Iowa City High wrestling caps impressive week with 40-22 victory at Linn-Mar

MARION — It has been a heck of a week for the Iowa City High wrestling team.

The Little Hawks clinched their first outright Mississippi Valley Conference dual title since 2006 on Jan. 25, then won the MVC Super Meet team crown two days later, their first in 15 years.

Thursday night at Linn-Mar High School, Class 3A No. 10 Iowa City High (24-2, 7-0 MVC) recorded two pins, four major decisions and capped an undefeated MVC dual season with a 40-22 victory over the Lions in the final conference dual of the season for both schools.

'Just been a fun year,' City High Coach Cory Connell said. 'Fun regular season. We need to focus on the postseason now. We accomplished a lot this season, but there is still more out there.'

Ninth-ranked City High sophomore Ethan Wood-Finley followed up his 106-pound MVC Super Meet individual title with the first of two 10-0 major decisions — fellow sophomore Garrett Bormann scored the second at 113 — to begin the dual with an 8-0 advantage.

Linn-Mar held a brief lead at 10-8 after a pin by Cole Kraklio at 120 and a Michael Santoro major decision at 126, but the Little Hawks responded with bonus points at four of the next five weights.

Returning state qualifiers Lance Bormann (132) and Joey Harney (138) recorded a major decision and pin, respectively, while sixth-ranked Kyle Hefley scored a major decision at 152 over Abass Kemokai that extended the City High lead to 25-10.

Hefley hopes to earn his first state-tournament berth at a district meet Feb. 10.

'That is the first step to the main goal,' Hefley said.

At 160, City High senior Wilfried Kadohou — who qualified for state last season at 152 — pinned AJ Frost in just 43 seconds for a 31-10 Little Hawks' lead.

'This year we're doing better with the little things,' Kadohou said. 'Better conditioning.'

Top-ranked City High senior Jacob Dykes won by a 7-2 decision at 195 over Linn-Mar junior Tanner Schultz.

Second-ranked Linn-Mar senior Jacob Wempen scored the second pin for Linn-Mar (14-11, 5-2) at 170 in 50 seconds against City High freshman Fritz Spencer.

AT LINN-MAR

Class 3A No. 10 Iowa City High 40, Linn-Mar 22

106 —

No. 9 Ethan Wood-Finley (ICH) maj. dec. Brandon O'Brien (LM), 10-0.

113 —

Garrett Bormann (ICH) maj. dec. Kain Wempen (LM), 10-0.

120 —

Cole Kraklio (LM) pinned Khurt Bacho (ICH), 1:50.

126 —

Jack Nauman (LM) maj. dec. Michael Santoro (ICH), 9-1.

132 —

No. 7 Lance Bormann (ICH) maj. dec. Sam Gisaya (LM), 14-5.

138 —

No. 10 Joey Harney (ICH) pinned Hiku Carolin (LM), 0:35.

145 —

Jack Anson (ICH) dec. Jesse Wade (LM), 3-1.

152 —

No. 6 Kyle Hefley (ICH) maj. dec. Abass Kemokai (LM), 11-3.

160 —

No. 6 Wilfried Kadohou (ICH) pinned AJ Frost (LM), 0:43.

170 —

No. 2 Jacob Wempen (LM) pinned Fritz Spencer (ICH), 0:50.

182 —

Ryan Plummer (LM) dec. Brandon Lalla (ICH), 7-5.

195 —

No. 1 Jacob Dykes (ICH) dec. Tanner Schultz (LM), 7-2.

220 —

Isaiah Garman (LM) dec. Jason Lemus (ICH), 7-1.

285 —

Jacob Murray ICH) wins by forfeit.

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com