Iowa high school wrestling state duals 2022: Schedule, predictions, outlook for area teams

Here is a closer look at Wednesday’s Iowa high school wrestling state duals tournament taking place at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Class 3A

Quarterfinal pairings and schedule

No. 1 Waverly-Shell Rock vs. No. 8 Johnston, 9 a.m.

No. 4 Linn-Mar vs. No. 5 Ankeny, 9 a.m.

No. 2 Southeast Polk vs. No. 7 Indianola, 9 a.m.

No. 3 Waukee Northwest vs. No. 6 Bettendorf, 9 a.m.

Consolation semifinals, 11 a.m.

Semifinals, 1 p.m.

7th and 5th place, 4:30 p.m.

Championship and 3rd place, 6:30 p.m.

LINN-MAR

Coach: Doug Streicher (25th year)

Record: 18-1

State Duals appearances: Seventh overall, second straight

Road to Des Moines: Fifth-ranked Linn-Mar dominated No. 15 Pleasant Valley. The Lions won nine matches, including seven bonus-point victories, for a 45-13 regional dual victory.

Outlook: The Lions have a strong shot at earning the program’s best finish since third in 2002. Linn-Mar’s lone loss has come to 2A top-seeded West Delaware. Five ranked wrestlers — Brayden Parke (126), Kane Naaktgeboren (132), Grant Kress (145), state champion Tate Naaktgeboren and heavyweight Luke Gaffney — have led the way all season. Linn-Mar has developed depth and more balance, which shows in 10 individual state qualifiers. The flexibility allows coaches to create better matchups in duals and that could come into play. Linn-Mar should get through No. 5 Ankeny in the first round, but a semifinal bout against top-ranked Waverly-Shell Rock, one of the nation’s top teams, will be tough. A consolation bout will likely be against the loser between Waukee Northwest and Southeast Polk. Another challenge, but one the Lions can overcome.

The favorites remain Waverly-Shell Rock and Southeast Polk, which have combined to win four of the last five titles. The Go-Hawks are too strong from top to bottom and should repeat.

Predictions: 1. Waverly-Shell Rock, 2. Southeast Polk, 3. Linn-Mar

Class 2A

Quarterfinal pairings and schedule

No. 1 West Delaware vs. No. 8 Burlington Notre Dame, 11 a.m.

No. 4 Sergeant Bluff-Luton vs. No. 5 Crestwood, 11 a.m.

No. 2 Independence vs. No. 7 Winterset, 11 a.m.

No. 3 Osage vs. No. 6 Atlantic-CAM, 11 a.m.

Consolation semifinals, 1 p.m.

Semifinals, 1 p.m.

7th and 5th place, 4:30 p.m.

Championship and 3rd place, 6:30 p.m.

WEST DELAWARE

Coach: Jeff Voss (27th year)

Record: 19-3

State Duals appearances: 12th overall, fifth straight

Road to Des Moines: The Hawks hosted a regional dual and defeated Mount Vernon, 56-12. West Delaware won 12 of 14 weights, including eight with bonus points and six by pin.

Outlook: West Delaware’s reign over 2A has spanned the last four seasons, dating back to a third-place finish at the 2018 State Duals. The current roster doesn’t know anything less than hoisting a duals title trophy at the end of the season. The Hawks have won four straight and haven’t been challenged by 2A competition. Their only losses have come to 3A No. 1 Waverly-Shell Rock (twice) and 1A No. 1 Don Bosco.

This won’t be a cakewalk like last year. The tests begin early with No. 8 Burlington Notre Dame, which makes its State Duals debut. The Nikes have eight ranked wrestlers and nine individual qualifiers. Based on rankings, the Nikes would be favored in five matches with at least two more toss-ups. Bonus points could be crucial just to get out of the quarterfinals and avoid an upset. Sergeant Bluff-Luton and Crestwood is a coin flip, but the Hawks should have an easier time, if they make the semifinals. The championship could be against a familiar foe in either Independence or Osage.

INDEPENDENCE

Coach: Michael Doyle (23nd year)

Record: 25-6

State Duals appearances: 12th overall, fourth straight

Road to Des Moines: The Mustangs were sectional champions and defeated Williamsburg, 37-23, in a regional dual. They won eight weights, building a 28-3 lead at the midway point and coasting to the win.

Outlook: The Mustangs are best suited for dual competition and they have been consistent all season. Independence has lost just one dual to a 2A opponent (48-24 to West Delaware). They own a win over third-seeded Osage (43-30) at the Battle of Waterloo in December. The Mustangs have just three individual qualifiers but are competitive at each weight. The Mustangs will be able to get through the opening round against Winterset, but the semifinal will be a tough hurdle to clear in a rematch with Osage.

Predictions: 1. West Delaware, 2. Independence, 3. Osage

Class 1A

Quarterfinal pairings and schedule

No. 1 Don Bosco vs. No. 8 Emmetsburg, 9 a.m.

No. 4 Nashua-Plainfield vs. No. 5 Logan-Magnolia, 9 a.m.

No. 2 Lisbon vs. No. 7 Wilton, 9 a.m.

No. 3 West Sioux vs. No. 6 Missouri Valley, 9 a.m.

Consolation semifinals, 11 a.m.

Semifinals, 1 p.m.

7th and 5th place, 4:30 p.m.

Championship and 3rd place, 6:30 p.m.

LISBON

Coach: Brad Smith (22nd year, 43rd overall)

Record: 15-1

State Duals appearances: 16th overall, eighth straight

Road to Des Moines: Lisbon closed the regular season ranked second. The Lions handled No. 18 New London, 45-18, in the regional dual final at home.

Outlook: Top-ranked Don Bosco and second-seeded Lisbon have ruled the 1A roost, combining for the last five duals titles. The Dons boast eight ranked wrestlers, while Lisbon has seven. These two teams are likely to battle it out again in the finals. Lisbon’s only loss this season has come to Don Bosco. The Dons won 37-29 with an 8-6 edge in matches, including a forfeit in the upper weights. Lisbon has dominated most of its other opponents. Don’t expect much less Wednesday. The Lions have strong point scorers in state champion and two-time state finalist Brandon Paez (120), third-ranked Quincy Happel at 126, state champion Cade Siebrecht (138), No. 5 152-pounder Lincoln Holub, third-ranked Max Kohl at 170 and heavyweight Wyatt Smith, who is ranked fourth. Give them a little support and the Lions should be back in the finals in a rematch with the Dons.

Predictions: 1. Don Bosco, 2. Lisbon, 3. Nashua-Plainfield

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com