Cedar Rapids Prairie handles Waverly-Shell Rock, 40-19

CEDAR RAPIDS — Tough and stingy.

Cedar Rapids Prairie Coach Kane Thompson offered those words to describe Tyger Whitters. After all, Thompson said he doesn't even like to allow moves to teammates when they are drilling in practice.

The senior 160-pounder demonstrated those traits and his performance was indicative of the entire Prairie team. Whitters helped Prairie sweep three matches between ranked opponents and the Class 3A ninth-ranked Hawks handled No. 5 Waverly-Shell Rock, 40-19, Thursday night at home.

Ninth-ranked Whitters used two takedowns and defeated No. 2 Zack Wagenhoffer, 6-2, at 160 pounds. Those fancy ranking numbers don't matter.

'Tyger probably doesn't even know that or care,' Thompson said. 'He's just a tough dude.'

Whitters led throughout, locking up a cradle on the edge as the first period ended for a takedown. He said he knew time was running out and he was just trying to keep his feet in bounds.

He added escapes that sandwiched Wagenhoffer's third-period reversal, making it 4-2. Whitters scored a late takedown on a go-behind for good measure. The victory validates all of his time and effort.

'Hard work pays off,' Whitters said. 'I'm working in practice, pushing myself every day.'

Prairie posted victories against four ranked Go-Hawks overall. Prairie's eighth-ranked freshman Ashton Stoner-DeGroot (170) followed Whitters with a pin over No. 6 Trevor Byram in 1:54.

He built a 6-0 lead with two sets of nearfall points. Once he had Byram on his back he was determined to put him away.

'Your adrenaline pumps high,' Stoner-DeGroot said. 'You feel like you're invincible.'

Stoner-DeGroot said he is working to peak for the postseason. The goal is to earn a state berth to Des Moines.

'I just came out and worked on improving,' Stoner-DeGroot said. 'This is one of the ways I'm doing it. I'm proving myself.'

Prairie's Conrad Braswell set the tone in the opening match. The third-ranked 106-pounder scored two takedowns to beat No. 8 Evan Yant. Teammate Johnny Washburn followed with a second-period fall at 113, giving Prairie an early 9-0 lead.

'It sets your team up,' Thompson said. 'It kind of rolled from there.'

Prairie broke things open with seven wins in an eight-match stretch, including Chase St. John's 6-1 decision over No. 10 Dalton Woodyard at 145. St. John notched two first-period takedowns and a reversal.

Trenten Wennermark sparked the Hawks with a major decision over Ian Heise at 132. Casey Hogan (138) and 195-pounder Stuart Boston recorded falls. Preston LaGrange added a decision at 182.

'We know what these guys are capable of,' Thompson said. 'When they are consistent they are pretty tough. I'm proud of their effort.'

Prairie (13-2, 6-0 Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division) ended the night with a 54-27 win over Cedar Rapids Xavier.

The Saints (0-15, 0-2 MVC Mississippi) opened the night with a 64-9 loss to the Go-Hawks. Josh Gerke (145) was unbeaten for Xavier.

AT C.R. PRAIRIE

C.R. Prairie 40, Waverly-Shell Rock 19

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

106 pounds — Conrad Braswell (CRP) dec. Evan Yant, 4-2 (2,0); 113 — Johnny Washburn (CRP) pinned Damor Hughes, 4:30 (3,0); 120 — Dylan Albrecht (WSR) pinned Ted Zangerle, 1:41 (1,0); 126 — Bryson Hervol (WSR) dec. Lucas Harmening, 5-2 TB1 (0,1); 132 — Trenten Wennermark (CRP) major dec. Ian Heise, 9-1 (4,0); 138 — Casey Hogan (CRP) pinned Colby Hervol, 2:23 (1,0); 145 — Chase St. John (CRP) dec. Dalton Woodyard, 6-1 (2,0); 152 — Austin Yant (WSR) major dec. Mike Jasa, 14-5 (5,0); 160 — Tyger Whitters (CRP) dec. Zack Wagenhoffer, 6-2 (2,0); 170 — Ashton Stoner-DeGroot (CRP) pinned Trevor Byram, 1:54 (1,0); 182 — Preston LaGrange (CRP) dec. Brayden Wolf, 5-3 (1,0); 195 — Stuart Boston (CRP) pinned Dylan Eggleston,: 44 (1,0); 220 — Jacob Eggleston (WSR) dec. Alex Heisdorffer, 12-6 (1,1); Hwt. — Alex Snyder (WSR) dec. Chance Halfhill, 4-2 (1,1).

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns — WSR 8, CRP 20. Reversals — WSR 6, CRP 6. Escapes — WSR 7, CRP 7. Nearfall points — WSR 11, CRP 10. Penalty points (awarded) — WSR 2, CRP 0. Total match points — WSR 48, CRP 69.

C.R. Prairie 54, C.R. Xavier 27

113 pounds — Johhny Washburn (CRP) won by forfeit; 120 — Keegan Schultschik (CRX) pinned Ted Zangerle, 2:43; 126 — Patrick Chambers (CRX) dec. Lucas Harmening, 7-3; 132 — Trenten Wennermark (CRP) pinned Jaxson Konzen, 3:09; 138 — Casey Hogan (CRP) pinned Clayton Drury, 2:49; 145 — Josh Gerke (CRP) pinned Chase St. John, 2:40; 152 — Mike Jasa (CRP) pinned Garrett Ries, 4:37; 160 — Tyger Whitters (CRP) won by forfeit; 170 — Ashton Stoner-Degroot (CRP) pinned Collin Yanga, 1:04; 182 — Preston LaGrange (CRP) won by forfeit; 195 — Stuart Boston (CRP) pinned Erik Rodriguez,: 52; 220 — Alex Francois (CRX) pinned Alex Heisdorffer, 3:08; Hwt. — Tommy Pudil (CRX) pinned Chance Halfhill, 1:34; 106 — Conrad Braswell (CRP) won by forfeit.

Waverly-Shell Rock 64, C.R. Xavier 9

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

Hwt. — Andrew Snyder (WSR) dec. Tommy Pudil, 2-1 TB1; 106 pounds — Evan Yant (WSR) won by forfeit; 113 — Damor Hughes (WSR) won by forfeit; 120 — Dylan Albrecht (WSR) major dec. Keegan Schultschik, 11-2 (3,0); 126 — Bryson Hervol (WSR) pinned Patrick Chambers, 5:28 (2,1); 132 — Ian Heise (WSR) pinned Jaxson Konzen,: 45 (1,0); 138 — Colby Hervol (WSR) major dec. Clayton Drury, 12-0 (3,0); 145 — Josh Gerke (CRX) dec. Dalton Woodyard, 7-1 (3,0); 152 — Austin Yant (WSR) tech fall Garrett Ries, 21-6 (8,0); 160 — Zack Wagenhoffer (WSR) won by forfeit; 170 — Trevor Byram (WSR) pinned Colin Yanga, 1:47 (1,0); 182 — Brayden Wolf (WSR) won by forfeit; 195 — Erik Rodriguez (CRX) pinned Dylan Eggleston, 1:57 (1,0); 220 — Jacob Eggleston (WSR) pinned Alex Francois, 1:42 (1,0).

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns — WSR 19, CRX 5. Reversals — WSR 1, CRX 2. Escapes — WSR 7, CRX 8. Nearfall points — WSR 16, CRX 0. Penalty points (awarded) — WSR 0, CRX 1. Total match points — WSR 63, CRX 23.

l Comments: (319) 368-8679; kj.pilcher@thegazette.com