Uthoff hopes small things lead to big rewards

INDEPENDENCE - Cedar Rapids Prairie's Sam Uthoff has his sights on a state title.

To reach the larger goal, however, his eyes are fixed solely on the small accomplishments that will lead to it.

Uthoff did plenty right in his opening tournament of the season. The top-ranked senior pinned his way to the 138-pound title Saturday at the Independence Invitational. The Hawks crowned three champions, winning the team title with 223 ½ points.

Uthoff built an 8-1 lead, pinning Crestwood's Class 2A third-ranked Chase Lienhard in 3:20. It's just another brick in the wall, building for the ultimate prize.

'We know the long term goals are going to come,” Uthoff said. 'We focus on the short term. We focus on getting better on my feet, especially, working on my stuff and wrestling my (style of) match.

'I'm continuously trying to win every position. It's not about winning the overall. If you win all the little position, the end of the match will show what you do.”

The focus is taking care of every intricacy during practice and competition. Win every position and you will put yourself in a position to win. Uthoff has subscribed and thrived with the approach.

'It starts with the little things,” first-year Prairie Coach Kane Thompson said. 'He does more than most people. Right now, it's tunnel vision. We have awhile left in the season so we have to keep that focus.”

Uthoff set the tone early, tallying two quick takedowns and then adding two nearfall before the first ended. Uthoff reversed Lienhard and then locked up a cradle to conclude the day.

'He's looking to score points in any position he can,” Thompson said. 'Cradles are something he's pretty darn good at.”

Uthoff is a three-time state medalist. He will try to cap his career off with gold, but he is going to take it one step at a time, soaking in each along the way.

'I'd love for state to be this weekend,” Uthoff said. 'I also have to enjoy the season and the great things I can learn, not only by myself but, from my coaches and teammates and helping them get better so we all reach our goals at the end of the season.”

Marcus England helped Prairie extend its 26 ½-point lead, heading into the final round. England also pinned his way through the field, decking Kyle Prewitt of Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis, Mo., in 1:45.

England scored the opening takedown and patiently walked a bar-arm over for the fall. He didn't wrestle a full six minutes Saturday, needing just 57 seconds in the semifinal and 1:44 in his first bout.

'He's tougher than nails once he gets on top,” Thompson said of England. 'He's got a great chicken wing.”

Taylor Mehmen, ranked fifth in Class 3A, used a takedown with 27 seconds left in sudden victory for a 9-7 win over Independence's Matt Millan for the 195-pound title.

The Hawks led throughout, advancing a tournament-high five to the championships and nine into the semifinals. They had 13 wrestlers place, including finalists Conrad Braswell at 106 and Tyler Pasker at 220. Prairie received points from every weight.

'There are always kids who will be disappointed and things to work on, but I think it's a good start,” Thompson said. 'The kids understand if they go to a tournament I can score points and I'm expected to score points for the team.”

Alburnett crowned two champions. Class 1A top-ranked Conner Shulista defeated Osage's Brock Jennings, ranked second in 2A, 11-5 for the 152 title.

The Pirates' Drake Halblom (126) used a headlock in the final minute for a five-point move, beating Crestwood's Ryan Steffen 9-7 in the final. Alburnett state champion Bryce Paul placed second at 160, losing by fall in 5:46 to Osage's No. 2 Tristan Johnson, who has committed to wrestle at the University of Iowa.

Linn-Mar's Johnny Clymer remained undefeated, winning at 145. Clymer, who wasn't one of the top seeds, beat Cedar Rapids Xavier's eighth-ranked Josh Gerke, 4-3, in the championship.

He used a late reversal for the win. Clymer reached the final with a fall over Osage's second-seeded Dustin Fox.

'He wrestled pretty good at times and a little sloppy at times,” Linn-Mar Coach Doug Streicher said. 'He found a way to fight through those situations and make up for the little mistakes he did make. He wrestled pretty tough.”

Host Independence placed third overall, receiving a title from Nicholas Holt at 170. Holt beat Josh Strohman of Algona, 5-3. The Mustangs finished with 145 ½ points, 13 ½ back of runner-up Crestwood.

Xavier's 3A top-ranked Clint Lembeck captured the 138-pound crown. He beat Independence's 2A No. 9 Drew Davis in the final, 10-4. Lembeck advanced to the final with an 8-4 win over Linn-Mar's eighth-ranked Alex Streicher, who placed third.

North Fayette Valley had two champions. State runner-up and 2A top-ranked Nick Baumler posted a major decision over Hampton-Dumont's Logan Chipp in the 182-pound final. Heavyweight Jordan Baumler recorded a 3-1 victory in overtime to beat Crestwood's Jacob Knutson for the championship.

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