Cedar Rapids Kennedy throttles Dubuque Wahlert on senior night, 51-20

CEDAR RAPIDS — Following a 51-20 demolition of Dubuque Wahlert, Cedar Rapids Kennedy head wrestling coach Dennis Hynek had his team huddle up.

He didn't say a whole lot, but perhaps the realization that this would be the final time they would wrestle in this building this season was settling into his student-athletes' heads. The team ended Senior Night with a single apt yell: 'Seniors.'

'This is one of my favorite nights of the year,' Hynek said. 'Obviously districts and state are right up there too … all the seniors fought hard and all the younger kids fought for them.'

It only makes sense, of course, that the dual would start off with a pin from a senior. Gabe Long topped Liam Dolehide in just 1:11 at 113, which was immediately followed by a forfeit at 120 and a 13-second pin from the Cougars' Dylan Falck at 126.

Just like that, Kennedy had an 18-0 lead and didn't look back.

The Cougars sandwiched decisions at 132 and 145 around a 1:12 fall from Jay Oostendorp over Wahlert's Charlie VanderMillon. The Golden Eagles finally got on the board at 152 as the Cougars took a forfeit at the weight and won the next bout by decision.

At 170, second-ranked Ben Sarasin took care of business against Wahlert's Zach Kemp, pinning him in 1:12.

'I'm always looking to score and I love being on my feet — that's my favorite position — and I got him in a scramble situation,' Sarasin said. 'Got him on his back and I was able to break him, honestly.'

Wahlert was able to find a couple wins late in the dual, grabbing bonus point wins at 182 and 285. The Cougars, however, shut the door with bonus points of their own at 195, 220 and 106.

Kennedy's seniors finished 4-1 on the night, with two pins, a major decision and a decision in the winning matches. Not a bad way to close out a home wrestling career.

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