3A State Wrestling: SE Polk and Bettendorf vying for state dual glory

DES MOINES – Southeast Polk and Bettendorf are going for gold. Again.

The nationally ranked teams rolled to the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 3A State Duals wrestling final Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena.

The top-seeded Rams beat Cedar Rapids Prairie, 47-12, in the semifinal to reach the finals for the third straight year. Defending state champion Bettendorf is seeded second and handled Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 44-29, in the semifinal.

It also marks the third straight year the Rams and Bulldogs have wrestled in the final. Southeast Polk won in 2013. Bettendorf also won the 3A dual crown in 2012.

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The J-Hawks produced the biggest upset of the first round. Jefferson dropped No. 3 Johnston, 33-19. Matt Culver (145) posted a one-point decision, Nick Dreckman (182) won by two and Erik Hovey added an overtime victory at 220.

'We talk about the plusses and minuses of wrestling a tough schedule,' Jefferson co-head coach Matt Orton said. 'You get close matches like that. We've been in battles like that before and today we won the close ones. It's key in a dual like that.'

Neither team led by more than six points until Jefferson heavyweight Dalton Kuehl earned a fall, giving the j-Hawks a 12-point lead with two bouts left.

'That cushion allowed us to rest (113-pounder) Brenden (Baker),' Orton said. 'It worked out for us.'

The fourth-seeded Hawks beat West Des Moines Valley, 35-23, in the quarterfinals, winning eight matches.

Nick Hogan (170), Jarod Cadena (182) and 195-pounder Taylor Mehmen had three straight pins to give Prairie the lead for good. Sam Uthoff (126) and Josh Wenger (138) added major decisions for Prairie.

Jefferson (14-5) and Prairie (23-5) will wrestle for third.