Witte caps career with 67 straight wins, second state title

DES MOINES – The unshakeable remained unbeatable.

Cedar Rapids Prairie's Zach Witte overcame disappointment, challenges and injury with the same toughness that his wrestling opponents couldn't overcome.

Witte concluded his second straight perfect season, winning the 152-pound state title of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 3A State wrestling tournament Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena.

“I wanted to end my season on a good note,” Witte said. “I stamped it perfectly, I think.”

Witte (25-0) used a 5-3 win over Southeast Polk's Dylan Blackford to become Prairie's first two-time state champion since Matt Hatcher in 1991-92. He is believed to be the first three-time Prairie finalist since Barry Davis won three titles from 1978-80.

“He's a great kid,” Prairie Coach Blake Williams said. “You don't get to coach kids like that very often.”

His victory was indicative of his career – tough, gritty and successful. Witte had his head and wrist bandaged, fought off Blackford's scoring attempts and then gutted out a pair of third-period takedowns for the difference.

Witte refrained from celebrating too early, even when a late takedown seemed to seal the victory. He was confident throughout, even as they were tied 1-1 in the third.

“I knew if I kept after him I'd capitalize in the end and get him tired,” Witte said. “Staying offensive helped.”

It was what Witte persevered to cap his career with 67 straight victories. After placing second as a freshman, Witte failed to reach state as a sophomore finishing behind the eventual state champion and runner-up at district. He never lost again.

“He's never liked to lose,” said Williams, recalling how Witte would pound the mat in practice just for giving up a takedown. “I think he used those losses to go undefeated.”

Not even a broken wrist, that kept him out until January, nor Blackford could keep him from his perch atop the podium.

“It's never easy to be where I was,” Witte said. “I made sure to work my ass off to get back where I need to be. I feel the work paid off.”

Prairie had two finalists and received a silver medal from sophomore Chris Walters at 120. Pleasant Valley's Tyler Willers claimed his second state title with a 3-1 win over Walters, already a two-time placewinner.

Linn-Mar's Matt Wempen became the school's first freshman state champion since Jay Borschel in 2002. He needed a little extra time to earn his first state title. He spun around Pleasant Valley's Travis Willers with 24 seconds remaining in the sudden-victory period for a 3-1 victory at 106.

He raised both arms up in the air and oozed enthusiasm as he accomplished one goal.

“I've been working for this since I've started wrestling when I was four years old,” Wempen said. “I'm pretty happy.”

He remains in contactwith  Jim Borschel, Jay Borschel's father, talking wrestling. He likes being in Jay's company as a freshman titlist, but he's focused on matching his four titles.

“Tomorrow I'll start working for next year,” Wempen said. “It feels good to get this one.”

After a scoreless first, Wempen rode Willers the entire second period and scored an escape early in the third. He fought off Willers attempts, but was called for stalling with less than 20 seconds to go, forcing the extra period.

“I was concentrating on trying to get some fakes and I was able to get one,” Wempen said. “I snapped him down, dragged it by and got the takedown.”

Linn-Mar enjoyed one of its most successful season, advancing three to the finals for the second time in school history and first since 2002. Ross Lembeck (145) and 182-pounder Mark Atwater placed second. Urbandale's Gabe Moreno beat Lembeck (48-3), 8-1. Mason City's Jared Bartel earned a 5-0 decision over Atwater (49-0).

The Lions finished fourth with 126 points, a half-point behind third-place Iowa City West. Bettendorf became the Mississippi Athletic Conference to win a 3A state team title since Clinton in 1987. The Bulldogs, whose head coach Dan Knight was a senior on that Clinton team, beat runner-up Southeast Polk. Prairie was fifth with 86.5 Iowa City West's Phillip Laux was able to avoid overtime, scoring the decisive takedown as time expired to notch a 3-1 victory over Bettendorf's Fredy Stroker at 113. It was the second straight title for Laux (52-3).

“I feel this one's better,” Laux said. “They're both filled with challenges. You just have to adjust a new season and opponents.”

Laux was locked with Stroker on a takedown attempt on the edge of the mat as time wound down. He kept his position and stay composed as he saw he had six seconds left.

“I felt my arm slipping out and I kept pulling and he turned to his back,” Laux said. “I kept my toes in and tried to take advantage of it.”

West received its second title of the night from Dakota Bauer at 132. He edged Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Luke Kremer, 5-4, in the finals. Bauer bracketed his career with titles, winning a 2A crown at Ballard his first season.

“It was nice to win and get a state title my freshman year,” Bauer said. “I finished strong and with a bang.”

He reached the finals last year, placing second to John Meeks, who became just the fifth undefeated four-time state champion and sixth to finish his prep career unbeaten in Iowa history. Bauer (55-2) built a 5-2 lead and held on.

“My junior year I knew it was going to be tough to wrestle a guy like that, but it gave me hope for this year,” Bauer said. “I had to keep working hard and it was going to come sooner or later.

“I think everything just paid off.”

Kremer (39-6) capped a career with his first finals appearance after placing sixth and third as a sophomore and junior, respectively.

“It just sucks to be that close, and not get it,” Kremer said, “but better close than far.”

West's Justin Koethe (56-2) reached the finals for the first time. The top-ranked 160-pound dropped a 3-2 decision to Council Bluffs Lewis Central's Zeb Wahle. The Trojans finished in 3rd place with 126.5 points.