Pieces falling into place for Cedar Rapids Prairie

MARION - All the pieces are starting to fall into place for Cedar Rapids Prairie.

The Hawks weathered a storm of injuries, medical issues and illnesses that plagued them early in the year.

Prairie looked as strong as ever in a 55-10 victory over Linn-Mar in a prep wrestling contest between Mississippi Valley Conference division leaders Thursday night at Linn-Mar.

'We're getting a consistent lineup,” Prairie Coach Kane Thompson said. 'It's starting to come together.”

The Hawks (14-2, 6-0 MVC Valley) spent most of the season without all 14 starters. They have posted wins over Class 3A fifth-ranked Waverly-Shell Rock and won 11 of 14 bouts against MVC Mississippi Division front-runner Linn-Mar (18-6, 6-0). Prairie is building momentum for a push to next week's MVC Super Meet and the postseason. The Hawks have won four straight conference tournament team titles.

'I feel like we're starting to peak,” sixth-ranked 132-pounder Trenten Wennermark said. 'We're getting our full lineup back.”

Wennermark said the wrestlers are pushing each other in small groups in practice and that has made them a better and closer team.

'We're getting stronger,” Wennermark said. 'We're starting to become a family.”

The Hawks soared to an 18-0 lead, opening the night with a decision from Lucas Harmening at 126. He used a second-period takedown and a reversal in the third for a 5-2 victory over Zach Youngwirth. Harmening provided a spark, settling into that starting spot.

'For him to start us out, it was big for the guys to see him,” Thompson said. 'Guys start to feed off that.”

Wennermark followed with the first of three bonus-point wins for Prairie. He racked up seven takedowns in a 20-5 tech fall over Charlie Petersen. Casey Hogan (138) and Chase St. John (145) added a first-period pin and a major decision.

'We think of it as one kid starting off to get a win,” Wennermark said. 'That pushes us all to get a win. We all came together. It helps in big matches like this.”

Prairie won seven straight bouts for a 55-7 lead. Ashton Stoner-DeGroot (170), 182-pounder Preston LaGrange, heavyweight Chance Halfhill, Conrad Braswell (106) and Johnny Washburn at 113 all had pins. Stuart Boston (195) added a major decision and Alex Heisdorffer avenged an earlier loss by pin with a 4-3 decision over Isaiah Garman.

'I think we closed the gap on some guys,” Thompson said. 'We are making gains every time out.”

Linn-Mar's Jacob Wempen (152) and Alex Streicher earned consecutive wins to make it 18-7 after six matches. In the only match between ranked wrestlers, sixth-ranked Streicher used takedowns in the first and third periods to defeat No. 7 Tyger Whitters at 160.

The Lions closed the dual with Jack Nauman's 10-6 decision over Ted Zangerle at 120.

AT LINN-MAR

C.R. Prairie 55, Linn-Mar 10

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

126 - Lucas Harmening (CRP) dec. Zach Youngwirth, 5-2 (1,0); 132 - Trenten Wennermark (CRP) tech. fall Charlie Petersen, 20-5 (7,0); 138 - Casey Hogan (CRP) pinned Logan Dulin, 1:54 (1,0); 145 - Chase St. John (CRP) major dec. Ethan Fish, 10-2 (2,0); 152 - Jacob Wempen (LM) major dec. Mike Jasa, 17-7 (5,0); 160 - Alex Streicher (LM) dec. Tyger Whitters, 5-2 (2,0); 170 - Ashton Stoner-DeGroot (CRP) pinned Danny Coughlin, 3:50 (2,0); 182 - Preston LaGrange (CRP) pinned Tanner Schultz, 2:26 (1,0); 195 - Stuart Boston (CRP) major dec. Jason Snitselaar, 12-4 (4,0); 220 - Alex Heisdorffer (CRP) dec. Isaiah Garman, 4-3 (1,1); Hwt. - Chance Halfhill (CRP) pinned Ben Diestler, 5:05 (0,1); 106 - Conrad Braswell (CRP) pinned Jackson Hicks, 1:34 (1,0); 113 - Johnny Washburn (CRP) pinned Cole Kraklio, 1:25 (0,1); 120 - Jack Nauman (LM) dec. Ted Zangerle, 10-6 (2,1).

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns - C.R. Prairie 21, Linn-Mar 12. Reversals - C.R. Prairie 6, Linn-Mar 3. Escapes - C.R. Prairie 15, Linn-Mar 13. Nearfall points - C.R. Prairie 22, Linn-Mar 9. Penalty points (awarded) - C.R. Prairie 2, Linn-Mar 0. Total match points - C.R. Prairie 93, Linn-Mar 52.

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