Tate Naaktgeboren pins way to hallowed victory plateau in Linn-Mar’s 58-20 win over Iowa City West

MARION - Linn-Mar’s Tate Naaktgeboren owns bigger wins in front of larger crowds.

This one was still special to the two-time state champion and three-time finalist. Where he won mattered, too.

Naaktgeboren reached the hallowed 100-win plateau Thursday night, opening the Class 3A third-ranked Lions 58-20 triumph over Iowa City West in a Mississippi Valley Conference wrestling dual at home.

The Iowa State signee secured the career milestone with a pin over Serafim Surguladze in 50 seconds at 195 pounds.

“We don’t have as many duals as other teams so it’s hard to get,” said Naaktgeboren. “It’s good to hit it, especially here in our gym. There’s no other place I’d rather do it than at Linn-Mar.”

Linn-Mar Coach Doug Streicher said Naaktgeboren’s titles and victory total go “hand-in-hand” and represent his consistency and remaining healthy most of the time. Naaktgeboren’s success is a product of his daily lifestyle.

“He is very mature for his age,” Streicher said. “He’s a good leader and role model for the younger kids. Even outside the wrestling room within the school, he’s respected and liked because he’s down to earth. He’s not cocky or arrogant. He gets it. He knows there is more to life than wrestling, but wrestling is important.

“He’s trying to put his stamp on his spot in history at our school. He goes about it the right way.”

Linn-Mar (3-0, 3-0) has transformed its home duals into entertaining competitions, adding some bells and whistles. The Lions emerge from a curtain and smoke machine when introduced for their match. Videos of the wrestlers are displayed on the wall.

The student crowd is seated matside next to the Linn-Mar bench. Many had signs marked with “2” to raise with each Lions takedown. The vocal support can be intimidating to foes.

Naaktgeboren, ranked second in 3A and fifth nationally at 182, enjoys performing for the home crowd and has given them plenty to cheer loudly for during his career.

“I know my job on the team,” said Naaktgeboren, who donned said. “It’s to get those bonus points. I enjoy putting on a show.”

The crowd displayed 100-win cards after he built a 5-0 lead with a takedown and three nearfall before his first-period fall. He was presented a banner to recognize his feat.

“I didn’t know they were going to have the cards,” Naaktgeboren said. “That was cool to see.”

Naaktgeboren improved to 6-1 overall. His lone loss came to Iowa City High’s Gabe Arnold, who is an Iowa signee ranked as high as second nationally. The Little Hawks wrestle at Linn-Mar on Jan. 5. He welcomes the challenge that he would not have if Arnold hadn’t moved to Iowa City .

“We have a mutual respect,” Naaktgeboren said. “He pushes me. I’m grateful to have more matches with him.”

Streicher witnessed Naaktgeboren seek out tough competition, traveling all over the country to face the best. He was raised that way and built his wrestling foundation on seeking tough tests.

“He has always been that way,” Streicher said. “It doesn’t surprise me one bit. We knew he would be like that.”

The Lions won 10 of 14 weights. Naaktgeboren’s younger brother, Kane, also won by fall, stopping Mason Goodale in the first period. Griffin Schultz (220), Nate Fish at 126 and second-ranked 152-pounder Grant Kress produced pins for Linn-Mar.

The Lions’ Brayden Parke, ranked third at 132, added an 18-5 major decision over No. 10 Braden Doyle.

Linn-Mar has a quick turnaround, competing at the two-day, 32-team Battle of Waterloo this weekend. They will have to correct things on the fly without a practice between duals.

“It was alright,” Streicher said of his team’s performance. “We were nitpicking. I told the guys 25 years ago I would have taken a win like that any day of the week. Now, the expectations are high and you have to live up to them to a certain extent. You also have to say we did some good things.”

Heavyweight Evan Anderson won by pin, Alexander Pierce (106) and 170-pounder Skyler Scranton scored technical falls and Justin Avila added a major decision at 160 for the Trojans (0-3).

AT LINN-MAR

Linn-Mar 58, Iowa City West 20

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

195 pounds – Tate Naaktgeboren (LM) pinned Serafim Surguladze, :50 (1,0); 220 – Griffin Schultz (LM) pinned Ashton Honore, 2:19 (2,0); Hwt. – Evan Anderson (ICW) pinned Aidan Holven-Rice, 3:01 (1,1); 106 – Alexander Pierce (ICW) tech. fall Aiden Kiesey, 19-4 (6,0); 113 – Malik DeBow (LM) won by forfeit; 120 – Nate Fish (LM) pinned Campbell Janis, 1:25 (2,0); 126 – Keaton Williams (LM) won by forfeit; 132 – Brayden Parke (LM) major dec. Braden Doyle, 18-5 (7,0); 138 – Kane Naaktgeboren (LM) pinned Mason Goodale, 1:26 (5,0); 145 – Austin Vandersee (LM) won by forfeit; 152 – Grant Kress (LM) pinned Jack Law, 2:24 (2,0); 160 – Justin Avila (ICW) major dec. Grant Boddicker, 10-1 (3,0); 170 – Skyler Scranton (ICW) tech. fall Landen Bushman, 17-0 (2,0); 182 – James Bouska (LM) won by forfeit.

MEETS STATISTICS

Takedowns – I.C. West 12, Linn-Mar 20. Reversals – I.C. West 1, Linn-Mar 1. Escapes – I.C. West 14, Linn-Mar 6. Nearfall points – I.C. West 20, Linn-Mar 24. Penalty points (awarded) – I.C. West 0, Linn-Mar 0. Total match points – I.C. West 60, Linn-Mar 72.