Breaking down State Duals

CLASS 3AClass 3A is up for grabs and could be won by a handful of teams this year. A dominant team hasn't grasped an overwhelming favorite role. The Mississippi Valley Conference is well represented, making up half of the field, but the highest seed is Cedar Rapids Prairie at fourth. They face MVC foe Linn-Mar, who is seeded fifth and has split with the Hawks this season.Top-seeded Bettendorf is a stronger tournament squad, but is better than when it lost to Prairie at the Five Seasons Duals. Waverly-Shell Rock, which tied Iowa City West and Logan-Magnolia for the state record with a 10th straight appearance, is the only undefeated team in the field and seeded second. The Go-Hawks face No. 7-seed Cedar Rapids Jefferson, which qualified for the first time since 1994. The J-Hawks match up favorably and have the chance to pull an upset.Southeast Polk, seeded third, and No. 6 Iowa City West face off in the quarterfinals. West has beaten higher seeded teams this season, improving throughout the year. The Rams are the defending champions.Our top three - 1. Waverly-Shell Rock, 2. Bettendorf, 3. Southeast Polk

STATE DUALS

At Des Moines

(Wells Fargo Arena)

Wednesday

Class 3A

Quarterfinals#1 Bettendorf (15-4) vs. #8 Pleasant Valley (20-7), 9 a.m.#4 C.R. Prairie (20-3) vs. #5 Linn-Mar (22-6), 9 a.m.#2 Waverly-Shell Rock (20-0) vs. #7 C.R. Jefferson (13-1), 9 a.m.#3 Southeast Polk (20-1) vs. #6 Iowa City West (21-6), 9 a.m.

SemifinalsBettendorf/Pleasant Valley winner vs. Prairie/Linn-Mar winner, 1 p.m.Waverly-Shell Rock/Jefferson winner vs. Southeast Polk/IC West winner, 1 p.m.

Consolation semifinalsBettendorf/Pleasant Valley loser vs. Prairie/Linn-Mar loser, 11 a.m.Waverly-Shell Rock/Jefferson loser vs. Southeast Polk/IC West loser, 11 a.m.

ChampionshipSemifinal winners, 6:30 p.m.

Third-placeSemifinal losers, 6:30 p.m.

Fifth-placeConsolation semifinal winners, 4:30 p.m.

Seventh-placeConsolation semifinal losers, 4:30 p.m.

CLASS 2AMediapolis and Davenport Assumption may have separated themselves from the field. Second-seeded Assumption beat Mediapolis earlier in the season, but the Bulldogs were short-handed and suffered a couple upsets. Don't expect that to occur again. Mediapolis was third a year ago and the top seed going for its title.Assumption's experience is unmatched by the field. The Knights are going for their fourth straight Duals title in its 15th appearance, which is second only to Don Bosco (19). The Knights already have a win over Mediapolis this season, but could face a very strong Albia, which is the third seed, in the semifinals. Assumption will have to earn its way to the finals, opening with No. 7 Webster City.Albia is making its State Duals debut. The Blue Demons are powered by the highly-ranked Leshen Brothers - Shadow is No. 1 at 126, Bryce is second at 132 and Brett is third at 160. They face Independence in the quarterfinals. The Mustangs are making their first appearance since 2009, topping rival West Delaware in the regional dual final.

Our top three - 1. Mediapolis, 2. Davenport Assumption, 3. Albia

STATE DUALS

At Des Moines

(Wells Fargo Arena)

Wednesday

Class 2A

Quarterfinals#1 Mediapolis (23-5) vs. #8 Sergeant Bluff-Luton (21-0), 11 a.m.#4 Creston-OM (16-0) vs. #5 Clear Lake (23-4), 11 a.m.#2 Davenport Assumption (19-3) vs. #7 Webster City (23-3), 11 a.m.#3 Albia (33-3) vs. #6 Independence (25-4), 11 a.m.

SemifinalsMediapolis/Sergeant Bluff-Luton winner vs. Creston-OM/Clear Lake winner, 1 p.m.Assumption/Webster City winner vs. Albia/Independence winner, 1 p.m.

Consolation semifinalsMediapolis/Sergeant Bluff-Luton loser vs. Creston-OM/Clear Lake loser, 1 p.m.Assumption/Webster City loser vs. Albia/Independence loser, 1 p.m.

ChampionshipSemifinal winners, 6:30 p.m.

Third-placeSemifinal losers, 6:30 p.m.

Fifth-placeConsolation semifinal winners, 4:30 p.m.

Seventh-placeConsolation semifinal losers, 4:30 p.m.

CLASS 1AAlburnett has a chance to repeat its state title performance from a year ago. The Pirates seemed like a clear favorite, but the field is on their heels. They face State Duals regular Logan-Magnolia, which is making its 11th appearance, in the quarterfinals. The path gets much tougher with a possible dual with the winner between fourth-seeded Clarion-Goldfield and fifth-seeded Wilton.Another intriguing quarterfinal matchup is on the bottom side of the bracket between No. 3 Don Bosco and No. 6 Woodbury Central. The Dons have more state berths than any other Iowa program. The Dons have only one loss against a 1A team (47-24 to Alburnett) and know what it takes to be successful at State Duals.Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont is seeded second and making its third trip. The Rockets were runners-up last year to the Pirates. They attempt to avenge that loss in the finals, but they will be tested to get there.

Our top three - 1. Alburnett, 2. Don Bosco, 3. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont

STATE DUALS

At Des Moines

(Wells Fargo Arena)

Wednesday

Class 1A

Quarterfinals#1 Alburnett (24-9) vs. #8 Logan-Magnolia (21-4), 9 a.m.#4 Clarion-Goldfield (14-3) vs. #5 Wilton (21-3), 9 a.m.#2 Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont (28-1) vs. #7 West Marshall (16-4), 9 a.m.#3 Don Bosco (19-7) vs. #6 Woodbury Central (21-10), 9 a.m.

SemifinalsAlburnett/Logan-Magnolia winner vs. Clarion-Goldfield/Wilton winner, 1 p.m.Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont/West Marshall winner vs. Don Bosco/Woodbury Central winner, 1 p.m.

Consolation semifinalsAlburnett/Logan-Magnolia loser vs. Clarion-Goldfield/Wilton loser, 11 a.m.Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont/West Marshall loser vs. Don Bosco/Woodbury Central loser, 11 a.m.

ChampionshipSemifinal winners, 6:30 p.m.

Third-placeSemifinal losers, 6:30 p.m.

Fifth-placeConsolation semifinal winners, 4:30 p.m.

Seventh-placeConsolation semifinal losers, 4:30 p.m.