Jefferson settles for second again

VAN HORNE — An interesting trend has marked Cedar Rapids Jefferson's wrestling season.

One the J-Hawks hope they bring to a screeching halt, even though other programs would like to be in their Asics.

Class 3A 10th-ranked Jefferson crowned two champions with seven finalists, but had to settle for a runner-up finish to 2A No. 6-ranked Davenport Assumption Saturday at Benton Community's Bobcat Jerry Eckenrod Invitational. The Knights scored 251 1/2 points, outscoring the J-Hawks by 51.

'I feel like we're Team 2,' Jefferson co-head coach Matt Orton said. 'Every tournament we've been in this year we've finished second.

'You feel good about putting seven in the finals and then you go, and we won two of seven finals matches. It's good and bad.'

The J-Hawks had a lot of holes to fill from last season. New guys have moved into the starting lineup and are adjusting well.

'We lost some heavy hitters up high,' senior 113-pounder Brenden Baker said. 'We had a really good team last year. This year we're developing and working with what we've got. We have a good team this year as well.'

Baker claimed Jefferson's first gold medal, overturning some earlier second-place finishes this season. The two-time state medalist defeated Assumption's Jacob Fenske, 4-0, in the final.

'I've just been working hard,' Baker said. 'I had some losses I don't feel I should have had this year, but I have to look past those and keep working. This is a good steppingstone.'

Sixth-ranked Baker's ability to handle setbacks signifies his progress. Orton said Baker is mentally getting things in order and had tweaked his offensive attacks. Both are paying dividends.

'He hasn't let losses overwhelm him,' Orton said. 'He's done well.'

Baker scored all his points in the second period. He reversed Fenske after a restart for a 2-0 lead. Baker forced Fenske to his back for nearfall and then rode him the rest of the way. Baker said he knew Fenske rides tough, using the legs.

'I knew I had to stand up right away and not let legs come in or it would be trouble,' Baker said. 'I popped up. I felt his pressure go one way so I cartwheeled over, put him down and then got the turn later in the period.'

Senior Kyle Briggs joined Baker on the top of the awards stand. Briggs rolled through the 152-pound bracket, beating Assumption's Nick Johnson, 12-6, in the finals. Briggs (24-0) wasn't challenged, recording two pins and a technical fall in his first three matches.

'Kyle is just a workman,' Orton said. 'The nice thing about Kyle is there are no ups and downs emotionally. He just goes out there and plugs away, does his job and works hard. That pays off for him. He's really grown.'

Cedar Rapids Washington's Will Foreman continued his strong season. The Warriors sophomore improved to 17-1, pinning Jefferson's Zach Main in the 126-pound final. Despite wins over higher seeded wrestlers, Foreman was seeded fourth. He knocked off Don Bosco's top-seeded and 1A eighth-ranked Jeremy Schmitz, 13-6, in the semifinals.

'It kind of did,' Foreman said about having a chip on his shoulder. 'I just wanted to show them I could beat him.'

Foreman pulled away in the second with late nearfall points and then put Main on his back at the start of the third before getting the pin in 4:14.

'There was short time in the period,' Foreman said. 'I wanted to rack up points before pinning him.'

Foreman went 25-12 last season and was one win short of reaching the state tournament. He put in a lot of time in the off-season, wrestling in freestyle and Greco-Roman. He has developed skill and the confidence to go with it.

'I didn't have that confidence last year,' Foreman said. 'I was scared when I had big names and didn't wrestle my best. I forget about who they are and just wrestle.'

Independence made a charge late, going a perfect 3-for-3 in championship matches, and placed third with 192 points. Jake Juhl (160), Nick Holt at 170 and 195-pounder Matt McMillan won gold.

Juhl, ranked sixth in 2A, topped a bracket with four ranked wrestlers in the semifinals. He beat Jefferson's 3A fifth-ranked Tavian Rashed, 7-5, in the final. He advanced to the final with a fall and then an 18-6 major decision over Don Bosco's Chris Paulsen, who is ranked fifth in 1A.

'He really didn't start this year well,' Independence Coach Michael Doyle said. 'In a way, we went back to the drawing board a little bit to see where are we good at and what do we need to do to stay that way. He did those things. He moved well, set shots up, good fakes and finished. Things like that make him a good wrestler. He's figuring out that is where he needs to be.'

North-Linn matched Jefferson's and Independence's feats. The Lynx crowned two champions, posting a perfect record in the championship bouts.

Heavyweight Kyler Schott, ranked fourth in 1A, capped the day with a 6-2 decision over Union's 2A No. 7 Michael Ahrendsen. Schott (25-0) scored the only takedowns of the match, showing his ability to move during a late flurry that resulted in a takedown to secure the victory.

'He wrestled a smart match,' North-Linn Coach Brad Bridgewater said. 'He wasn't going to put himself in danger with getting beat. He can scramble when he needs to. He's one of the last ones out when we play dodgeball. He can move for a big boy.'

Top-ranked Brock Henderson (23-0) won the 113-pound crown for North-Linn. Henderson, who won his 100th career match with his first of three wins, earned three takedowns in the opening period to beat Jefferson's Joseph Sibomana, 6-2, in the final.

Vinton-Shellsburg senior Nick Hyland improved to 20-0 this season with a 3-1 win over Assumption's fifth-ranked Stuart Schafer at 145. Hyland, ranked seventh at 138, scored a takedown in the final minute to break a 1-1 tie. Hyland, who did not compete here last season, earned his best finish since getting third at this event as a freshman.

Williamsburg's Vic Malloy captured the 182-pound title. Malloy (24-1) tallied two takedowns and a reversal to beat Jefferson's Nick Dreckman, 6-3, in the final.

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