wrestling team with a pin of Glenwoood’s Trent Patton in three minutes, 11 seconds.
He got past the round that hung him up a year ago, recently made his college commitment to play football at South Dakota State University and is aiming to match his father, Bob Muller, who won a state title for the Green Devils in 1994.
“I’m pretty relaxed,” he said. “Making a college decision takes a lot of weight off. Playing football has been my dream, being a state champ, though, has also been my dream. my dad was a heavyweight state champ for Osage. that’s really been my goal, just to follow him, really. And then, get to the next level and play football.
“I knew I came in the top guy, had that mentality. The most important thing is that next match. It doesn’t matter where you are in the tournament, it’s just aht next match that is important.”
He said that his dad has been telling him a few things.
“He’s been getting in my head, obviously.” Muller said. “‘There’s no need to be nervous. Next match, don’t focus on everybody, just focus on the next kid. Prepare, be ready and have fun.’ That’s the main point. What’s the point of doing the sport if it’s not fun, right?”
Muller led 2-0 with a big takedown in the first period before putting Patton to his back for the fall, giving Osage a 62.5 points, 8.5 in front of Mount Vernon to end the day. He has Hampton-Dumont’s Carter Heilskov, who he beat in last year’s tournament.
“The plan is to win,” Muller said. “Everyone is good here. He (Heilskov) has obviously gotten better, I’ve seen that. But, I have too, Going to focus on him right now, and get to the finals, hopefully.”
Blake Fox at 138 pounds and Tucker Stangel at 157 both won by fall while Anders Kittelson (144) earned a major decision and Max Gast outlasted Clarion-Goldfield-Dows’ Caleb Seaba for a 10-7 decision.
“It’s great,” Muller said. “We came in here knowing that we wanted to win and we weren’t going to take anything less. THe five guys have really stepped up. The practice room is where it all is. The guys go hard against each other and makes us way better.”
