Montezuma brothers punch their tickets to state wrestling

​        Brett Plants, a Montezuma senior, will wrestle at the State Wrestling Tournament in Des Moines this week. This is the second year that Brett has qualified for state. He wrestles in the 190 pound weight class. Joining him at state is his younger brother, Braxton, a first-time state qualifier. Brett and Braxton’s dad, Mike Plants, is the varsity wrestling coach at Montezuma.

By J.O. Parker
 
     Two Montezuma Braves wrestlers, who happen to be brothers, have qualified for the state wrestling tournament.
        Brett Plants, a senior, and his brother, Braxton Plants, a junior, at Montezuma stamped their state-bound tickets at districts on Saturday, Feb. 15 at Colfax-Mingo.
       Brett and Braxton will both take the mat in their respective weight classes sometime between 1:30 – 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
        This is the second trip to state for Brett, who will wrestle in the 190 weight class. Braxton, a first-timer at state, will wrestle in the 215 weight class.
         The brothers are the sons of Mike and Kelly Plants.
         When asked what going to state means to him, Brett said, “It shows how hard we have been working.”
         Braxton said he is looking forward to the experience and getting to wrestle with his brother.
The Plants boys come from a family of wrestlers.
        Their dad, Mike, who is the first-year Montezuma Varsity Wrestling Coach, wrestled at Montezuma during his prep days. He qualified for state in 2000, his senior year, winning one match before bowing out.
          When asked what he loves about the sport of wrestling, Coach Mike said it’s all about being gritty.
          “It’s only you on the mat and you have to do it yourself,” he said.
         When asking Brett and Braxton about following in their father’s footsteps, both boys smile and chuckled.
         “We’ve already passed and outdone his accomplishments on the mat,” they both said.
         The Plants boys have a younger brother, Bo, who also wrestles.
         In addition to a trip to state, the brothers both have earned their 100th win in their wrestling careers.
       Brett reached the 100-win milestone on Jan. 16 at home against a wrestler from Moravia. Braxton reached the 100-win milestone at Ogden on Jan. 25.
         “It’s pretty special to get my 100 win,” said Braxton.
         “Receiving a banner for my 100 win milestone is pretty cool,” said Brett.
        Brett finished the regular season with a 46-10 record. Braxton finished his junior year campaign with a 47-5 record.
        Two years ago, the Iowa High School Athletic Association ended sectional wrestling. To advance to state, wrestlers in each class have to finish one and two at districts to advance.
         Brett finished in second at districts and Braxton notched out a first place win.
        This move by the IHSAA, opened the door for 24 wrestlers in each class to compete at state, instead of 16 from years past. 
         Montezuma competes in Class 1A.
        When asked what they love about the sport of wrestling, Brett, who started wrestling in a pee wee league in preschool, said, “I like to win and the competitiveness of the sport.”
      “The competition is what I love most about wrestling,” noted Braxton, who also started wrestling as a young boy.
       When asked about having his two sons make it to state wrestling, Coach Mike smiled and said, “It’s pretty special. It has been an awesome season.”

IHSAA State Championships Results for Montezuma

1A-190 - Brett Plants (47-11) place is unknown and scored 3.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Brett Plants (Montezuma) 47-11 won by major decision over Jacoby Peyton (North Linn) 33-13 (MD 16-5)
• Champ. Round 2 - Gatlin Rogers (Wilton) 38-5 won by fall over Brett Plants (Montezuma) 47-11 (Fall 1:57)

1A-215 - Braxton Plants (48-5) place is unknown and scored 6.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Braxton Plants (Montezuma) 48-5 received a bye () (Bye)
• Champ. Round 2 - Braxton Plants (Montezuma) 48-5 won by fall over Kamdyn Kraklio (Durant) 27-7 (Fall 1:38)

        Braxton Plants, a Montezuma junior and brother of Brett Plants, qualified at districts to compete at the State Wrestling Tournament in Des Moines this week. Braxton, who wrestles in the 215 pound class, is a first time state qualifier. Braxton and Brett’s dad, Mike Plants, is the varsity wrestling coach at Montezuma.