Wenger rules at 138: 3A Iowa Prep Wrestling Finals

DES MOINES — Cedar Rapids Prairie's Josh Wenger was missing one thing from his resume.

In his last prep match, he made it complete.

Wenger beat Cedar Falls' top-ranked Danny Kelly, 8-2, for the 138-pound championship in the Class 3A state wrestling tournament last night at Wells Fargo Arena.

'I came here on a mission,' Wenger said. 'All my coaches put in all this time. It feels good to finally say I'm a state champ.'

Prairie Coach Blake Williams said this cemented Wenger's legacy. He'll join some accomplished names on the wall of champions.

'This is what was left,' Williams said. 'He was so determined to get it.'

Emotions flowed for the Hawks' all-time wins leader. He tossed his ankle bands into the air and hugged his coaches.

His only plan to celebrate was to get to his parents, Wade and Jennifer, to give them a hug as well.

'It's the best feeling you'll ever have right here, turning around and looking up there to see all those people who are behind you the whole time,' Wenger said. 'They (my parents) are the ones that made it happen. Without them pushing me the whole time none of this would be possible.'

Wenger reached the title bout with two pins and a technical fall. Williams witnessed a more focused competitor.

'His mind-set all year, especially this week, you could see it and feel it in him,' Williams said. 'He was ready to win.'

Wenger scored the opening takedown and rode Kelly out the second period. He reversed Kelly quickly in the third and cinched up a cradle for three nearfall points to take command.

'I went out and did what I know how to do,' Wenger said. 'I knew if I wrestled my match I was going to come out on top.'

Prairie senior 182-pounder Jarod Cadena joined Wenger in the finals. In his only state appearance, he placed second. Sioux City East's top-ranked Mitch Otto topped Cadena, 4-1.

'It was a great atmosphere,' Cadena said. 'It was fun to go out and compete.'

Cadena felt good about his overall tournament. He made the most of his opportunity, helping Prairie to a fourth-place finish with 92.5 points.

'I wrestled as hard as I could,' Cadena said. 'I just came up short.'

Southeast Polk won its second title in the last three years, scoring 193 points. Bettendorf was second with 154, which was 49 more than third-place Fort Dodge.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson's Dalton Kuehl helped the J-Hawks finish seventh. He earned runner-up honors at heavyweight. His match was scoreless through two periods before Southeast Polk's top-ranked Jake Marnin reversed him and got the fall in 5:00.

'There were ups and downs, but it was fun while it last,' said Kuehl, a 2014 state qualifier. 'It was surreal to see the stadium filled and packed, and it was exciting while it lasted.'

Western Dubuque's second-ranked Max Lyon was looking for a state title to go with a fourth-place finish from a year ago. The Bobcats' sophomore just missed, falling 5-3 in sudden victory overtime to West Des Moines Dowling's two-time state champion Isaiah Patton.

'It's going to push me,' Lyon said. 'I almost got a taste this year. I'll come back stronger.'