Linn-Mar dominates Pleasant Valley for regional dual wrestling title

MARION — Linn-Mar Coach Doug Streicher had a prime spot to watch the performance.

So did a big, active student section that squeezed on to bleachers that flanked the home bench. The Lions put on a show.

“I had the best seat in the house, right there,” said Streicher, pointing to his seat matside. “That is fun, getting to watch them get physical and get after it. Get the crowd into it. That’s why the crowd comes, because they see them pick people up and put them down hard and go for the pin. That’s fun to watch.”

Fifth-ranked Linn-Mar won nine matches, including three pins and three technical falls, to defeat No. 15 Pleasant Valley, 43-15, in a Class 3A regional dual final Wednesday night at Linn-Mar. The Lions earned their second straight state duals berth and seventh overall.

The Lions (18-1) recorded seven bonus-point wins and won a couple toss-up matches, while allowing just one major decision to the Spartans (23-4).

“We made them fight and scrap,” Streicher said. “We made them earn every single point. To go through a dual meet like that against a team like that and not get pinned that tells you a lot about the kind of fight we got out of this team.”

Top-ranked 170-pound state champion Tate Naaktgeboren opened the dual with a pin for Linn-Mar. Pleasant Valley answered with a Yousef Younis decision at 182 and Rusty VanWetzinga’s major decision at 195 for a 7-6 lead.

The Lions’ Griffin Schultz provided a big spark at 220, pinning Mason Breen. Schultz scored takedowns in the first and third for a 4-0 lead late in the third. Instead of coasting to a decision after a restart with 15 seconds left, Schultz capitalized on a chance for a turn, executing a near-arm, far-leg from his feet. He put Breen on his back and got the fall with one second left.

“I was just trying to keep him down,” Schultz said. “When he posted his arms up, he left it open with an opportunity to do something with it. I had to make him pay for it.”

Schultz gave Linn-Mar a 12-7 edge and an advantage it didn’t surrender. He realized that bonus points would be key after the Spartans took two of the first three matches.

“I thought it was going to be a close dual from the start,” Schultz said, “but the six (points) really helped us out.”

Linn-Mar third-ranked heavyweight Luke Gaffney followed with a 7-4 decision over Luke Vonderhaar. Gaffney, who will be a preferred walk-on for University of Iowa football in the fall, demonstrated his athleticism with three takedowns in the final two periods. He overcame a size disadvantage and a 2-0 deficit after the first.

“It’s hard for him to do this but we need him to wrestle more tactical at times,” Streicher said. “He wants action. He doesn’t want to wrestle like a heavyweight. He got behind 2-0 and kept battling. He’s a pretty damn athletic 240-pounder.”

Nate Fish (113) posted a major decision, Brayden Parke notched a technical fall at 126 and Kane Naaktgeboren added a first-period fall at 132.

Grant Kress sparked a three-match run to close the dual. His 16-0 technical fall over Andrew Miller sealed the victory. Grant Boddicker (152) and Landen Bushman (145) capped the night with a technical fall and decision, respectively.

Linn-Mar dominated the meet from the neutral and top positions, owning a 37-16 takedown advantage and 31-3 edge in nearfall points. The Lions outscored the Spartans, 120-66, in match points.

The Lions will have a shot to improve last year’s sixth-place finish. The state duals tournament will be held next Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

“We have a pretty balanced team,” Streicher said. “We’ve got the horses, too, but we have a balanced team where if we don’t get pinned and win some tight matches, just make people earn what they’re going to get. We’re not going to win every single match. The ones we lose we have to make them earn it. The ones we win we have to get the bonus points. I feel good.”

Pleasant Valley advanced to the regional final with a 50-21 win over No. 23 Iowa City High.

AT LINN-MAR

Linn-Mar 43, Pleasant Valley 15

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

170 pounds – Tate Naaktgeboren (LM) pinned Caden McDermott, 1:35 (4,0); 182 – Yousef Younis (PV) dec. Clayton Muszynski, 4-2 (1,0); 195 – Rusty VanWetzinga (PV) major dec. James Bouska, 10-2 (5,0); 220 – Griffin Schultz (LM) pinned Mason Breen, 5:59 (2,0); Hwt. – Luke Gaffney (LM) dec. Luke Vonderhaar, 7-4 (3,1); 106 –Carter Siebel (PV) dec. Malik DeBow, 5,1); 113 – Nate Fish (LM) major dec. Michael Bender, 15-7 (7,0); 120 – Caden Ervin (PV) dec. Keaton Williams, 11-6 (3,1); 126 – Brayden Parke (LM) tech. fall Duncan Harn, 21-6 (8,0); 132 – Kane Naaktgeboren (LM) pinned Holden Willett, 1:44 (2,0); 138 – Jack Miller (PV) dec. Austin Vandersee, 4-2 SV1 (1,1); 145 – Grant Kress (LM) tech. fall Andrew Miller, 16-0 (2,0); 152 – Grant Boddicker (LM) tech. fall Sam Jones, 15-0 (2,0); 160 – Landen Bushman (LM) dec. Ike Swanson, 11-5 (4,0).

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns – Linn-Mar 37, Pleasant Valley 16. Reversals – Linn-Mar 2, Pleasant Valley 3. Escapes – Linn-Mar 9, Pleasant Valley 24. Nearfall points – Linn-Mar 31, Pleasant Valley 3. Penalty points (awarded) – Linn-Mar 2, Pleasant Valley 1. Total match points – Linn-Mar 120, Pleasant Valley 66.