Michigan transplant Tegan Ray leads Linn-Mar’s championship effort at MVC boys wrestling tournament

IOWA CITY — “There are good people everywhere.”

Those are the words of Linn-Mar senior wrestler Tegan Ray, who is competing at the Iowa high school level for the first time after living in Michigan for the past several years.

A two-time state qualifier at Michigan, Ray has wasted no time making a name for himself in the Hawkeye State.

“I came in expecting, ‘Hey, I am going to need a higher pace, it’s going to be a grind,’” Ray said after winning four matches to claim the Mississippi Valley Conference title at 138 pounds Saturday at Iowa City High School. “Iowa is definitely not a slouch for wrestling, especially being in the biggest division. I knew it was going to be tough, but all summer I just put my nose to the grindstone and really just worked to get better every day.”

Ray was no stranger to Iowa wrestling. He lived in Iowa and was a member of Linn-Mar’s youth wrestling club through sixth grade before the Michigan move. When his father, Trend Ray, received an employment opportunity to return to Iowa, Tegan had the choice to live with Michigan relatives to finish out his final year of high school or return to Linn-Mar.

“I knew there was just going to be tougher competition down here,” Ray said. “So I took the opportunity to get better.”

Ray has been a welcome addition to the Lions. Not only has he posted a sparkling 29-3 record on the mat, his leadership skills made him an ideal choice for team captain in his one and only year on campus.

“Tegan is a great kid,” Linn-Mar Co-Coach Beau Westpfahl said. “Knew him really well. When he came back, he fit right in. He has been an incredible leader, very coachable. Just a good leader for our team.”

The Lions piled up 232.5 points as a team and won the MVC team title for the fourth time in five years.

“Just having guys wrestling well at the end of the year and scoring points at every weight, guys getting wins at every weight,” Westpfahl said. “It’s important. We have always benefited from the balance of our team.”

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Ray was one of four Linn-Mar wrestlers — alongside senior Philip Jacobs (190 pounds), junior Noah Howk-Erwin (165) and junior Barrett Mieras, who remains undefeated at 18-0 in his first season at 175 pounds after winning an MVC crown last season at 165.

“It’s been different,” Mieras said. “You get higher in weight, kids definitely wrestle different. They have different moves. They like to hit, but I am adjusting pretty well. Luckily, 165 to 175 is not crazy. You have just got some bigger guys. That’s all.”

Iowa City West crowned three champions and finished second in the team standings with 199 points, highlighted by a fourth MVC title for undefeated senior Alexander Pierce (126 pounds). Freshman Diego Robertty (113) and Oklahoma transfer Kaden Stitt (285) also reached the top of the podium.

“They went out and they scored some points,” West Coach Nate Moore said. “Won the matches they were supposed to win.”

The Western Dubuque duo of Will Casey (144 pounds) and Joe Hirsch (157) each won titles as the Bobcats placed third as a team with 189 points.

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