LaGrange guts out win to spark Prairie

CEDAR RAPIDS — Cedar Rapids Prairie's Preston LaGrange faced some tough circumstances.

The Hawks' junior 182-pounder wrestled with a nose broken in three places, forcing him to wear a protective mask, and he was staring through the eye holes at a six-point first-period deficit.

LaGrange overcame both, recording a pin over Logan Hagmeier and helping Class 3A sixth-ranked Prairie to a 45-22 victory Thursday night over No. 18 Linn-Mar at home.

LaGrange scored the opening takedown but fell behind as Hagmeier scored eight straight points before the first break. He was confident he could get back in it, focusing on chipping away.

'I know I wrestle a lot stronger later in matches,' LaGrange said. 'Coach is always telling me if I survive the first period that I have a lot better chance of winning.

'I saw I was down 8-2. I just kept my cool and kept wrestling.'

LaGrange pulled within 9-6 with a takedown and nearfall in the second period. He tied the score at nine apiece, turning Hagmeier for the fall in 4:40. He gave the Hawks a 9-6 lead, which they didn't surrender.

'I could tell he was getting a little tired,' LaGrange said. 'That is when I got stronger.'

Prairie Coach Kane Thompson said LaGrange has been in that position previously this season. He has the stamina and toughness that allowed him to remain calm.

'It says a lot about him,' Thompson said. 'Some kids panic and start throwing caution into the wind. The heck with it. I am going to go big or go home.

'He just worked his way back in. I could just tell … You could just kind of see it coming.'

The pin came on the heels of Derek Horak's dramatic win at 170 for Prairie's first victory. Horak scored a takedown with six seconds remaining to drop A.J. Geers, 7-6.

Those two weights were question marks to Thompson before the dual and he received a good answer.

'I thought they would close matches,' Thompson said. 'You feel good going into them, but without seeing them head-to-head you aren't 100 percent sure.'

Prairie (17-3) pulled away, getting four more pins, including one from 106-pounder Ted Zangerle. The sophomore is the third different wrestler Prairie has used at that weight, showing the team's lightweight depth.

Fifth-ranked Conrad Braswell bumped up to 113 to wrestle in place of fifth-ranked senior Marcus England, who was held out due to a medical condition. Jacob Tedrow, who wrestled at 106 earlier, is at 120.

Zangerle built an 11-1 lead before pinning Cole Kraklio in 4:40.

'Zangerle is tough,' Thompson said. 'He's a good kid.'

Taylor Mehmen (195) Trenten Wennermark (126) and top-ranked 132-pounder Sam Uthoff also had pins for the Hawks. Prairie won nine matches overall.

'We have guys that we expect that from,' Thompson said. 'You have guys where you expect bonus (points) here and feel good about getting them every time out.'

Linn-Mar's second-ranked Shea Hartzler (160) and 152-pounder Jacob Wempen provided bookend pins for the Lions (19-11).

Hartzler pinned Morgan Hood in 3:29, while Wempen stopped Mike Jasa in 1:50.

Alex Streicher added a major decision for Linn-Mar at 138.

AT C.R. PRAIRIE

C.R. Prairie 45, Linn-Mar 22

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

160 — Shea Hartzler (LM) pinned Morgan Hood, 3:29 (2,0); 170 — Derek Horak (CRP) dec. A.J. Geers, 7-6 (2,2); 182 — Preston LaGrange (CRP) pinned Logan Hagmeier, 5:24 (3,1); 195 — Taylor Mehmen (CRP) pinned Brayden Schultz, 4:51 (4,0); 220 — Tyler Pasker (CRP) won by forfeit; Hwt. — Isaiah Garman (LM) dec. Alex Heisdorffer, 4-2 (2,0); 106 — Ted Zangerle (CRP) pinned Cole Kraklio, 4:40 (4,0); 113 — Conrad Braswell (CRP) dec. Jack Nauman, 5-3 (0,0); 120 — Jacob Tedrow (CRP) dec. Zach Youngwirth, 4-3 (1,0); 126 — Trenten Wennermark (CRP) pinned Charlie Petersen, 4:25 (3,0); 132 — Sam Uthoff (CRP) pinned Logan Dulin, 1:40 (3,0); 138 — Alex Streicher (LM) major dec. Chase St. John, 9-1 (3,0); 145 — Johnny Clymer (LM) dec. Rhett Ruzicka, 12-6 (4,1); 152 — Jacob Wempen (LM) pinned Mike Jasa, 1:50 (2,0)

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns — Linn-Mar 16, C.R. Prairie 21. Reversals — Linn-Mar 3, C.R. Prairie 4. Escapes — Linn-Mar 14, C.R. Prairie 11. Nearfall points — Linn-Mar 12, C.R. Prairie 9. Penalty points (awarded) — Linn-Mar 2, C.R. Prairie 1. Total match points — Linn-Mar 66, C.R. Prairie 71.

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