J-Hawk wrestlers impressive in routs of West, Linn-Mar

MARION – The Cedar Rapids Jefferson wrestling squad continues to build on last season's progress.

The J-Hawks, ranked eighth in Class 3A according to The Predicament, posted a pair of comfortable victories in a Mississippi Valley Conference triangular Thrusday night at Linn-Mar.

'We won where we were supposed to win,” Jefferson co-head coach Matt Orton said. 'We fought hard to eliminate bonus points in both matches and got some kids some opportunities to get into the lineup that haven't been before. It was a good day.”

The J-Hawks opened with a 44-24 victory over Iowa City West as five J-Hawks recorded pins. Ranked wrestlers Joseph Sibomana and Brenden Baker both moved up a weight class and were strong. Sibomana pinned West's Hunter Davis in 1:47 of the 120-pound bout, while Baker – the second-ranked 120-pounder, needed just 16 seconds to pin Miguel Paredes at 126.

'I feel pretty confident with our experienced kids that they can move,” Orton said.

Jefferson senior Nick Dreckman, ranked ninth at 195 pounds, dropped down a weight class and scored an impressive 10-2 major decision over West's sixth-ranked 182-pounder, Nate Kelsay.

'I just had to keep in better shape and not break,” Dreckman said. 'I felt good. I went out and did my best because I knew I had to get bonus points.”

152-pounder Kyle Briggs – also ranked second in his weight class – tallied a third-period fall of West senior Ben Bertell.

In the nightcap, Jefferson collected eight more pins and routed the host Lions, 56-21. Baker again competed at 126 and pinned Charlie Petersen late in the final period, while Briggs pinned No. 10-ranked AJ Geers of Linn-Mar at 152 in 3:02. Freshman Colten Mastin (113) and junior Dalton Mastin (132) tallied pins in less than a minute.

The marquee match of the triangular was at 160, where top-ranked Shea Hartzler of Linn-Mar outlasted Jefferson's fifth-ranked senior Tavian Rashed in a 4-2 decision.

Despite the loss of six seniors to graduation, Jefferson returns significant experience from last season's team that finished third at the state duals tournament – its highest placing in over 20 years.

'Our expectations are always the same,” Orton said. 'We always want to be in the hunt, but we've got some guys with a lot less experience that are filling in some holes for the guys that left. I'm proud of our kids that have stepped into our lineup that have done a nice job.”

Sandwiched between the two J-Hawk dual victories was a 44-24 Linn-Mar win over West. The Lions were led by eighth-ranked 138-pounder Alex Streicher, who needed 1:48 to subdue Jeff Garbutt of West for one of Linn-Mar's five pins. Hartzler moved up to 170 and notched a 10-4 decision against West's Carter Rohweder.

AT LINN-MAR

C.R. Jefferson 44, I.C. West 26

106 pounds - Hans von Rabenau (ICW) pinned Jaden Collins, 4:20; 113 - Colten Mastin (CRJ) pinned Keaton Speicher, 1:04; 120 - Joseph Sibomana (CRJ) pinned Hunter Davis, 1:47; 126 - Brenden Baker (CRJ) pinned Miguel Paredes, 0:16; 132 - Aaron Stumpf (ICW) tech. fall Zach Main, 17-2; 138 - Dalton Mastin (CRJ) pinned Jeff Garbutt, 1:05; 145 - Nelson Brands (ICW) pinned Cody Clendenen, 1:32; 152 - Kyle Briggs (CRJ) pinned Ben Bertell, 4:17; 160 - Tavian Rashed (CRJ) maj. dec. Tyler Yoerger, 16-5; 170 - Matt Culver (CRJ) dec. Carter Rohweder, 3-1; 182 - Nick Dreckman (CRJ) maj. dec. Nate Kelsay, 10-2; 195 - Donovan Doyle (ICW) pinned Taylor Viktora, 0:56; 220 - Joseph Briddle (ICW) dec. Blake Owens, 5-1; 285 - David Bonner (CRJ) dec. Undel Hatchett, 3-2.

AT LINN-MAR

Linn-Mar 44, I.C. West 24

106 pounds - Cole Kraklio (LM) pinned Hans vonRabenau, 3:32; 113 - Keaton Speicher (ICW) pinned Jack Nauman, 2:47; 120 - Ethan Fish (LM) pinned Hunter Davis, 3:00; 126 - Charlie Petersen (LM) pinned Miguel Paredes, 0:50; 132 - Aaron Stumpf (ICW) pinned Logan Dulin, 1:07; 138 - Alex Streicher (LM) pinned Jeff Garbutt, 1:48; 145 - Nelson Brands (ICW), dec. Johnny Clymer, 6-5; 152 - Jacob Wemoen (LM) pinned Ben Bartell, 0:28; 160 - AJ Geers (LM) major dec. Tyler Yoerger, 9-1; 170 - Shae Hartzler (LM) dec. Carter Rohweder, 10-4; 182 - Nate Kelsay (ICW) dec. Logan Hagmeier, 1-0; 195 - Donovan Doyle (ICW) pinned Baylor Pree, 1:39; 220 - Joe Gallo (LM) major dec. Joseph Briddle, 11-1; 285 - Ben Diestler (LM) dec. Undel Hatchett, 2-0.

AT LINN-MAR

C.R. Jefferson 56, Linn-Mar 21

106 – Cole Kraklio (LM) pinned Jaden Collins (CRJ), 0:36; 113 – Colten Mastin (CRJ) pinned Jack Nauman (LM), 0:56; 120 – Joseph Sibomana (CRJ) tech. fall Ethan Fish (LM), 20-5; 126 – Brenden Baker (CRJ) pinned Charlie Petersen (LM), 4:36; 132 – Dalton Mastin (CRJ) pinned Jesse Wade (LM), 0:54; 138 – Alex Streicher (LM) pinned Matt Storm (CRJ), 1:24; 145 – Johnny Clymer (LM) pinned Cody Clendenen (CRJ), 3:41; 152 – Kyle Briggs (CRJ) pinned AJ Geers (LM), 3:02; 160 – Shea Hartzler (LM) dec. Tavian Rashed (CRJ), 4-2; 170 – Matt Culver (CRJ) pinned Matt Schlegel (LM), 5:17; 182 – Nick Dreckman (CRJ) dec. Logan Hagmeier (LM), 8-3; 195 – Taylor Viktora (CRJ) pinned Baylor Pree (LM), 3:06; 220 – Keenan Stewart (CRJ) pinned Joe Gallo (LM), 4:50; 285 – David Bonner (CRJ) pinned Ben Diestler (LM), 3:54.

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com