ADM sophomore wrestler Cole Bennett turned some heads this past year, bolstering an already strong lineup along the way. The 182-pounder placed 7th at the 2015 state wrestling tournament two weekends ago to finish the season 41-12.

Tigers head coach Corey Schneider said he’s fortunate that for the second straight year, the Tigers had a sophomore place at state, after Zach Johnston and Nathan Heath did it last season.

“I’m excited to have him back as a junior and a senior,” Schmauss said. “A place winner as a sophomore is one of those rare things that you can build on with the future … so it gives me definitely something look forward to the next two years with him.”

Bennett provided one of the most remarkable moments of the state tournament in his second-round consolation match against CPU’s Trevor Romman. The sophomore went down in the middle of the match writhing in pain, and it looked as though he would have to forfeit. Bennett’s patella had twisted out of place, an issue he’s dealt with consistently for the past few years.

After the mat-side trainer determined there was no structural damage to Bennett’s knee, Bennett had 30 seconds of injury time remaining. Schmauss told his young wrestler he had to make a decision. Bennett refused to not finish, and rode that mental toughness to a resounding 17-3 major decision victory.

Schmauss said he’d never seen anything like it.

“And he just popped up and I think he just took himself to another zone, and just went to town,” Schmauss said. “I think the adrenaline in that case took over as well, and he put the hammer down on that kid, that’s for sure.”