Waverly-Shell Rock rallies past Linn-Mar for a 3A state duals berth

MARION — Linn-Mar had its moments. Some thrilling moments.

But Waverly-Shell Rock had the final say.

The ninth-ranked Go-Hawks won the last three bouts — all by fall — and rallied past No. 8 Linn-Mar, 42-36, in a Class 3A boys’ wrestling regional dual Tuesday night at Linn-Mar High School.

“We lost the (pre-match coin) flip, and we didn’t get some of the matchups we wanted,” Lions Coach Doug Streicher said.

“We had some guys wrestling up (in weight). We had some gutty performances. We won seven of 14 matches. It was a matter of winning more matches or squeaking out some bonus points here or there.”

Waverly-Shell Rock (10-3) will compete at the state duals Saturday at Xtream Arena in Coralville. The Go-Hawks advanced by coming back from a 36-24 deficit.

As Streicher stated, the Lions (15-4) moved some of their stars up in class. In some cases, two classes.

Ranked No. 1 in 3A at 144 pounds, Kane Naaktgeboren competed at 157 and won by a late fall.

Rated second at 157, Grant Kress moved to 175 Tuesday and won a thriller over WSR’s Braxten Westendorf (No. 4 at 175) with a last-second overtime takedown, 3-1.

Then there was Philip Jacobs.

Trailing 3A No. 10 Zander Wedemeier 7-2 in the third period, Jacobs turned him over and pinned him at the 4:51 mark.

“I’ve kind of got that in my back pocket,” Jacobs said, referring it as “an elevator-lift-type thing. I’ve used it in freestyle, then carried it over to folkstyle.”

Like Naaktgeboren and Kress, Jacobs was wrestling light for his class.

“I’m around 170,” he said. “I got beat out at 165 and 175, so I was able to earn a spot at 190, and I’ve proven myself there.”

Back-to-back wins by Nunzio Salanitri (8-3 decision at 113) and Malik DeBow (pin in 3:10 at 120) put the Lions in front, 36-24, but the Go-Hawks got it done in the end.

Waverly-Shell Rock advanced to the final with a 39-18 victory over Pleasant Valley (18-8) in the prior semifinal.

Waverly-Shell Rock 42, Linn-Mar 36

Class 3A Regional Final, at Linn-Mar

144 — Aidan Ehlinger (LM) pinned McCoy McIlravy, 0:52.

150 — Bas Diaz (WSR) pinned Grant Boddicker, 3:13.

157 — Kane Naaktgeboren (LM) pinned Mekyver Hagarty, 5:20.

165 — Ethan Bibler (WSR) pinned Barrett Mieras, 3:05.

175 — Grant Kress (LM) dec. Braxten Westendorf, 3-1 (OT).

190 — Philip Jacobs (LM) pinned Zander Wedemeier, 4:51.

215 — Griffin Schultz (LM) pinned Logan Lashbrook, 1:08.

285 — Caden Wetherall (WSR) pinned Maverick Stapley, 1:39.

106 — Maddox Westendorf (WSR) pinned Jaedn Gallagher, 4:53.

113 — Nunzio Salanitri (LM) dec. Taylor Kibbee, 8-3.

120 — Malik DeBow (LM) pinned Alex Hornyak, 3:10.

126 — Kolby Sprole (WSR) pinned Aiden Kiesey, 3:11.

132 — Ryker Graff (WSR) pinned Nate Fish, 2:25.

138 — Zane Behrends (WSR) pinned Cain Boddicker, 3:26.

Waverly-Shell Rock 39, Pleasant Valley 18

Class 3A Regional Semifinal, at Linn-Mar

138 — Zane Behrends (WSR) maj. dec. Caden Ervin, 13-4.

144 — Marek Kelsall (PV) pinned McCoy McIlravy, 2:46*.

150 — Bas Diaz (WSR) pinned Camrin Rondeau, 0:44.

157 — Harrison Fierce (PV) dec. Mekyver Hagarty, 9-5.

165 — Ethan Bibler (WSR) pinned Tanner Cournoyer, 2:42.

175 — Braxten Westendorf (WSR) tech. fall Chase Cournoyer, 5:24, 16-0.

190 — Zander Wedemeier (WSR) maj. dec. Nathan Musal, 9-0.

215 — Logan Lashbrook (WSR) dec. Dane Cox, 3-1.

285 — Joey Van Wetzinga (PV) dec. Caden Wetherell, 3-1 (OT); Van Wetzinga disqualified post-bout***.

106 — Lucas Reeder (PV) pinned Cayson Westendorf, 2:50.

113 — Soren Kelsall (PV) dec. Luke Hornyak, 10-6.

120 — Alex Hornyak (WSR) won by forfeit.

126 — Carter Siebel (PV) maj. dec. Kolby Sprole, 16-7.

132 — Ryker Graff (WSR) tech. fall Grayson Willett, 4:54, 18-1.

* Pleasant Valley deducted 1 team point after 144.

*** Pleasant Valley deducted 3 team points after 285.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com