Prairie tops West in battle of top-10 teams

IOWA CITY — It may not have been pretty but Cedar Rapids Prairie did enough to end its regular season on a good note.

Senior Jarod Cadena recorded a fall in the final match, securing the fourth-ranked Hawks' 38-27 win over No. 9 Iowa City West Thursday night in a Mississippi Valley Conference dual at West High.

'There were a lot of pivotal matches and a lot didn't go the way we thought and some didn't go the way they thought,' Prairie Coach Blake Williams said. 'We found a way to get enough wins and had a few falls in there.'

One of those bouts came at 126 pounds in a rematch of the MVC Super Meet finals Saturday between Prairie's sixth-ranked Sam Uthoff and West freshman Nelson Brands, who won the title and Outstanding Wrestler honors.

Uthoff avenged that loss, building a 5-2 lead and cinching up a cradle for a second-period fall.

'I just locked up my normal cradle,' said Uthoff, using a crossface from getting the far wrist. 'I get it tight in practice. I've done it a lot in other matches.

'I just take my time with it. I do a lot of cradling.'

Uthoff led from the start getting a first-period takedown and led 3-0, opening the second with an escape. He answered a Brands takedown with a reversal.

'Saturday I didn't wrestle my match,' Uthoff said. 'I didn't work the right ties. He controlled the ties. I couldn't get to my shots. I fought to get to my shot and finished right away.'

Revenge was a factor. Uthoff admitted he anticipated this match from the time he walked off the mat at Dubuque Wahlert as runner-up. Williams said he was 'hungry' for the opportunity and good to see him rebound.

'He doesn't talk much about it,' Williams said. 'I know the type of kid he is and that type of stuff is going to drive him.'

The win pulled Prairie within a point at the dual's midway point. It sparked a five-match win streak. Seth Wennermark's major decision at 132 and 138-pounder Josh Wenger's pin gave Prairie a 26-17 edge.

Chase St. John (145) and Morgan Hood (152) added decision for Prairie (21-4).

'Seth and Josh do what we hope senior leaders go out and do, getting wins with bonus points,' Williams said. 'It was a good team effort.'

The Trojans (16-8) battled back and had a chance to win it in the final bout. West's Nate Kelsay and John Milani had consecutive technical falls at 160 and 170, making it a five-point deficit before the 182-pound finale.

West's Mitch Yoerger closed his career on his home mat with excitement. The 220-pound senior faced Taylor Mehmen, who is ranked ninth at 195. Yoerger scored a takedown in the final seconds of regulation, forcing overtime. He added a takedown in the sudden-victory period for a 5-3 win.

Jonah Manson moved up to heavyweight, getting the Hawks on the board with a pin. Seventh-ranked Marcus England followed with a major decision, producing Prairie's first lead of the dual.

'I'm happy with the way the kids responded,' Williams said. 'A couple of the early ones didn't go our way.'

West received a decision from No. 3 Donovan Doyle in the opener at 195. Aaron Stumpf (113) and second-ranked 120-pounder Tanner Rohweder had a pin and technical fall for the Trojans.

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