SE Polk takes lead in 3A, Linn-Mar fourth

DES MOINES - Defending state champion Southeast Polk moved to the front of the field.The Rams passed Bettendorf for the lead in the team race after the second session of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 3A state wrestling tournament Friday at Wells Fargo Arena. Southeast Polk advanced seven to the semifinal round and earned nine medalists, taking a 78-73 lead over the Bulldogs.Bettendorf has five in the semifinals and seven alive, including 220-pound Max Erpelding, who is 2-1 and entered the tournament with a 22-25 record.Waverly-Shell Rock is third with 65 points.Linn-Mar many a strong case for their top-four finish, going 4-0 in the quarterfinals. Alijah Jeffery (120), Damon Griffin (126), Ross Lembeck (152) and 195-pounder Andrew Holladay all recorded big wins."They got after it," Linn-Mar Coach Doug Streicher said. "They were aggressive, offensive and physical. Those are all things we preach."Jeffery kicked off the quarterfinals with a technical fall and Griffin, Lembeck and Holladay each secured top-six finishes with pins, giving the Lions 48 1/2 points."All the top teams are up there because of winning matches and scoring bonus points," Streicher said. "We will separate the teams a little bit."Cedar Rapids Prairie was fifth with 37. Seniors Trey Blaha (152) and Skyler St. John (160) advanced to the semifinals.Iowa City West was seventh with 29 1/2 points.Cedar Rapids Xavier moved into the top 10, pushing two through the quarterfinals and having three of its four qualifiers earn medals. Clint Lembeck (132) and 145-pounder Nick Drahozal advanced. Heavyweight Cole Turner won a consolation match.