Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Jean Ngoma named boys’ wrestling All-Metro Athlete of the Year

CEDAR RAPIDS - Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Jean Ngoma was the Metro’s lone state finalist, placing second at 215 pounds in Class 3A.

He earned his second straight state medal and posted a 38-1 record as a senior.

Ngoma was named All-Metro Athlete of the Year in boys’ wrestling and Xavier Coach Ryan Chambers and staff were named Coach of the Year. All honors are voted on by Metro coaches.

Linn-Mar led the way with eight first-team selections, including state medalists Malik DeBow (126) and 174-pound Philip Jacobs. DeBow placed third at state, becoming the Lions’ eighth four-time state medalist.

Linn-Mar’s Will Smith (120), Hud Turner (138), Aidan Ehlinger (144), Noah Howk-Erwin at 150, Brayden Fish (157) and 165-pounder Barrett Mieras were also on the first team.

Xavier put four on the first team. Ngoma, who will wrestle and play football at Ellsworth Community College, was joined by teammates Jack Foster (132), Kale Leymaster (144) and Dusty Cook at 190.

Cedar Rapids Prairie’s state medalist duo of Chase Watkinson and Dylan Munson were first-teamers at 106 and 113. Watkinson placed fifth, while Munson defaulted to sixth after being injured in the semifinals at state.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson’s Anthony Snodey and Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Anthony Keys both qualified for state and shared first-team honors at heavyweight.

ALL-METRO BOYS’ WRESTLING TEAM

First team

106 pounds - Chase Watkinson, C.R. Prairie; 113 - Dylan Munson; 120 - Will Smith, Linn-Mar; 126 - Malik DeBow, Linn-Mar; 132 - Jack Foster, C.R. Xavier; 138 - Hud Turner, Linn-Mar; 144 - Aidan Ehlinger, Linn-Mar and Kale Leymaster, C.R. Xavier; 150 - Noah Howk-Erwin, Linn-Mar; 157 - Brayden Fish, Linn-Mar; 165 - Barrett Mieras, Linn-Mar; 175 - Philip Jacobs, Linn-Mar; 190 - Dusty Cook, C.R. Xavier; 215 - Jean Ngoma, C.R. Xavier; Hwt. - Anthony Snodey, C.R. Jefferson and Anthony Keys, C.R. Kennedy

Athlete of the Year - Ngoma, C.R. Xavier

Coach of the Year - Ryan Chambers and staff, C.R. Xavier

Second team

106 - Kylan Walsh, C.R. Kennedy; 113 - Elliott Gnewuch, C.R. Xavier; 120 - Zayd Igram, C.R. Jefferson; 126 - Bryce Naber, C.R. Xavier; 132 - Evan Pulis, Linn-Mar and Aiden Kirk, C.R. Prairie; 138 - Kelso Brueck, C.R. Xavier; 144 - Cohen Yossi, C.R. Prairie; 150 - Germaine Ngoma, C.R. Xavier; 157 - Kobe Sindt, C.R. Washington; 165 - Marek McNamara, C.R. Xavier; 175 - Louden Bloxham, C.R. Prairie; 190 - Wyatt Young, C.R. Washington; 215 - Conner Bistricky, C.R. Prairie; Hwt. - Romeo Klein, C.R. Prairie

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