Iowa Wrestling Weekend That Was: IWCOA dual rankings will impact postseason pairings

In a week with tornadoes one day and more seasonal winter storm warnings for the next, wrestling provides us some normality we all crave. IWCOA rankings were released, Alburnett shines, Iowa State and UNI rule in Utah. This was the Wrestling Weekend That Was.

IWCOA rankings released

The Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association released its second set of dual rankings Monday. The IWCOA polls are crucial this season, influencing the path to the state duals tournament for the top 24 teams in all three classes this season. This edition of the rankings will determine regional dual sites with the top eight teams hosting “if possible and practical in geographic areas,” according to the Iowa High School Athletic Association.

Eight regional duals will consist of three teams. The two worst ranked teams at a regional dual will wrestle in the semifinal Jan. 31. The winner will advance to face the highest-ranked team in the regional dual final the same night. Regional dual champions advance to the state duals on Feb. 4 at Xtream Arena in Coralville.

“I think it’s encouraging coaches to get involved in the rankings and to get their team noticed,” West Delaware Coach Jeff Voss said. “If the coaches do their homework and do what they’re supposed to do the rankings are pretty true. It should make for a fun postseason.”

The process has been used for Class 3A in the past but is a first for 1A and 2A. Previously, 1A and 2A regional dual fields have been filled by sectional champion and runner-up teams. The equivalent would be determining a slam dunk competition by a 2-point contest.

“It takes that tournament aspect out of it,” Voss said. “It’s based on dual rankings. I like it.”

Don Bosco is the top team in 1A, while Osage is No. 1 in 2A. Perennial power Southeast Polk is ranked first in 3A. Osage has been on a tear this season, winning the Battle of Waterloo.

In Class 3A, Linn-Mar is the lone Gazette-area team that should be a host. Currently, No. 15 Iowa City High, No. 18 Cedar Rapids Prairie and No. 20 Western Dubuque would be in action, if their rankings hold for the final poll.

Four-time state duals champion West Delaware is third in 2A. The Hawks will get to host. Mount Vernon is fourth and should also avoid travel for regional duals. Williamsburg is No. 7, with a win over West Delaware, and could host as well. The loaded Wamac Conference includes four likely in regional duals competition, including No. 11 Independence. Benton Community and South Tama received votes and have a shot to climb into the top 24 by the end of next week.

In 1A, Alburnett and Lisbon are ranked third and fifth, respectively. MFL MarMac is coming off its first state duals appearance last season and is No. 10. Belle Plaine is ranked 20th.

“I think 3A coaches like the process of using rankings,” Independence Coach Michael Doyle said. “So, I feel like 1A and 2A coaches are adapting to the same process. I think more coaches are getting involved. We are seeing that in the number of coaches participating in rankings. That is good for wrestling.

“The part of the process I don't like is I wish the season was one week longer. In one week’s time, we will have regional duals, girls’ state and boys’ state duals. Hope the weather is good. We don't have room for bad weather."

The timing will be interesting to see play out this season with state duals being moved to the old sectional weekend, which is the conclusion of a three-day championship stretch at Xtream Arena, following the first Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union state tournament.

Alburnett Pirates perform well

Alburnett has been successful this season and the Pirates had a strong weekend. They opened with a Tri-Rivers Conference sweep of then-No. 3 Lisbon and North Linn on Thursday, scoring 50 points in each dual.

Two days later Alburnett followed that with a runner-up showing at the Cedar Rapids Jefferson J-Hawk Invitational. The Pirates finished just 1 1/2 points behind 3A’s Waukee Northwest (214-212 1/2) and a half-point ahead of Fort Dodge.

Six Pirates made the finals with Carson Klostermann (152) and Brody Neighbor at 138. Atlee DeWitt (106), Rowdy Neighbor (120), Gunnar Keeney (145) and 170-pounder Reece Klostermann were second.

Interestingly, Alburnett was also short-handed. It did not have a wrestler in the heaviest three weight classes and almost won with just 11 wrestlers.

Iowa City High’s title trio

For the second straight week, the Iowa City High trio of Cale Seaton, Gabe Arnold and Ben Kueter won individual titles. After winning at Ames last weekend, they each earned gold at Jefferson.

Seaton had a technical fall and pin before a 23-10 major decision over West Des Moines Valley’s Nate Bierma for the 126 championship.

Top-ranked Arnold throttled the 182-pound bracket with three technical falls. He tallied 72 total points in three matches, including a 24-9 win in the final over Muscatine’s Andy Franke.

Kueter pinned his way through the field, yet again. The World champion and three-time state titlist wrestled a combined 3:12 on the day. He decked Drew Campbell, of Cedar Falls, in 1:05 of the 220 final, helping the Little Hawks place fourth as a team.

CCA earns runner-up finish

Clear Creek Amana placed second in the team race Saturday at Solon’s Ed Hadenfeldt Invitational. The Clippers scored 184 points, edging 1A power Lisbon by five and coming in a distant second to champion North Scott.

Twelve earned medals, including gold for Cale Nash at 113. He was one of four Clipper finalists. Nolan Howell (126), Beck Arant (145) and 182-pounder Kaden Phan were second.

Nash beat West Liberty’s second-ranked Colin Cassady in the finals, scoring two penalty points and a reversal for a 4-3 decision.

Mid-Prairie wins home tournament

Mid-Prairie’s girls’ wrestling team won its home invitational on Saturday. The Golden Hawks tallied 138 points, beating runner-up North Scott by 16 1/2.

Mid-Prairie received titles from Gabi Robertson at 100 and 135-pounder Ellie Brenneman. Robertson pinned her way through the tournament — all in the second period — and improved to 25-3. Brenneman had two first period pins and a forfeit to notch 25 wins as well.

Four Bucs for gold

East Buchanan crowned four champions at the Oelwein girls’ tournament and placed second to powerhouse Osage Saturday. Vinton-Shellsburg, Anamosa and Independence rounded out the top.

Andelyn Cabalka (140), 155-pounder Keeley Kehrli, Brooklyn Graham at 170 and 190-pounder Alyson Krum each won for the Buccaneers, who finished with 250 points and just two back of the Green Devils.

Anamosa’s Ava Scranton (120), Vinton-Shellsburg’s Bree Swenson (110) and Chloe Sanders (130), Independence’s Dakota Whitman (135), Center Point-Urbana’s Lyni Gusick (125) and Union Community’s nationally-ranked and IWCOA girls’ state champion Jillian Worthen (105) were among the champions.

UNI, ISU thump UVU

Utah Valley is probably glad it won’t cross paths with an Iowa wrestling program any time soon. On consecutive days, Northern Iowa and Iowa State visited Orem, Utah, and handled the Wolverines in Big 12 action.

On Friday, UNI (4-2, 2-1) won eight bouts in a 34-9 victory. The Panthers received pins from 133-pounder Kyle Biscoglia, Colin Realbuto at 149 and two-time All-American 184-pounder Parker Keckeisen.

The third-ranked Cyclones (10-2, 3-0) were almost as dominant Saturday. They won seven matches in a 31-9 win. Zach Redding (133), NCAA champion David Carr (165) and 184-pounder Marcus Coleman had falls for Iowa State.

Gnida wins at Cornell

Former Solon prep and Loras junior Zeb Gnida returned near his hometown to win the 174-pound title of the Cliff Keen-Mike Duroe Invitational Saturday at Cornell College in Mount Vernon.

Gnida went 5-0, beating the Rams’ Jacob Sherzer, 11-1, in the finals. Gnida opened with a major decision and technical fall before beating Coe’s L.J. Richardson, 5-3, in the quarterfinals and Augsburg’s Carter Sorenson, 7-4, in the semifinals.

The effort earned Gnida American Rivers Conference Male Athlete and Wrestler of the Week honors. He went 6-0 overall last week, recording a pin in a conference dual against Central. Gnida is having his most successful college season, improving to 11-3 overall this year.

Cade Hornback (125), Will Esmoil (165), Tristin Westphal at 184 and heavyweight Kaleb Reeves all won titles for Coe. The Kohawks won the team title with 214 1/2 points, topping Augsburg by more than 60 points.