Brayden Parke wins clash of ranked wrestlers in Linn-Mar’s dual win over Iowa City High

MARION — Never satisfied. Driven to improve.

Linn-Mar’s Brayden Parke focuses on how to make gains, assessing matches more than celebrating them.

“I think that’s the way to learn,” the Lions’ 126-pound junior said. “Think about what you need to better and come back and execute it the next day at practice or next meet.”

Fourth-ranked Parke edged No. 7 Kael Kurtz, 1-0, and helped Class 3A sixth-ranked Linn-Mar to a 49-21 Mississippi Valley Conference wrestling dual win Thursday night at Linn-Mar. The Lions won nine matches and remained unbeaten in MVC Mississippi Division competition.

Parke made a third-period escape hold up, moving to 22-3 this season.

“I could have gotten more attacks off my feet,” Parke said. “I wrestled good on the mat, for the most part, but could have scored more out that front headlock that I got sunk it a few times. Few more shots to open him up more.”

Success in the top position proved to be the difference. Parke rode out Kurtz the entire second period, keeping it scoreless into the third. Parke said he worked on it during the summer, wrestling with his brother, Bryce, who wrestles for Coe.

Linn-Mar Coach Doug Streicher said he would like to see more points and scrambles, but was impressed by Parke’s stinginess and ability score when needed.

“It was a good, solid ride and the bottom guy can’t do much about it when you do it right,” Linn-Mar Coach Doug Streicher said. “He’s developed it. He wasn’t like this a year ago or two years ago. It’s something he’s picked up. To do it on somebody like that shows he is getting the hang of it.”

Parke, a returning state qualifier, set his sights on a higher finish. He possesses gold aspirations and will attempt to peak in Des Moines.

“The main goal is state champ,” Parke said. “Getting down to state and wrestling to the best of my ability is what my plan is and my goals are.”

Streicher said he loves where Parke is at this point of the season against top foes.

“He’s wrestling well against quality opponents,” Streicher said. “He is going right where he needs to be.”

For the second straight week, Linn-Mar (16-1, 6-0) jumped to a hot start and continued to roll. Sixth-ranked Grant Kress (145) opened the dual with a pin followed by falls from Grant Boddicker (152) and Landen Bushman (160) for an 18-0 lead after three matches.

The Lions added pins from Griffin Schultz (220) and Kane Naaktgeboren at 132. Malik DeBow notched a major decision at 106 and top-ranked 170-pounder Tate Naaktgeboren received a forfeit at 182 for Linn-Mar.

“This team feeds off each other and they like each other genuinely,” Streicher said. “They want to see their teammates do well. It’s a good environment all around, athletically, socially and in wrestling.”

City High received bonus-point victories from top-ranked 220-pounder Ben Kueter, No. 3 Cale Seaton (120) and Drew Nye at 170.

Kueter moved up to heavyweight for a showdown with third-ranked Luke Gaffney. Kueter, a two-time state champion and University of Iowa commit for wrestling and football, tallied five takedowns and three back points for a 14-3 major decision. Seaton and Nye each recorded pins.

AT LINN-MAR

Linn-Mar 49, Iowa City High 21*

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

145 pounds – Grant Kress (LM) pinned Gabe Egeland, 5:34 (9,0); 152 – Grant Boddicker (LM) pinned Kale Clark, :54 (1,0); 160 – Landen Bushman (LM) pinned Jesse Hendershot, :51 (1,0); 170 – Drew Nye (ICH) pinned Jack White, 5:21 (1,3); 182 – Tate Naaktgeboren (LM) won by forfeit; 195 – Nick Marker (ICH) dec. James Bouska, 11-5 (3,0); 220 – Griffin Schultz (LM) pinned Cam Lacina, 1:50 (1,0); Hwt. – Ben Kueter (ICH) major dec. Luke Gaffney, 14-3 (5,0); 106 – Malik DeBow (LM) major dec. Kendall Kurtz, 9-1 (3,0); 113 – Nate Fish (LM) won by forfeit; 120 – Cale Seaton (ICH) pinned Keaton Williams, 3:35 (6,0); 126 – Brayden Parke (LM) dec. Kael Kurtz, 1-0 (0,0); 132 – Kane Naaktgeboren (LM) pinned Zach Fern, 1:26 (2,0); 138 – Jake Mitchell (ICH) dec. Austin Vandersee, 5-2 (1,1).

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns – City High 16, Linn-Mar 21. Reversals – City High 2, Linn-Mar 0. Escapes – City High 13, Linn-Mar 12. Nearfall points – City High 11, Linn-Mar 16. Penalty points (awarded) – City High 2, Linn-Mar 0. Total match points – City High 62, City High 70.

*-City High was deducted a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct.