Clinton wrestlers pin down State Duals berth with 44-26 win over Cedar Rapids Kennedy

CEDAR RAPIDS — Clinton Coach J.D. Lueders has witnessed his wrestlers' knack for pins.

In a dual that was expected to be decided on bonus points, the River Kings continued that trend.

Clinton won nine bouts, including five by fall, to defeat eighth-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 44-26, in an Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 3A regional dual final last night at Kennedy. The 12th-ranked River Kings (16-2) earned their fourth State Duals berth and first since 2003.

'It's one of the things we have done pretty well all year,' Lueders said. 'Either being in matches or even being behind, when we have someone on their back, the key to our success in doing this is we shut them off.'

Kennedy (13-3) held an early lead, receiving a technical fall from Ben Sarasin at 160 to start the dual. Garrett Kubovec posted a major decision at 182, giving the Cougars a 9-3 edge.

Clinton started its roll, winning the next four matches and six of the next seven. Most of the wins were quick. The River Kings rattled off three straight first-period pins, including a 20-second fall from 106-pounder Isaac Larkin that followed one by Tyler Clark in 1:24.

Even though 195-pounder Justin Guilliams started the streak with a technical fall, Trevor Barry's pin over Dalles Jacobus at 220 was a pivotal result and provided the River Kings momentum.

'That got everybody going and going in the right direction,' Lueders said. 'Across the board, it's been somebody different every time. Again, some of the guys came through right when we needed them and that's what makes this team pretty special.'

Evan Sander (120) and Jess Chapman also won by fall for Clinton, which had five pins in a 39-23 semifinal victory over Iowa City High (20-12).

'They got us,' Kennedy Coach Dennis Hynek said. 'There were some key matches where they came out on top.'

The 220-pound match was considered a tossup, the Cougars lost by a point at 170 and went from being in control to getting stuck in another.

'We didn't finish a lot of situations,' Hynek said. 'They were the better team.

'We needed to get some things rolling. We had opportunities where we didn't chain wrestle. We got in positions and we stopped.'

Kennedy did have some positives. In addition to dominant wins from Sarasin and Kubovec, Nolan Hromidko bumped to 132 and scored a pin. Cam Shaver tallied six takedowns for a 19-4 technical fall at 113. Senior Logen Rodriguez capped the dual with a 42-second pin.

The Cougars' attention will turn to the district meet Saturday at Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

'We have two more days and it's all about individuals now,' Hynek said. 'We'll go back to look at key individuals here and make a run at it.'

CLASS 3A REGIONAL DUALS

At C.R. Kennedy

Final

CLINTON 44, C.R. KENNEDY 26

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

160 — Ben Sarasin (CRK) technical fall Ben Chapman, 19-3 (5,0); 170 — Trajae Lackland (Clin) dec. Todd Gusta, 6-5 (2,1); 182 — Garrett Kubovec (CRK) major dec. Luke Larkin, 12-4 (5,0); 195 — Justin Guilliams (Clin) technical fall Sam Pape, 17-0 (1,0); 220 — Trevor Barry (Clin) pinned Dalles Jacobus, :55 (1,0); Hwt. — Tyler Clark (Clin) pinned Matt Murphy, 1:24 (1,0); 106 — Isaac Larkin (Clin) pinned Eli Benion, :20 (1,0); 113 — Cam Shaver (CRK) technical fall Kyle Guilliams, 19-4 (6,0); 120 — Evan Sander (Clin) pinned Luke Foster, :26 (1,0); 126 — Steven Paulsen (Clin) dec. Austin McLeod, 14-8 (1,0); 132 — Nolan Hromidko (CRK) pinned Sam Cruthis, 4:56 (3,0); 138 — Jess Chapman (Clin) pinned Dylan Ironside, 1:19 (1,1); 145 — Walker Chapman (Clin) dec. Kale Crawford, 6-0 (1,0); 152 — Logen Rodriguez (CRK) pinned Clem Butler, :42 (1,0).

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns — Clinton 10, C.R. Kennedy 22; Reversals — Clinton 3, C.R. Kennedy 4; Escapes — Clinton 17, C.R. Kennedy 3; Nearfall points — Clinton 23, C.R. Kennedy 17; Penalty points (awarded) — Clinton 1, C.R. Kennedy 3; Total match points — Clinton 67, C.R. Kennedy 75.

Semifinal

CLINTON 39, IOWA CITY HIGH 23

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

152 pounds — Nic Jarvis (ICH) major dec. Clem Butler, 13-0 (3,0); 160 — Ben Chapman (Clin) pinned Stephen Whitlow, 1:50 (1,0); 170 — Trajae Lackland (ICH) pinned Joe Ring, 2:41 (1,1); 182 — Jacob Dykes (ICH) pinned Luke Larkin, 5:44 (2,0); 195 — Justin Guilliams (Clin) pinned Brock Hunger, 1:10 (2,0); 220 — Trevor Barry (Clin) dec. Jordain Buckland, 3-2 (1,0); Hwt. — Tyler Clark (Clin) pinned Jacob Murry, :16 (1,0); 106 — Isaac Larkin (Clin) pinned Ryan Ceynar, 2:00 (1,0); 113 — Jacob Powers (ICH) dec. Kyle Guilliams, 9-7 (3,1); 120 — Max Deprenger (ICH) dec. Evan Sander, 7-1 (1,0); 126 — Joey Harney (ICH) dec. Steven Paulsen, 11-6 SV (3,0); 132 — Lance Bormann (ICH) major dec. Sam Cruthis, 8-0 (2,0); 138 — Jess Chapman (Clin) dec. Daniel Kelly, 9-7 (1,1); 145 — Walker Chapman (Clin) dec. Alex Kooker, 8-5 (2,1).

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns — City High 17, Clinton 11; Reversals — City High 7, Clinton 5; Escapes — City High 7, Clinton 7; Nearfall points — City High 17, Clinton 13; Penalty points (awarded) — City High 2, Clinton 1; Total match points — City High 74, Clinton 53.

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