Update: No sanctions for Linn-Mar wrestling

Linn-Mar wrestling won't face sanctions from its most recent appearance at the Iowa High School Athletic Association State Duals tournament.Lions Coach Doug Streicher said the school received notification Monday from the IHSAA that the program acted with justification in setting its lineup for the state competition in February at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. IHSA Assistant Executive Director Alan Beste informed local media earlier Monday about the correspondence with Linn-Mar and Cedar Rapids Prairie. Beste said he would speak specifically on the matter Tuesday when in Cedar Rapids for meetings, but wanted to wait for schools to have time to read the letters sent to members of each school.The teams wrestled junior varsity wrestlers in their starting lineups for at least part of the dual tournament. The IHSAA encouraged state duals participants to wrestle its varsity lineups, including state qualifiers, as much as possible. Streicher said there was just one concern presented in the latest letter."It was just whether if they thought you went by guidelines set for the state tournament," Streicher said. "With the exception of one weight, we did."Both Prairie Athletics Director Rocky Bennett and wrestling coach Blake Williams said they had not received a letter Monday."I haven't gotten that yet," Bennett said Monday afternoon. "I'm waiting for the mail today. We haven't heard anything yet."Linn-Mar AD Scott Mahmens and Bennett both confirmed their schools received a letter of inquiry about a month ago, concerning the state duals. Linn-Mar responded but Mahmens said the school has not received any further correspondence as of Monday morning."They needed justification and what was our reasoning for not wrestling our state qualifiers," Mahmens said. "Our letter in response was injuries to them."Bennett declined comment until receiving any additional notice from the IHSAA. He did not comment on the contents of the original letter received from the IHSAA. HeMahmens cited a sports hernia, an elbow issue, knee surgery and another knee injury. He noted one state qualifier wrestled in the first round, while another state qualifier wrestled in a later round. The original correspondence hinted at possible sanctions."They were going to take it to their Board," Mahmens said.Williams said the Hawks' semifinal round 51-13 loss to Bettendorf seemed to be question. He said Prairie replied to the letter last month and the concerns were handled properly."For our case, it was," Williams said. "Every one had a justification and each one fit their criteria laid out to all teams."The state dual tournament was moved to the day before the traditional tournament in Des Moines for 2012. This was the second straight season of the format, which has been met with mixed emotions from coaches. Some have embraced it, while others have resisted it, opting to rest starters for some or the entire dual event to avoid jeopardizing individuals' goals for the following three-day championship."We just hope they understand we didn't wrestle them," Mahmens said. "We also put in there we would really like to see the state duals moved to a different date."Streicher said he has no way to know whether the exchanges with the IHSAA after the 2013 state duals will affect his decisions in the future."That's a huge 'what-if,' " Streicher said. "There are so many varaibles that I couldn't even answer."Satisfaction didn't accompany the notes that declared no penalty was being enforced, according to Streicher. He seemed unfazed by the situation."I don't have a reaction one way or the other," Streicher said.Prairie 106-pounder Sam Uthoff almost missed the individual tournament, suffering a knee injury early in the state dual tournament. Uthoff rebounded, posting a 3-2 record and placing seventh.Prairie finished fourth, winning its quarterfinal dual against West Des Moines Dowling. Linn-Mar placed eighth.