COVID-19 has wiped out all spring sports in Iowa schools and summer baseball and softball are suspended right now with the fate of those seasons being decided June 1 or sooner.

Wrestling in Iowa high schools was fortunate in that the Pandemic didn’t reach Iowa until after the season was over. Greene County head coach Zach Beekman talked with Raccoon Valley Radio about its effects on the sport. “I think we’re fine. We cleared out season, which was great! There were a lot of people that didn’t get to finish their seasons, but when you look at what we’re going into in the off-season, we really haven’t lost a whole lot of time yet as far as high school wrestling goes. They did push our contact date back to July 1st, and it may get pushed back farther. We’ll kind of see. I think we’re sitting alright. I think by the time November comes around, we hope everything’s back in full swing and we’re ready to go.”

For the first time since November of 1990, the Rams will have a returning state tournament finalist in their practice room in sophomore-to-be McKinley Robbins. He placed second at 106 lbs. in the Class 2A State Tournament in Feb. Brian Benitz was the 103 lbs. 2A state runner-up in 1990 as a junior, then placed fourth in ’91 at 112 lbs. as a senior. Erik Strawn was a junior in ’81 when he placed second, and he went on to an undefeated season in 1982, culminating in the 126 lbs. 2A state title.  All the other state finalists in program history were seniors. Robbins is the first Ram freshman to place at a state wrestling tournament. Robbins will be joined in the practice room by another 2020 state qualifier in junior-to-be Brenner Gallagher, a top 12 finisher in 2A at 113 bs.