West looks to return to championship ways

CEDAR RAPIDS - It might seem like a recurring nightmare for Iowa City West.The Trojans have watched as someone else hoisted the golden trophy that comes along with a state champion. Many of the last seven championships have come at their expense.Top-ranked West will attempt to turn that trend around when they compete in the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 3A State Duals wrestling tournament Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Center, beginning at 10 a.m. Competition opens for all three classes with quarterfinal duals, which continue at noon. Semifinals are at 2 p.m. with the finals session scheduled for 6 p.m.The Trojans have been contenders but have not won since sweeping the traditional state and state duals titles in 2007. Each coming to three-time defending champion Waverly-Shell Rock, which won its fourth straight taditional state title in Des Moines last week."The last seven state meet trophies they have handed out we've gotten six silver ones," West Coach Mark Reiland said. "We know what that feels like."It's the only feeling the West seniors know. The Trojans won four dual championships in a five-year span from 2003-07, concluding the run with a perfect 27-0 record. The upperclassmen want to avoid a career without a state team championship."The seniors on this team really need a state title. None of us have won one," senior 145-pounder Garrett Hathaway said. "It would mean a lot. The seniors are all hungry to get one final chance to win a state title."West has had talent-laden teams, but haven't been able to dethrone the Go-Hawks. The way they have had titles slip through their fingers makes it even harder to swallow.The Trojans came up short at last year's State Duals, losing 34-30. In 2009 they appeared to have a wrestler on pace for a technical fall only to win by major decision. The dual finished in a 31-31 tie that Waverly-Shell Rock won, 32-31, on criteria.At the traditional state meet, West finished two points back of Waverly-Shell Rock last week. They also had one of their top performers, top-ranked 160-pounder Justin Koethe, called for an illegal slam and knocked out of the winners bracket for the second straight year. West also had two team points deducted on Friday.Whatever could go wrong has, contributing to but not causing the title dry spell."It's a matter of if we don't have bad luck we wouldn't have any luck at all," Reiland said. "There are little things that happen each and every time. We've got to find a way to make sure those little things are in our favor. We haven't been able to do that the last several years."The runner-up finishes can be frustrating, although Reiland said he can appreciate the runner-up performance in Des Moines compared to fourth in 2010. Reiland said the team is doing its best and that's all he can ask. The team, however, is calling for a crown."I look at it as an all or nothing thing," said 125-pound junior Jack Hathaway, who was one of two West state champions last week. "Second, to me, is not good enough. I feel everyone else on our team feels the same way."The team is stacked with talent. Phillip Laux won the 103-pound state title, while Kegan Wakefield (119) and Dakota Bauer (130) were state finalists. Top-ranked Elijah Sullivan (140) and Koethe (152) were both third for West, which has nine ranked wrestlers. They have the capability to return to the top, but they will have to earn it."We all have to go out there and perform and get the job done for us to succeed," Garrett Hathaway said. "I have a lot of faith in our guys."West (34-2) has split with No. 2 Waverly-Shell Rock (26-4), and owns wins over No. 3 Bettendorf (16-5) and No. 4 Southeast Polk (26-2). Even though they don't receive any points from those wins on Saturday, they do receive a boost from them."It makes a lot more confident with our team structure," Jack Hathaway said. "Having our team at full strength, it makes us feel we're going to win this thing and we're going to do everything it takes to do it."Reiland was quick to caution about prior results. West had wins over the Go-Hawks in previous years but lost when it mattered most. Waverly-Shell Rock, West and Bettendorf all finished within four points of one another in the 3A team race in Des Moines. It was the first time three teams surpassed 140-point mark. Southeast Polk, which was fourth, had an impressive 123 1/2 points. Nothing can be taken for granted."There are some pretty outstanding teams out there this year," Reiland said. "It's not just about us. We've got to do what we do and we've seen some of the best competition out there. We have to continue to wrestle the way we're capable of and not worry about everything else."The West seniors chase the feeling of a state title, which is the only feeling the Go-Hawk seniors know. They have won seven straight titles, trying to close out a perfect 8-for-8. Waverly-Shell Rock Coach Rick Caldwell said it was a matter of consistency and leadership, led by state champions Cody Caldwell (152) and heavyweight Cody Krumwiede and runner-up Jordan Rinken (140).The Go-Hawks weren't favored for a few of those titles, but they seem to come through in the clutch. Caldwell couldn't put his finger on what propels them to win in the postseason."I really don't know what it is," Caldwell said. "I wish I did know what it was because I'd bottle that stuff up and sale it. We have been fortunate to win the seven titles."For the Go-Hawks to extend their string of titles, it will take their best effort. Caldwell said he believes similar competition from the top four teams at the state traditional meet with the addition of fifth-seeded Mason City (21-5)."All four of our programs are shooting for the same thing," Caldwell said. "I think all four think if we have great tournaments we can win."