After Gilbertville official Curt Frost raised her hand in victory and she signed the winning scorecard, dad, Bill, was there by her side with a huge bear huge and his own tears of joy.

"I'm as tired as she is I think," Bill Herkelman said. "I'm so proud of her. This has been her goal since probably third grade."

After opening with a pin of Cedar Rapids Jefferson's Cody Hensel in 3 minutes and 37 seconds, Herkelman lost to Waverly-Shell Rock's Spencer Derifield by fall in the semifinals.

That dropped her into the consolation finals against Cedar Rapids Washington's Troy Neagle, who had beaten her already twice this season.

It didn't matter.

Herkelman locked Neagle into a cradle early in the first period, almost saw him wiggle out of it, be she never gave up on it eventually spinning Neagle to his back and decking him in 1:31 to put her into the wrestle back against Morehouse.

She controlled that match, too, scoring a takedown in each period en route to the victory.