England’s second MVC crown powers Prairie to fourth straight team title

CEDAR RAPIDS — Cedar Rapids Prairie's Marcus England already owns a conference bracket.

The newer one, however, might be a little more special, considering he accomplished it at home and it helped the Hawks continue their conference reign.

England captured his second Mississippi Valley Conference Super Meet crown, leading host Prairie to its fourth straight team title Saturday. The Hawks are just the second program to win four in a row, joining Iowa City West (2004-12).

'It's a great honor, especially my senior year to end it on a good note here in our own gym,' said England, who won the 106-pound title last season. 'It makes it that much greater.'

England (28-3) surrendered the opening takedown to Cedar Rapids Xavier's Jeff Vipond, but scored the final six points, including two reversals, for a 6-2 decision for the 113-pound championship.

'You never want to give up points,' England said. 'Vipond has always been a good match. He's a tough kid.'

England placed fourth at state last season. The feat was nice, but still serves as a steppingstone for the postseason.

'It feels great,' England said. 'This is always a big tournament. There is good competition here.

'It's preparation for the next step, which would be district.'

England was joined on the top of the podium by 106-pounder Conrad Braswell and top-ranked 132-pound senior Sam Uthoff. Taylor Mehmen was second at 195.

Braswell scored a late takedown for a 5-2 lead over Dubuque Hempstead's No. 7 Dillon Gottschalk before getting a pin in 5:46. The victory avenged an earlier loss.

'That was great to see,' England said of Braswell. 'It was great to see him fight back and get that victory. It's nice to see an underclassman stepping in and succeed in that place.'

Uthoff pinned Cedar Rapids Jefferson's Dalton Mastin in the final. He improved to 34-0, rolling through the bracket with two pins and a technical fall.

'In my mind, that kid is one of the most exciting and fun to watch,' first-year Prairie Coach Kane Thompson said. 'He doesn't try to keep anything close. He doesn't try to be strategic. He does what he is good at and that is moving and scoring points.'

Thompson has waited for a complete performance and he received one Saturday. The Hawks placed 13 wrestlers, including nine in the top five of their respective weights. They tied runner-up Jefferson with eight semifinalists.

'Our goal and focus was to be consistent for a whole tournament,' Thompson said. 'I think we put that together better and it showed in the team race. You figured it was going to be tight with some teams that have some really talented guys.'

Prairie scored 200 team points, using a balanced effort for an 11-point win over the J-Hawks.

Jefferson matched Prairie with three champs. Brenden Baker became just the 14th three-time MVC champion, beating Iowa City High's Joey Harney, 21-5, for the 120-pound title.

Kyle Briggs (152) and Nick Dreckman (182) claimed gold for the J-Hawks. Second-ranked Briggs improved his runner-up finish last year, beating Kennedy's No. 4 Logen Rodriguez, 7-5, tallying three first-period takedowns.

Dreckman posted a 12-3 major decision over Iowa City West's Nate Kelsay.

'He has some pretty good workout partners,' Jefferson co-head coach Dick Briggs said of Dreckman. 'As a senior, he's taken the attitude that this is my last year I better make the most of it. He is doing a good job for sure.'

Iowa City West's Nelson Brands was impressive for the second straight year. The sophomore claimed his second MVC crown. The fourth-ranked Brands topped Xavier's No. 2 Clint Lembeck, 10-7, in the 138 final.

Conference coaches voted Brands Outstanding Wrestler for the second straight year.

'It doesn't mean much,' Brands said. 'It's a good tournament to win but it's nothing to do with state. It's just another win.'

Brands said his strength is on is feet and he showed it with three takedowns against the two-time state medalist.

'Takedowns are where it's at for me,' Brands said. 'I'm not a great rider. I'm not great on bottom, but takedowns work for me.'

Brands is looking for his first trip to state. Dedication in the off-season has powered him more than what he missed as a freshman.

'I think I got a lot better over the summer,' Brands said. 'I've been working hard and get what I earn.'

West's Donovan Doyle also won his second-straight title, taking gold at 195.

Kennedy crowned two champions, placing third with 163 points. Nolan Hromidko beat Cedar Rapids Washington's Will Foreman, 12-3, in the 126 final.

The Cougars' Garrett Kubovec earned the title at 170, dropping down to the class after the holiday break. Kubovec beat Jefferson's sixth-ranked Matt Culver in the semifinals before sticking Linn-Mar's A.J. Geers in 1:31 in the championship bout.

Kennedy Coach Dennis Hynek said he thought Kubovec moved well throughout the day.

'We know that Garrett has the ability to win a lot of tournaments, including a tough tournament like the conference,' Hynek said. 'It's a matter when he gets the confidence to do it. He does it in the (practice) room. He's showed signs that he could throughout the whole season he could do it. When he puts it together, he's as tough as they come.'

Xavier's ninth-ranked Josh Gerke dropped Hempstead's No. 4 Alex Ward, 5-2, in the 145-pound final. The title came after third-place finishes in this competition his first two seasons.

'I've been fighting for it,' said Gerke, a junior. 'It means a lot to finally take down some of the kids I've been chasing for a while.

After a scoreless first, Gerke scored a takedown in the second off his attack and then countered a last-ditch effort to seal the win in the third.

'I just had to set up my own offense and be patient,' said Gerke, who avenged a loss to Linn-Mar's eighth-ranked Johnny Clymer in the semifinals. 'I had to control the match in my way.'

Linn-Mar's second-ranked Shea Hartzler defeated Jefferson's No. 5 Tavian Rashed, 6-4, for the 160 championship.

Hartzler was one of six champions who repeated from last season. Hempstead's top-ranked Gannon Gremmel added a heavyweight title to the 220-pound crown he won last season.

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CONFERENCE SUPER MEET

At C.R. Prairie

Teams — 1. C.R. Prairie 200, 2. C.R. Jefferson 189, 3. Cedar Rapids Kennedy 163, 4. Dubuque Hempstead 154.5, 5. (tie) Iowa City High and Linn-Mar 133, 7. Iowa City West 116, 8. C.R. Xavier 101, 9. Dubuque Wahlert 95, 10. Cedar Falls 94, 11. Waterloo East 67, 12. Dubuque Senior 44.5, 13. C.R. Washington 42.5, 14. Waterloo West 40.5.

Championship matches

106 pounds — Conrad Braswell (CRP) pinned Dillon Gottschalk (DH), 5:46; 113 — Marcus England (CRP) dec. Jeff Vipond (CRX), 6-2; 120 — Brenden Baker (CRJ) tech. fall Joey Harney (ICH), 21-5; 126 — Nolan Hromidko (CRK) major dec. Will Foreman (CRW), 12-3; 132 — Sam Uthoff (CRP) pinned Dalton Mastin (CRJ), 3:43; 138 — Nelson Brands (ICW) dec. Clint Lembeck (CRX), 10-7; 145 — Josh Gerke (CRX) dec. Alex Ward (DH), 5-2; 152 — Kyle Briggs (CRJ) dec. Logen Rodriguez (CRK), 7-5; 160 — Shea Hartzler (LM) dec. Tavian Rashed (CRJ), 6-4; 170 — Garrett Kubovec (CRK) pinned A.J. Geers (LM), 1:31; 182 — Nick Dreckman (CRJ) major dec. Nate Kelsay (ICW), 12-3; 195 — Donovan Doyle (ICW) dec. Taylor Mehmen (CRP), 5-2; 220 — Al Freiburger (DH) pinned Dalles Jacobus (CRK), :34; Hwt. — Gannon Gremmel (DH) pinned Omar Begic (WE), 1:01.

Outstanding Wrestler — Brands (ICW)

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