Lo-Ma wins wild final dual for championshp sweep

CEDAR RAPIDS - The smallest schools produced the most excitement.

Logan-Magnolia and Don Bosco battled to the final match and when the dust settled Logan-Magnolia had snapped a Don Bosco championship streak for the second straight week.

Second-seeded Logan Magnolia edged top-seeded Don Bosco, 28-27, to win the Class 1A championship of the Iowa High School Athletic Association State dual team tournament Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Center. The Panthers' victory snapped the Dons streak of six straight 1A titles.

This came on the heels of Lo-Ma ending the Dons streak of traditional state team titles at five last week.

"It feels great to do that," Lo-Ma Coach Kent Kersten said. "They're a great, great program. it's just awesome."

The Panthers celebrated when the final seconds ticked off the clock. It capped a perfect season. Lo-Ma finished 29-0, capturing the school's second State Duals crown.

"It's unbelievable," Lo-Ma 160-pounder and team captain Marrick Loftus said. "A dream come true."

Lo-Ma watched its 29-24 lead shrink by a point when a cheerleader mistakeningly stepped onto the mat after a win at 103 pounds. The Panthers owned a four-point lead, entering the final match at 112 pounds. Don Bosco's Drew Mangrich, who placed fifth at state, faced Ethan Reynek, who placed one spot behind him last week. The two competed in a wild bout, that was tied 10-10 after the second period. Reynek didn't allow a bonus point, giving up a 15-11 decision, and securing the win. He was unfazed taking the mat with the title on the line.

"I came into it with a lot of pressure," Reynek said. "pressure isn't anything but fear and the panthers don't fear anybody."

It was similar to the championship dual in 2003, where Lo-Ma capped a perfect championship season with a 33-27 win.

"Both times we wrestled Bosco," Kersten said. "Both times it came down to the wire."

Lo-Ma didn't lead until the last four matches, trailing Don Bosco by as much as 12 points. Nolan Oviatt (140) and Loftus scored major decisions, keeping the Panthers close. Lo-Ma's Dillon Miller added a decision at 152.

The Panthers were down seven with five matches remaining. Chris Bridgeford scored a fall to pull the Panthers within, 21-20, and incited his him by yelling "Let's Go" as he came off the mat. Evan Mikels made it consecutive falls with a first-period pin at 215 and Ridge Meeker earned a decision for the Panthers at 103, setting up the final contest.

 Bridgeford received a pep talk from Loftus before taking the mat and it propelled him to victory.

"Before I went out, our captain (Marrick) told me I needed a pin," Bridgeford said. "They've been wanting a state championship since Kindergarten."

Don Bosco Coach Tom Kettman said the Dons wrestled well and had a good gameplan but needed to turn around a couple close losses and score more bonus points. he also praised Lo-Ma for its performance.

Don Bosco (23-6) reached the finals for the seventh straight year. The Dons handled Wilton, 56-20, in the opening round and dropped Alburnett, 45-16, in the semifinals.

"Yes, it's tough," Kettman said about the end of the title run. "Next year, we'll have to start another one."

Lo-Ma reached the finals with a 54-15 quarterfinal win over Truro I-35 and a 35-30 victory over third-seeded Nashua-Plainfield in the semifinals.

Alburnett wrestled to its seed in its first appearance at the State Duals tournament. The fourth-seeded Pirates won their opening dual against Manson-Northwest Webster, 24-3, before the loss to Don Bosco. Nashua-Plainfield beat Alburnett, 43-33, for third place. The Pirates finished the season 24-5.