Iowa City West boys wrestling dominates North Scott for first State Duals berth since 2014

IOWA CITY – Alexander Pierce has experienced individual success throughout high school.

The Iowa City West senior has wrestled on the biggest stage under the brightest spotlight, competing in three state finals and capturing a state title in 2023. Now, he gets to share in team success.

“Winning with your family and your team is way more fun than by yourself,” Pierce said. “To be able to share this with my team, it just means everything. It's something I’ve never experienced and it feels great.”

Seventh-ranked West won 10 matches, including eight with bonus points, and trounced No. 13 North Scott in a Class 3A regional dual final Tuesday night at West. The Trojans advance to the State Duals tournament Saturday at Xtream Arena in Coralville.

“I think it’s just a testament to everybody involved,” West Coach Nate Moore said. “The guys just went out and grabbed the bull by the horns. All 14 weights went out and did it, man.

“This State Duals has been circled on our calendar the last 11 years that I've been involved with this program. It means a lot to this team. Clearly you could see they went out and they got it.”

West secured its 12 th State Duals appearance and first since 2014. The Trojans have meshed veteran leaders with young talent to overcome challenges, despite some injuries.

“As soon as our preseason practices start, our coaches have been nailing it in our head that were good enough, even though we haven't done in like 12 years,” Pierce said. “I believed them and I believe my team bought into it. Look at where we're at now.”

Senior Campbell Janis knows of West’s tradition, including five State Duals titles and three runner-up finishes. Some current West coaches helped accumulate. The feat is special to the seniors.

“It just means everything,” Janis said. “I've never achieved this far in my high school career, and especially to do in my senior year, it just feels great for the team.

“My coaches have been a part of that tradition. I think they want us to build our own, so it was just an expectation to build us and reach our goals as a team. Just follow their path that they paved.”

The Trojans were so decisive they had amassed enough points before dropping their first match. With a distinct advantage in the lower weights, West claimed the first five matches with three pins, two technical falls and a 28-0 lead.

“I think those first five, six weights are pretty gritty,” Moore said. “I think we kind of had an idea that's what we needed to do at those bottom weights. They went and did it. We had some good wins with the upper weights, too, that maybe weren't expected on paper, but we thought that we could compete.”

Nicholas Rubio provided the first spark with a 15-0 technical fall over Reese Morden in just 1:12. Diego Robertty added a pin in 1:12 at 113. Hugo Hughes (120) scored six takedowns, posting a fall in 5:07 for a 17-0 West lead.

Owen Smock won 19-3 at 126, allowing Pierce to move up to 132. Pierce decked No. 12 Matt Williams with a pin in only 42 seconds.

“It's just huge to set the tone and you build off your teammates,” Pierce said. “To have them keep stacking those bonus-point wins was amazing and it just worked out perfectly.”

Freshmen Owin Koethe (144) and Blest Woods (157) won by major decision and decision, respectively. The Trojans’ Kristoff Plettenberg opened the 175-pound bout with a seven-point move but trailed 11-10 in the second period. He scored a reversal and recorded a fall in 3:55 that sealed the dual.

Janis, who moved up two weight classes to help the team, notched a first-period pin and ignited the gym one more time before Kaden Stitt capped the night with a decision.

“I was just ready to go,” Janis said. “My coach told me I'm bumping up and he just said get it done. So, once I got that done, it just felt great.”

West (10-4) will get to compete in its own backyard. The Trojans should be the No. 6 seed with Linn-Mar qualifying with a win over sixth-ranked Dubuque Hempstead.

“I’m excited,” Pierce said. “We can accomplish whatever we put our minds to. This is new territory. We haven't been here before, but it's going to be fun.”

North Scott defeated No. 17 Bondurant-Farrar, 51-19, in the regional dual semifinal to face West.

AT IOWA CITY

Iowa City West 50, North Scott 22

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

106 pounds – Nicholas Rubio (ICW) tech. fall Reese Morden, 15-0 (1,0); 113 – Diego Robertty (ICW) pinned Cole Bruck, 1:12 (1,0); 120 – Hugo Hughes (ICW) pinned Max Davis, 5:07 (6,1); 126 – Owen Smock (ICW) tech. fall Austin Mizer, 19-3 (5,0); 132 – Alexander Pierce (ICW) pinned Matt Williams, :42 (2,0); 138 – Will McDermott (NS) major dec. Charlie Barnhouse, 14-0 (0,0); 144 – Owin Koethe (ICW) major dec. Collin Kruse, 13-5 (3,1); 150 – Zach Green (NS) pinned Ethan Plettenberg, 1:00 (1,0); 157 – Blest Woods (ICW) dec. Ben Lightle, 14-10 (4,1); 165 – Cole Green (ICW) won by forfeit; 175 – Kristoff Plettenberg (ICW) pinned Kepler Carmichael, 3:55 (1,2); 190 – Campbell Janis (ICW) pinned Kade Kelly, 1:49 (1,0); 215 – Trey Feist (NS) pinned Ashten Holmes, 1:30 (1,0); 285 – Kaden Stitt (ICW) dec. Bryce Stewart, 7-2 (2,0)

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns – North Scott 7, I.C. West 26. Reversals – North Scott 2, I.C. West 2. Escapes – North Scott 17, I.C. West 3. Nearfall points – North Scott 17, I.C. West 30. Penalty points (awarded) – North Scott 3, I.C. West 1. Total match points – North Scott 62, I.C. West 116.

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