West Delaware wins back-to-back nailbiters to return to Class 2A championship match at State Duals boys’ wrestling tournament

CORALVILLE – West Delaware Coach Jake Voss laughed at the term “Cardiac Hawks.”

He’s a young enough coach that he can handle the thrillers as long as it includes maximum effort.

“As long as our performance is up there,” Voss said. “We're just focused on that.”

The second-seeded Hawks posted consecutive victories decided in the final bout to reach the finals of the Class 2A State Duals boys’ wrestling tournament Saturday at Xtream Arena. West Delaware earned its ninth championship appearance and sixth in the last seven seasons.

“We're grateful for it,” Voss said. “It means a lot for this team and just really proud of them.”

The Hawks earned a shot at their sixth title and first since the last of a four-peat in 2022.

“It was pretty awesome,” Senior 190-pounder Brent Yonkovic said. “It's the third time that I've been in the State Duals finals. I am glad to be a part of that.”

Yonkovic stuck the final dagger in a 38-31 win over Clarion-Goldfield-Dows in the semifinal. He needed just 1:14 to pin Daven Duncalf for the decisive win.

“They beat us at the Battle of Waterloo,” Yonkovic said of CGD. “We were all fired up.”

CGD jumped to a 25-6 lead through six matches but the Hawks took seven of the final eight, receiving consecutive falls from Kooper Waugh and Rylan Gaul at 132 and 138. Lane Gudenkauf added a technical fall at 150 for a 26-25 lead.

“I think we've been taught to fight and battle,” Yonkovic said. “Actually, did a great job of that.”

The semifinal was almost a repeat performance against upset-minded Winterset in the quarterfinal. The back-and-forth affair saw West Delaware posted a double-digit lead after two matches before the Huskies responded with six wins in the next seven weights for 25-14 edge.

The Hawks rebounded by taking four of the last five matches, getting a major decision from Jax Miller at 144 and a decision from Gudenkauf with a late takedown. Liam Weber’s technical fall at 165 set up the dramatics for 175-pounder Blake Mather. He scored two takedowns for a 6-1 decision and completed the Hawks’ 29-28 come-from-behind win.

“They just looked at their opportunity,” Voss said. “They trust their teammates and so when they step out on the mat it's their chance to work and do what they can for themselves and for their teammates. Having faith in the people around them gives them a little bit more confidence when they go out there and wrestle.”

West Delaware was one of three Wamac Conference teams. No. 4 Williamsburg reached the semifinals but lost to top-seeded Algona. The Raiders earned a top-four finish, while Independence was fifth and Mount Vernon sixth. The highly-competitive conference prepares teams for tense postseason moments.

“It just lets us know that we can compete like that,” Voss said. “That was kind of our talk before the week is if our schedule showed us anything is that we can do things the hard way if we need to. So, I think that showed.”

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In 1A, the expected finals rematch and showdown between No. 1 Alburnett and No. 2 Don Bosco came to fruition. The Pirates rolled through their first two foes to reach the finals for the second straight time and fourth overall.

Alburnett won the last 13 matches, including 12 with bonus points, to beat Woodbury Central, 69-5. The Pirates followed that performance with a 64-9 rout of No. 4 Jesup.

“It’s what we expect,” Alburnett Coach Clayton Rush said. “We talk a lot about championship teams compete at a consistently high level and that’s what you get from them. They know what they’re here for. There’s not a lot I need to say to get them fired up.”

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The Pirates added 10 more bonus-point victories. Rush was impressed with the way the wrestlers stockpiled points and tilted the scoreboard in their favor.

“They can light up a scoreboard pretty quickly,” Rush said. “Just match points. I’m biased obviously but they’re fun to watch.”

Jesup made their second straight State Duals appearance and reached the semifinal for the first time in school history. The J-Hawks entered the final round with a 25-1 record, which was enough to set the school mark for dual victories.

The 3A bracket was expected to be a one-horse race. Top-ranked Southeast Polk coasted to the finals for the seventh straight season. The defending state champion Rams opened with a 65-8 victory over North Scott. They followed with a 58-6 triumph over Waukee Northwest in the semifinals.

SE Polk faced No. 3 Indianola in the finals. Indianola toppled No. 2 Waverly-Shell Rock, 45-27, in the semifinals.

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