Linn-Mar’s Malik DeBow continues late-season success with 3rd Mississippi Valley Conference Super Meet title

CEDAR RAPIDS – This time of year is Malik DeBow’s favorite time of year.

His wrestling results indicate that to be true. The three-time state medalist has performed his best during championship season.

“Part of it is just starting to dial in on what are the small things I need to work on,” DeBow said. “I don’t know, to be honest. I just seem to do very well at the end of the season and I think it's just my mindset, my attitude. I peak at the right time.”

DeBow posted two pins, a technical fall and a major decision to claim the 126-pound title at the Mississippi Valley Conference Super Meet on Saturday at Cedar Rapids Xavier. He earned his third conference crown and helped the Lions to their third conference tournament team championship in four years.

The Linn-Mar senior broke open a scoreless match with all of his points coming in the final period of an 11-1 major decision over Evan Simpson of Cedar Falls. DeBow had beaten Simpson in the 120 and 113 MVC finals the last two seasons.

“I thought I wrestled well,” DeBow said. “There's always stuff to work on, but in the end that's not the goal. I want to be at the top of the state podium this year, so, I'm just staying focused on that right now.”

Linn-Mar co-head coach Beau Westpfahl said you can count DeBow coming through during conference, the postseason and state ever since his freshman season.

“He figures things out throughout the year and he goes back to work and he fixes things,” Westpfahl said. “That's why he continuously gets better as the goes on because he’s intentional about fixing the things that he's making mistakes on and addressing those things. He’s a gamer.”

What is his key to late-season success?

“I'm just excited and I believe I can compete and beat anyone in the state,” DeBow said. “I use that as motivation and it's just kind of my mindset.”

DeBow was joined atop the podium by teammate Barrett Mieras, who pinned Iowa City West’s Sterling Warren in 48 seconds of the 165 finals. Mieras pinned his way through the bracket and was one of six Linn-Mar finalists and 13 medalists and 11 in the top fifth or better. The Lions scored 227 points, beating runner-up West by 48 ½ points.

“Obviously, we scored points so we did well throughout the day but there were weights we have things we have to address,” Westpfahl said. “We’ve got to sharpen up a little bit before next week. We have a big dual coming up and hopefully state duals and the districts in two weeks.”

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West led the tournament with three champions. State champion Alexander Pierce won the 113-pound title, beating Cedar Rapids Prairie’s two-time state medalist Dylan Munson, 10-3, in the final. Pierce also won his third conference championship and has a chance to win a fourth next year.

Teammate Justin Avila won his second straight 150-pound crown, posting a 10-2 major decision over Linn-Mar’s Noah Howk-Erwin. Avila recorded his 150 th career victory. Cole Kruitzfeldt won at 138 for the Trojans.

Xavier earned the program’s best MVC Super Meet finish. The Saints placed third and only a half-point back of West. Xavier advanced three to championship bouts. Dusty Cook and Jean Ngoma captured titles for Xavier.

“The team has really been doing great,” Ngoma said. “They've been working hard. We've got a couple of guys that have been stepping up, doing a lot of hard work for the team

“We knew we could do it, so we came out here ready to fight.”

Cook scored three takedowns to beat Cedar Rapids Washington’s Wyatt Young, 11-8, in the 190 final. Ngoma scored all of his points in the final period to beat Dubuque Hempstead’s Camden Smith. Ngoma was voted Outstanding Wrestler by conference coaches and won in his final home event.

“it means a lot,” Ngoma said. “it's really not much because I've been working for this all year. I was really planning for this and I'm not done yet. I'm really looking forward to getting to state, doing as much as I can there.”

Iowa City Liberty’s Landon Bell produced one of the top individual performances. He defeated two ranked opponents to capture the 175-pound championship. It was his best finish in this tournament.

“I was happy with my performance,” Bell said. “I thought I got into a lot of funky positions today against some really good competition. In this tournament, I've never placed top five, so it is good it was good to come out here and win it.”

Bell used a first-period takedown and a reversal in the third for a 5-0 decision over Prairie’s Louden Bloxham. He reached the finals with a wild 21-13 semifinal win over Linn-Mar’s Philip Jacobs. He avenged previous losses to both.

“I have a lot of respect for all of those guys,” said Bell, who admitted the No. 5 seed placed a chip on his shoulder. “My message is to get back on the horse, back in the saddle and get back on top,” Bell said. “I've lost those guys in the past but it's a new day today, so that's why I was trying to prove. I got the No. 5 seed and won it.”

Like DeBow and Ngoma, Bell has his sights set on something bigger than conference achievements. He possesses state title aspirations and will prepare for the stretch run.

“We will take this momentum and keep working hard,” Bell said. “We got districts in two weeks and state. Take the momentum I have now and clean up the little things. I had a lot of little things in those matches, little positions I could have worked on, and I think I can just work on those positions up until state. Hopefully, we get on the top of that podium.”

Iowa City High’s Kendall Kurtz won the 120-pound title, scoring a late takedown for a 5-4 win over West’s Matt Tran. Little Hawks heavyweight Kane Willey also won golf.

Western Dubuque’s Will Casey (144) and Joe Hirsch (157) also won titles. Prairie’s Chase Watkinson was the 106-pound titlist.

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CONFERENCE SUPER MEET

At C.R. Xavier

Teams – 1. Linn-Mar 227, 2. Iowa City West 178.5, 3. C.R. Xavier 178, 4. C.R. Prairie 161.5, 5. Iowa City High 150, 6. Dubuque Hempstead 138.5, 7. Western Dubuque 134.5, 8. Iowa City Liberty 115, 9. (tie) Cedar Falls and C.R. Kennedy 104, 11. Waterloo West 60.5, 12. C.R. Washington 50, 13. Dubuque Wahlert 42, 14. (tie) C.R. Jefferson and Dubuque Senior 28.5.

Championship matches

106 pounds – Chase Watkinson (CRP) tech. fall Abe Heysinger (DH), 15-0; 113 – Alexander Pierce (ICW) dec. Dylan Munson (CRP), 10-3; 120 – Kendall Kurtz (ICH) dec. Matt Tran (ICW), 5-4; 126 – Malik DeBow (LM) major dec. Evan Simpson (CF), 11-1; 132 – Mitchell Murphy (DH) dec. Jack Foster (CRX), 11-10; 138 – Cole Krutzfeldt (ICW) tech. fall Hud Turner (LM), 15-0; 144 – Will Casey (WD) won by medical forfeit over Aidan Ehlinger (LM); 150 – Justin Avila (ICW) major dec. Noah Howk-Erwin (LM), 10-2; 157 – Joe Hirsch (WD) dec. Brayden Fish (LM), 4-1; 165 – Barrett Mieras (LM) pinned Sterling Warren (ICW), :48; 175 – Landon Bell (ICL) dec. Louden Bloxham (CRP), 5-0; 190 – Dusty Cook (CRX) dec. Wyatt Young (CRW), 11-8; 215 – Jean Ngoma (CRX) dec. Camden Smith (DH), 6-2; Hwt. – Kane Willey (ICH) dec. Anthony Keys (CRK), 5-4.

Outatanding wrestler – Ngoma (CRX)

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