Lynnville-Sully eighth-grader Maxwell Mintle, son of Brent Mintle and April Mintle, can add AAU 130-pound state champion to his long list of wrestling accolades. Saturday, Feb. 29, Mintle wrestled his way through a 32-man bracket to guarantee a spot on the podium at the Iowa AAU Kids State wrestling tournament held at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. One day later, he continued to chase after his dreams, winning his first match before going up against Cooper Ludwig from Carroll. Mintle worked from behind to win his final match with a 15-7 major decision and earn the title of AAU Division C 130-pound state champion.
This is the second state championship Mintle has earned, as he was the Super PeeWee State Champ in second grade. As his AAU journey comes to an end and he enters high school next year, Mintle can look back at his remarkable accomplishments through the years, which include being an AAU State place-winner in six out of the nine years he has competed. In addition to the two cham-pionships, he earned third place three different years (first, third, and fourth grades) and fourth place in sixth grade.
Mintle was one of 12 local kids in grades 3-8 representing the Little Hawk Wrestlers at AAU Kids State. Three of those wrestlers were competing in the AAU Girls State wrestling, with L-S freshman Elizabeth Elliott earning a sixth-place finish in the Division C 100-pound bracket. Seventh-grader Stella Cupples and third-grader Madison Jochems also wrestled in the girls division, each getting a couple wins; however, it was not quite enough to reach the podium. Unfortunately, no other Little Hawks qualified for Sunday. The Hawks wrestled tough and are looking to continue to get better throughout the summer and earn a spot on next year’s podium.
Maxwell and his father, Brent, share a celebratory hug after the eighth grader won his final match and championship title on Sunday.
Five wrestlers — Royce Jansen, Beau Simbro, Hunter Vos, Ryder Jansen, and Hudson Arkema — will compete this weekend at Super PeeWee State Wrestling for grades K-2 held at Young Arena in Waterloo.
The Little Hawks will wrap up the season with an end-of-year awards banquet on Friday, Mar. 13, at Sully Community Church.
Lynnville-Sully eighth-grader Maxwell Mintle, son of Brent Mintle and April Mintle, can add AAU 130-pound state champion to his long list of wrestling accolades. Saturday, Feb. 29, Mintle wrestled his way through a 32-man bracket to guarantee a spot on the podium at the Iowa AAU Kids State wrestling tournament held at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. One day later, he continued to chase after his dreams, winning his first match before going up against Cooper Ludwig from Carroll. Mintle worked from behind to win his final match with a 15-7 major decision and earn the title of AAU Division C 130-pound state champion.
