Western Dubuque's Max Lyon leads seven Bobcats to state tournament

CEDAR RAPIDS — Believe and be Bobcat strong.

Western Dubuque proved it has a successful formula.

The Bobcats crowned just one champion, but had seven state qualifiers overall, finishing second at the Class 3A district wrestling meet Saturday at Cedar Rapids Jefferson. Western Dubuque tallied 201 points, 11 back of Dubuque Hempstead.

The tight-knit team stresses intangibles like self-confidence to help them on the mat and the demands of wrestling to help become stronger off it. The Bobcats are powered by a sense of family, fighting hard for their teammates.

'We talk about believing everyday,' Western Dubuque Coach Paul Cleary said. 'The Western Dubuque way is heart, intensity and class. It's tradition, it's community and wrestling freestyle for everyone else.'

Western Dubuque had seven finalists and then won 3-of-5 wrestlebacks. It had hoped to contend for 10 spots and was in the mix for nine. Cleary said he was thrilled with the team's effort.

'This is an incredible district,' Cleary said. 'A lot of great teams here, traditions and well-coached individuals. We're happy with seven and we'll try to come home with seven medals.'

The Bobcats' lone title came from junior Max Lyon. The returning state finalist made quick work of two opponents, wrestling a total of 31 seconds. Top-ranked Lyon (47-0) pinned Jefferson's Nick Dreckman in 17 seconds in the 182-pound title.

'Business as usual,' Lyon said. 'That is what it was (Saturday).'

Lyon, a two-time medalist, has been focused on a state return, ascending one more step on the awards stand.

'I've been thinking about it since last year,' Lyon said. 'it is a good motivator.'

He will have plenty of company as well. Seventh-ranked Bradan Birt (113), Dain Gansen at 138 and heavyweight Aaron Costello will be making a return trip to Des Moines for the Bobcats, who won their first Wamac Championships team title in January.

'It is awesome,' Lyon said. 'The team this year is fantastic. The first time we won the conference meet and we're taking half the team to state, it's really going to keep the ball rolling down there.'

Cedar Rapids Kennedy had five qualifiers, receiving titles from two-time state medalist Nolan Hromidko (126) and Garrett Kubovec at 170. Kubovec (31-5) provided some fireworks, throwing Hempstead's fifth-ranked Brandon Haas in the final.

'It was a big weight lifted on my shoulders,' said Kubovec, who beat Western Dubuque's 10th-ranked Luke Kluesner, 11-7, to reach the final. 'Now, it's time to go have fun down in Des Moines.'

Kubovec dedicated a lot of time wrestling freestyle in the off-season. He has become more comfortable with upper body positions. he capitalized on the immediate opportunity.

'I know he was a big, strong kid,' Kubovec said. 'I figured he might bowl into me a little bit, I just took his momentum with it. I wasn't looking for just that move. It was just there and I took advantage of it.'

Fourth-ranked Hromidko (33-3) defeated Cedar Rapids Washington's No. 5 Will Foreman, 7-3, in the finals, scoring a late takedown to secure the championship.

Jefferson boasted three champions at the end of the day, sending four to state. Joseph Sibomana (113), Brenden Baker (120) and 152-pounder Kyle Briggs.

Second-ranked Briggs (38-1) conquered a bracket with four ranked wrestlers, beating Kennedy's No. 4 Logen Rodriguez, 7-3, for the championship.

'It was pretty tough,' Briggs said. 'It kind of gets me prepped (and) amped up for next week when it's going to be really tough.'

The highly-ranked duo had wrestled two nail-biters within the last two weeks. Briggs won both by two, including one in sudden victory. This time, Briggs widened the gap slightly.

'I think the fact this was a big tournament got my adrenaline going,' Briggs said. 'it gets me a little more hyped up for it more as maybe not so much in a dual.

'Everything counts right now. I have to really give it my all, so that's why I think I did better.'

Briggs, a two-time state medalist, became the four-time state qualifier in school history.

'It is pretty special and I think it's special because of my dad,' the younger Briggs said. 'He takes a lot of pride in that and I'm happy to do it.'

Baker, a two-time state medalist, improved to 29-6, beating Birt in a wild 18-14 finish. Sibomana (22-8) handled Hempstead's No. 10 Joe Pins, 8-4.

Linn-Mar matched Jefferson with three champions. Alex Streicher (138), Shea Hartzler (160) and 195-pounder Brayden Schultz won gold.

Second-ranked Hartzler (40-3) edged Kennedy's No. 3 Ben Sarasin, 8-7, in the final at a weight with three top-four ranked wrestlers. Hartzler gave up a late takedown but scored the decisive reversal with 30 seconds left.

'He kept getting after it,' Linn-Mar Coach Doug Streicher said. 'He was out of position a couple times. We have to look at the film and fix that before we go to Des Moines. ... He never put his head down. He was right back up and that is what won the match.'

Alex Streicher (41-5) opened with a pin and then outscored his final two opponents, 17-3, including an 8-0 win over Dubuque Senior's Matt Connolly in the final.

'He wrestled good,' Doug Streicher said. 'He was attacking for the most part. It was a solid performance for him.'

Schultz (16-8) decked Western Dubuque's Cody McDermott in 2:52 for the title. He entered as the second seed.

'it was a wide-open bracket,' Doug Streicher said. 'He took advantage of it.'

CLASS 3A DISTRICT

At C.R. Jefferson

Teams (Number of qualifiers in parentheses) — 1. Dubuque Hempstead (7) 212, 2. Western Dubuque (7) 201, 3. C.R. Kennedy (5) 175.5, 4. Linn-Mar (4) 165, 5. C.R. Jefferson (4) 158.5, 6. Marion (0) 76, 7. Dubuque Senior (0) 72, 8. C.R. Washington (1) 34.

State Qualifiers

106 pounds — 1. Dillon Gottschalk (DH), 2. Jacob Close (WD); 113 — 1. Joseph Sibomana (CRJ), 2. Joe Pins (DH); 120 — 1. Brenden Baker (CRJ), 2. Bradan Birt (WD); 126 — 1. Nolan Hromidko (CRK), 2. Will Foreman (CRW); 132 — 1. Nathan Feldman (DH), 2. Elijah Demmer (WD); 138 — 1. Alex Streicher (LM), 2. Dain Gansen (WD); 145 — 1. Alex Ward (DH), 2. Johnny Clymer (LM); 152 — 1. Kyle Briggs (CRJ), 2. Logen Rodriguez (CRK); 160 — 1. Shea Hartzler (LM), 2. Ben Sarasin (CRK); 170 — 1. Garrett Kubovec (CRK), 2. Brandon Haas (DH); 182 — 1. Max Lyon (WD), 2. Nick Dreckman (CRJ); 195 — 1. Brayden Schultz (LM), 2. Cody McDermott (WD); 220 — 1. Al Freiburger (DH), 2. Dalles Jacobus (CRK); Hwt. — 1. Gannon Gremmel (DH), 2. Aaron Costello (WD)

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