Cedar Rapids wrestling programs vie for State Duals berths

CEDAR RAPIDS — Cedar Rapids has a storied wrestling tradition.

Three programs have a chance to pen another chapter.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Cedar Rapids Prairie will compete in Class 3A regional duals Wednesday, trying to send three Cedar Rapids programs to the state duals for the first time since the event began in 1987.

Sevneth-ranked Prairie and No. 8 Kennedy will host, earning a bye to the regional dual final. The sixth-ranked J-Hawks face West Des Moines Dowling with the winner advancing to the final against host No. 5 Johnston.

'It's been tough,' Jefferson co-head coach Dick Briggs said. 'I like where wrestling is going in the Cedar Rapids area.'

The three teams combined for 43 dual victories and just eight losses this season. Prairie beat Jefferson and Kennedy, while the J-Hawks dropped Kennedy. They finished in the top three spots with Prairie winning its fourth straight team title at the Mississippi Valley Conference Super Meet.

'The good thing is it keeps each program on their toes,' Prairie Coach Kane Thompson said, 'knowing you have teams right across town gunning for you.'

Cedar Rapids has had two teams in the state duals three times. Jefferson and Prairie both qualified in 1994, 2014 and 2015. Prairie has finished fourth the last three years and the J-Hawks are coming off a third-place finish. Kennedy is trying to earn its first state duals berth since 2004.

'It's been great for us in Cedar Rapids,' Kennedy Coach Dennis Hynek said. 'It's been a long time to have this much talent in our own backyards.

'It makes the kids wrestle tougher. It's been fun.'

Prairie (18-3) hosts No. 14 North Scott (22-8) and No. 21 Ottumwa (16-6), facing the winner in the regional final. The Hawks are looking for their 16th state duals berth and fifth straight.

Prairie has lost three duals by a total of seven points, including two on criteria. It has used balance, fielding competitive wrestlers at each weight.

'We have 12 kids with winning records and the other two are close to it,' Thompson said. 'We have some solid kids. You are going to have to beat some solid wrestlers.'

Kennedy has made progress in two years of Hynek's second stint as head coach. Hynek led the program from 1995-2003, guiding the Cougars to their first three state duals appearances. Hynek said Kennedy has improved because wrestlers have faith in what is being taught, knowledgeable and efficient assistants and the support of the football program. Seven defensive starters form the state runner-up football squad are current wrestlers.

'I'm proud we've made strides the last few years,' Hynek said. 'There are a lot of variables in play. All of those come into play.'

Kennedy (13-2) will await the semifinal winner of No. 20 Iowa City High (20-11) and 12th-ranked Clinton (14-2). He expects a tough test to get to Des Moines as a team.

'We're going to have to get bonus points and not give up bonus points,' Hynek said. 'It's going to be a battle. We are going to have to fight our butts off and score a lot of points.'

Despite winning the MVC Valley, the J-Hawks (12-3) hit the road. They weren't happy with the draw. Jefferson co-head coach Dick Briggs said he believed it was an unfair assignment. Feelings don't matter. Now, the J-Hawks have to rise to the challenge.

'It is what it is, so we have to tackle it head on,' Briggs said. 'We will have to continue to get our best matchups. We need to have our top dogs come through for us.'

Jefferson has qualified five times, including the last two seasons. The upperclassmen have experience and that could benefit them,

'The juniors and seniors have had a couple opportunities to be a part of that,' Briggs said. 'We should get some good leadership from those guys.'

The metro was represented at the state duals by three teams in 2014 when Linn-Mar also qualified. The Lions (20-11) could give the Metro four qualifiers this season. Linn-Mar, ranked 17th, takes on No. 18 Bettendorf in the regional semifinal at Dubuque Hempstead. The winner wrestles No. 4 Hempstead in the final.

At Waverly, No. 11 Western Dubuque and No. 22 Iowa City West (14-12) compete in a semifinal dual. The winner has No. 10 Waverly-Shell Rock.

l Comments: (319) 368-8679; kj.pilcher@thegazette.com