Lo-Ma extends record qualifying streak

CEDAR RAPIDS - Logan-Magnolia is back again for No. 10. The Panthers set a state record last year, qualifying for the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 1A State Duals wrestling tournament for the ninth straight year. They will extend that streak Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Center.Lo-Ma Coach Kent Kersten said many variables factor in to the streak. Good junior high and feeder programs with good coaches, good assistants and capable wrestlers, who are fortunate enough to stay healthy."In order to do something like that you have to have numbers coming up in your program to keep a balance team," said Kersten, who has 488 dual victories, which ranks second Iowa's all-time coaches wins list. "We've been pretty lucky to have good solid kids at every weight and be able a balance team."The Panthers are seeded second with a 29-0 record. They open with Truro I-35 (15-7) in the quarterfinals. Lo-Ma snapped Don Bosco's string of five straight traditional state titles at Des Moines last week, winning the school's second state team title and first since 2005. The Panthers are looking for its first State Duals crown since claiming their first in 2003, and trying to end Don Bosco's run of six straight State Duals championships.The State Duals has almost been an expectation more than a goal for the wrestlers cycling through the Lo-Ma practice room. Wrestlers don't want to be the class that ends the streak."Each group of kids wants to out-do the group before them," Kersten said. "They want to try to break those records. When they see those kids ahead of them do something they expect when they get up there to do the same things."