3A State Wrestling: Prairie makes it through quarters with chance for team trophy

DES MOINES — Cedar Rapids Prairie pushed three into the semifinals and remains in contention for a team trophy.

The Hawks received wins from Sam Uthoff (126), second-ranked Josh Wenger at 138 and 182-pounder Jarod Cadena and are fourth after the second sessions of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 3A state wrestling tournament Friday at Wells Fargo Arena.

Uthoff scored a 15-0 technical fall over Camiran Sadeghi. Wenger became a four-time state medalist with a first-period pin over Carroll's Sam Kastle.

Cadena edged Iowa City West's Donovan Doyle, 8-6, in sudden-victory overtime.

'They wrestled tough,' Prairie Coach Blake Williams said. 'Cadena had a great match. He was really determined. He knew he wasn't going to lose that match.'

Marcus England (106) and Taylor Mehmen (195) both won consolation matches after quarterfinal losses, giving Prairie five medalists and 48 team points, 12 back of Fort Dodge for third.

Keep up with Iowa State Tournament action as it happens at our wrestling hub page

Southeast Polk was first with 94, leading Bettendorf by 30 ½ points.

Linn-Mar advanced two to the semifinals. Noah Ajram beat Donny Allaway, of Le Mars, 5-0, in the 120 quarterfinals. Shea Hartzler (160) handled Glenwood's Anthony Sherry, 13-0, to reach the semifinals.

The Lions' Matt Wempen fell to Bettendorf's top-ranked Fredy Stroker in the quarterfinals, but rebounded with a consolation pin to assure a top-eight finish. Wempen, a 2012 state champion, became Linn-Mar's fifth four-time state medalist, joining Jay Borschel, Matt McDonough, Alijah Jeffery and Ross Lembeck.

Linn-Mar's bid to go 4-for-4 in the placing round came to an unfortunate end. Toby Northrup gave up a late reversal and fell in the 152-pound quarterfinals. He was forced to injury default his consolation bout. According to Linn-Mar head coach, his head made contact with his opponent's knee and the attending trainer ruled he suffered a concussion and he was not allowed to continue.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson Dalton Kuehl reached the semifinal. He topped Ankeny Centennial's Collin Olson, 3-1, to secure a top-six finish. He faces Clinton's Tyler Clark in a rematch of the J-Hawk Invitational that was won by Kuehl.

J-Hawk juniors Brenden Baker (113) and Kyle Briggs (132) and Kelly May (182) won consolation bouts to earn a medal.

'That kid has been so good this year,' Jefferson co-head coach Dick Briggs said of Kuehl. 'I'm so excited for Kelly May to be a medalist.'

Western Dubuque's Max Lyon reached the 170-pound semifinals. He pinned Ankeny's Ross Simms in 2:58. Bobcat teammates Ryan Kenneally (195) and Dylan Hoefler (220) moved into the top eight with consolation wins.

Iowa City West's Aaron Stumpf (113), Tanner Rohweder (120), John Milani (170) and Doyle won consolation matches to give the Trojans four medalists.

Cedar Rapids Xavier's Clint Lembeck won his second straight consolation match at 132 and moved into the top eight. He reached the podium for the second straight year.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Nolan Hromidko advanced to the top eight at 120 with a consolation win.