Lighter Lions highlight huge win

MARION - They are tough as nails, but play the role of hammer well.

Linn-Mar freshman 106-pounder Matt Wempen and sophomore 120-pounder Damon Griffin displayed their grit and guts with wins over highly-ranked opponents, powering the fifth-ranked Lions to a 48-11 whipping over Pleasant Valley Wednesday night in a Class 3A regional dual at Linn-Mar.

The Mississippi Valley Conference champion duo like to battle, which means trouble for foes.

“You see them in the wrestling room and they're not a afraid to stick their head in there and take a black eye or bloody nose,” Linn-Mar Coach Doug Streicher said. “They get right in there. It shows in the way they wrestle.”

They are physical for their size, and they have that rough and tough mentality that is beneficial to wrestling success.

"This sport's a grind," Streicher said. "It's one of those components you need to be a good wrestler."

Wempen dropped top-ranked Travis Willers, 6-4, and Griffin added with a 13-5 major decision over No. 3 Tyler Willers in a nine-match Lions' win streak.

“We knew those matches would be key,” Streicher said. “They got in positions to score and give them a lot of credit. They won tough matches.”

Griffin may have been the toughest. He dominated the three-time state medalist and 2010 103-pound state champ, scoring six points in the opening period and closed with seven in the third.

“I gave it everything I had tonight,” Griffin said. “Basically, I just had fun. I just wrestled my match, my strengths and my offense. I didn't let up until I had him.”

That was evident when he had the match in hand, but scored a late reversal and continued to work for the fall, adding late back points. He made a statement in the waning seconds of the first period, reversing Willers to his back to take command.

“I was just staying quick and explosive,” Griffin said. “I worked on that in practice over and over. Matt and I had been working on that during and after practice.

"I've been doing that lately and it's been working so I've stuck to it.”

Wempen, ranked fourth, scored the opening takedown, riding Willers the entire second period. With about :30 remaining, Wempen anticipated a shot and spun around behind for the decisive score.

“I just wanted to stay in good position and stay aggressive, working my shots and wrestle smart,” said Wempen, noting that scoring first helps him feel in control. “I did that.”

He took the mat after eighth-ranked heavyweight A.J. Garcia notched a 5-2 win over No. 9 Jake Melik at 220, and Justin Green built an 11-5 lead before pinning Devin Allbee in 4:16 at 285.

Everything seemed to fall in the Lions' favor and they discussed the importance of feeding off each other, according to Streicher.

“You can really feel the momentum swinging,” Wempen said. “I felt it was going our way.”

Alijah Jeffery (103) won by technical fall between the wins by Wempen and Griffin. Trevor Berry (126) had a decision to secure Linn-Mar's second straight State Duals berth and third in school history before Joel Northrup (132), Spencer Clabough (138) and Ross Lembeck (145) earned three straight pins for a 48-5 lead with one match left.

“This is a statement for our program. People know whose been down there,” Streicher said. “The matches show a good statement for those individuals.”

Linn-Mar (27-6) will face No. 4 West Des Moines Dowling (24-1) in the quarterfinals of the 3A State Dual on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, starting at 11 a.m.

Pleasant Valley (20-8) split the first four matches but didn't get a win until the final bout. Things started working against them and they couldn't come up with an answer.

"If you look at the matches, we just didn't execute at the important times during those matches," Pleasant Valley Coach Ben Uker said. "Some of those calls and shifts didn't go our way. By the time we get about eight matches and the score is lopsided it's tough to come back."

160 pounds - Brady Letney (PV) dec. John Conner, 4-3 (1, 1); 170 - Mitch Wantock (LM) dec. Seth Skahill, 5-2 (2, 0); 182 - Mark Atwater (LM) dec. Cole Picchiotti, 6-5 (2, 1); 195 - Logan Carney (PV) dec. Ryley Stancel, 6-1 (2, 0); 220 - A.J. Garcia (LM) dec. Jake Melik, 5-2 (2, 0); Hwt. - Justin Green (LM) pinned Devin Allbee, 4:16 (3, 1); 106 - Matt Wempen (LM) dec. Travis Willers, 6-4 (2, 1); 113 - Alijah Jeffery (LM) tech. fall Reed Brockhage, 18-3 (5, 0); 120 - Damon Griffin (LM) major dec. Tyler Willers, (2, 1); 126 - Trevor Berry (LM) dec. Levi Moser, 9-4 (3, 0); 132 - Joel Northrup (LM) pinned Matt Nowak, :55 (1, 0); 138 - Spencer Clabough (LM) pinned Zack Speidel, 5:48; 145 - Ross Lembeck (LM) pinned Evan Stimmel, 3:33 (4, 0); 152 - Blake Letney (PV) pinned Dakota Digmann, 3:43 (2, 0)

Takedowns - LM 27, PV 11; Reversals - LM 6, PV 3; Escapes - LM 10, PV 22; Nearfall points - LM 15, PV 2; Penalty points (awarded) - LM 4, PV 1; Total match points - LM 95, PV 53.

* - Pleasant Valley was deducted a team point for swearing after the 170-pound match.