One mold doesn’t fit all Jefferson wrestlers

CEDAR RAPIDS - One mold doesn't fit all in the Cedar Rapids Jefferson wrestling room.

The J-Hawks have found a way to mesh various approaches and contrasting personalities for a common goal on the mat.

Sixth-ranked Jefferson has found a successful formula, needing one dual win for a second straight trip to the Iowa High School Athletic Association State Duals. The J-Hawks host a Class 3A regional dual tonight, facing the winner of No. 13 Western Dubuque (24-8) and No. 23 Ankeny Centennial (13-11), which begins at 6.

'I think we're a weird team,” 132-pound junior Kyle Briggs said. 'Everybody brings their own little style and character to it. They say opposites attract. We're like a rainbow of different guys. It just works together.”

Coaches have not insisted on specific preparations for a match or technique. They present things to the individuals and let them determine what is best.

'We give different ways to do things,” Jefferson co-head coach Matt Orton said. 'We have different coaches in here and different wrestlers that excel in different areas, so we show them everything we can and let them pick what works for them.”

Jefferson (12-4) has not lost to an Iowa team since the second round of the 2014 Iowa High School Athletic Association State Duals. They are 10-0 against in-state teams this season, but that won't mean as much, if it doesn't extend beyond tonight.

'We like to take pride in our regular season stuff, but honestly, we don't sit on that,” Briggs said. 'We like to keep moving forward to the important postseason time. Everything is behind us now. We have to try for state.”

Jefferson reached the State Duals for the first time in 20 seasons in 2014. The J-Hawks placed seventh. They have a chance to secure back-to-back berths since 1993-94. A win would result in a fifth trip to State Duals.

'It's a great accomplishment for our kids and our program,” Orton said. 'We're building.

'We have some good depth. We can take anybody and go two-deep, moving people around to strengthen our lineup.”

Jefferson has a balanced lineup, including almost half in The Predicament's individual rankings. Heavyweight Dalton Kuehl is second and Brenden Baker, who placed third at state last year, is third. Briggs, Tavian Rashed (152), Luke Sedlacek (170) and 182-pounder Kelly May are all rated eighth.

Ten of 14 starters have winning records and nine wrestlers have 20 or more victories. Kuehl and Briggs lead the way with 30 wins apiece.

At an early stage, it appeared this group was well-suited for dual competition.

'When these guys were coming in, we knew we had some good kids and potential but we didn't really have one superstar,” Orton said. 'They all came up together and all challenged each other. They all matured at the same pace.”

Cedar Rapids Prairie (21-4) will vie for its ninth State Duals appearance in Blake Williams' 12 years as head coach. The third-ranked Hawks, host a regional dual, taking on the winner of No. 11 Dubuque Hempstead (16-5) and No. 21 Fort Madison (11-4).

'It's going to take a balanced effort,” Prairie Coach Blake Williams said. 'It's going to take 14 kids wrestling their best.”

Williams said the Hawks are confident. Team success is becoming the expectation and a goal every season. They don't take it for granted.

'We all want to go to state, get up there and bring home a team trophy,” Prairie 126-pounder Sam Uthoff said. 'It shows we are not just a group of wrestling individuals, but a wrestling team.”

Linn-Mar (20-10), ranked 17th, faces No. 19 Pleasant Valley (14-18) in a regional dual semifinal at Bettendorf. The winner will face the host Bulldogs (18-3) for a state duals berth.

Iowa City West (18-8) will attempt to start a new streak. The 10th-ranked Trojans look for their second straight State Duals appearance after have a string of 10 straight berths snapped in 2013. West wrestles No. 22 Clinton (10-5) at Eldridge. Seventh-ranked North Scott (21-8) has the winner in the regional final.

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