Blake Fox took a little time to soak it in. After beating Ben Walsh in the Class 2A-150 first place match, Fox secured his name in Osage and Iowa wrestling history, becoming the second Green Devil and 33rd in the state to win four state championships in a row.
“I'm so happy right now,” Fox said after winning the title with a 14-2 major decision. “All the hard work leading up to that moment. I got my hand raised, saw everybody standing up. It was amazing.”
“Sitting there and watching it's kind of surreal,” said head coach Brent Jennings. “To have a young man that's worked as hard as he has and put so much time into and come out and win his fourth isn't easy. It's a lot different than the first, the second, or the third one you know to come out here as a senior and know that pressure is on them to get it done. I'm really happy for him, really happy he was able to get it done this week. He's a great kid, a great role model for young kids and he's just a great young man.”
The Osage program is recognized across the state as one of the best in Iowa. The team and individual successes over the years speaks for itself. With all the wins and all the great wrestlers, Fox is now in a small, exclusive club joining Mark Schwab (1981-1984) as the only four time champs from Osage.
“Mark Schwab was the first,” Fox said. “I worked really hard at matching his four-time status. There's so much history with Osage, and I'm just so grateful that I was able to come through this program.”
“He gets to join an elite wrestler in Mark Schwab in that category,” Jennings said. “We've had some great guys go through our program since the 1930s. We've had a few three-timers and two-timers as well. But he gets to join an elite group of two in the Osage program.”
Fox left the Des Moines for the last time as a high school wrestler with a standing ovation from the crowd, recognizing an amazing career.
“It was amazing to see all the fans appreciate the hard work,” said Fox. I've been enjoying every moment here and trying to take it all in, because it's the last one.”
“He's a humble kid, and that's what makes him so great to coach,” Jennings said. “He works his tail off, but he's in it for the right reasons, and he does it the right way. He handles things the right way. He's very mature, and he's a sportsman, but he's a humble guy. I'm just so tickled for him and his family.”