West pins Prairie to take MVC Valley lead

CEDAR RAPIDS - Iowa City West wasn't looking for style points. All the Trojans wanted was enough to overcome their opponents.

It wasn't pretty, but the third-ranked Trojans posted pins in the final two matches for a hard-fought 38-26 win over No. 5 Cedar Rapids Prairie Thursday night at Prairie High School. The victory broke a tie with Prairie atop the Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division.

“The goal coming in was to win,” West Coach Mark Reiland said. “It doesn't matter if you win by 60 or one. We didn't wrestle well in some spots and had opportunities get through our fingers.”

The Trojans (26-2, 11-0 MVC) took advantage of quite a few of their opportunities, scoring bonus points and preventing them.

With the score tied 26-26 and two matches remaining, Ernest Willis and Jack Hathaway posted falls to end it.

Willis pinned Austin Erlandson, who replaced fourth-ranked Chris Walters who Prairie Coach Blake Williams said was sick, in 1:49. Hathaway, ranked third, built a 6-1 lead, stopping No. 6 Trey Blaha in 3:49 at 126.

All of West's seven wins earned extra points.

“We knew coming in where we had to get big points,” Reiland said. “We probably didn't get as many points as we thought we should in some spots.”

West received a big boost from consecutive pins by brothers Mickey and Paul Pelfrey.

Mickey Pelfrey pinned J.T. Anderson in 1:40 at 195. Paul Pelfrey followed with a fall over Trent Schulte at 220.

Paul Pelfrey entered the match against Schulte, who moved up from 195, with a losing record. With the score knotted at 1-1, he threw Schulte to his back in the final seconds and got the pin as the period expired.

“He stayed in good position and gave himself an opportunity to win,” Reiland said. “The other guy made the mistake.”

Dakota Bauer (132) and Gradey Gambrall (145) scored major decisions and 160-pounder Justin Koethe added a pin for West.

Reiland said battling Prairie (24-6, 10-1) two days before the conference meet is not ideal, but this is the time of year where you have to deal with any challenge. The dual was originally scheduled for two weeks ago, but was postponed by weather.

“We talked about how every time out means something right now,” Reiland said. “These guys understand this is what it's about, this is why we're here this is how we're going to fight.”

Prairie received a huge win from freshman Josh Wenger at 113. Wenger scored two takedowns to drop state champion and top-ranked Phil Laux, 6-3. Wenger took the win in stride, noting that it wasn't in the postseason when it most matters.

"I came out and wrestled how I knew how to wrestle," Wenger said. "It just happened to fall my way."

After giving up the first takedown, Wenger countered a Laux shot for a takedown, taking a 3-2 lead after the first. They exchanged escapes before Wenger added a late takedown when Laux tried a desperation throw attempt.

Wenger, who has two come-from-behind wins against Linn-Mar's fourth-ranked Alijah Jeffery despite losing to him last week, wasn't fazed by the early deficit.

"It doesn't really scare me going down by two right off the bat because I know I can get out," Wenger said. "I knew it was going to be a tough battle."

Williams praised his young lightweight's toughness and perseverance Laux, a University of Wisconsin signee ranked seventh nationally by Wresting Insider Newsmagazine and 20th by InterMat.

“He does a great job,” Williams said of Wenger. “He just believes in himself and keeps going. Hopefully that will be a big confidence booster.”

State champion Zach Witte scored a technical fall at 152, dominating No. 7 Payton Kauzlarich, 19-3. His win tied the dual at eight after four matches. Austin Gould produced Prairie's only lead of the dual, decking Micah Kelsay in 1:45 at 182.

Skyler St. John (138), Cam Rathje (170), heavyweight Andrew Netolicky and Zach Fiser at 106 added decisions for the Hawks.

Williams said the gauge for success was based on fight and they displayed that for the most part despite coming up short.

“We left a few points out there, and gave them a couple extra ones,” said Williams, admitting the upperweight lineup changes backfired. “In close meets against teams like that you absolutely cannot do that.”

Washington (9-8, 6-5) fell to both teams, losing to West, 65-10, and Prairie, 65-15.

132 pounds - Dakota Bauer (ICW) major dec. Zach Becicka, 21-12 (10, 1); 138 - Skyler St. John (CRP) dec. Sam Chalkley, 7-3 (2, 1); 145 - Gradey Gambrall (ICW) major dec. Peyton Wagner, 11-3 (5, 0); 152 - Zach Witte (CRP) tech. fall Payton Kauzlarich, 19-3 (6, 0); 160 - Justin Koethe (ICW) pinned Casey Becker, :17 (1, 0); 170 - Cameron Rathje (CRP) dec. Mike Watkins, 5-4 (1, 1); 182 - Austin Gould (CRP) pinned Micah Kelsay, 1:45 (1, 0); 195 - Mickey Pelfrey (ICW) pinned J.T. Anderson, 1:40 (2, 0); 220 - Paul Pelfrey (ICW) pinned Trent Schulte, 4:00 (1, 0); Hwt. - Andrew Netolicky (CRP) dec. Colin Foerstner, 5-1; 106 - Zack Fiser (CRP) dec. Jasmine Bailey, 14-8 (4, 1); 113 - Josh Wenger (CRP) dec. Phil Laux, 6-3 (2, 1); 120 - Ernest Willis (ICW) pinned Austin Erlandson, 1:49 (1, 0); 126 - Jack Hathaway (ICW) pinned Trey Blaha, 3:49 (2, 0).

Takedowns - ICW 26, CRP 18; Reversals - ICW 1, CRP 0; Escapes - ICW 11, CRP 21; Nearfall points - ICW 8, CRP 15; Penalty points (awarded) - ICW 3, CRP 4.

138 - Chalkley (ICW) pinned J.P. Mercado, 1:46; 145 - Gambrall (ICW) pinned Tyler Burkle, 3:06; 152 - Kauzlarich (ICW) major dec. Kaiser Herz, 12-4; 160 - Koethe (ICW) won by forfeit; 170 - Watkins (ICW) dec. Drake Hickok, 3-1; 182 - Kelsay (ICW) major dec. Noah Williams, 10-1; 195 - M. Pelfrey (ICW) pinned Noah Fox, 3:47; 220 - P. Pelfrey (ICW) won by forfeit; Hwt. - Tyler Burrell (CRW) won by forfeit; 106 - Dax Dills (CRW) major dec. Bailey, 18-4; 113 - Laux (ICW) pinned Devin Dills, 1:30; 120 - Willis (ICW) pinned Trey Schuler, 4:19; 126 - Hathaway (ICW) pinned Jordin Eicher, 2:35; 132 - Bauer (ICW) pinned Trevor Luebe, :47.

145 - Wagner (CRP) pinned Burkle, 4:00; 152 - Witter (CRP) pinned Herz, 2:39; 160 - Becker (CRP) pinned Evan Lehrman, 1:46; 170 - Rathje (CRP) pinned Hickok, 1:23; 182 - Gould (CRP) pinned Williams, :45; 195 - Schulte (CRP) pinned Fox, 3:51; 220 - Netolicky (CRP) won by forfeit; Hwt. - Burrell (CRW) dec. Tony Kavanagh, 7-3; 106 - Dax Dills (CRW) pinned Fiser, 3:30; 113 - Wenger (CRP) pinned Dev. Dills, :37; 120 - Schuler (CRW) pinned Erlandson, 2:40; 126 - Blaha (CRP) pinned Eicher, 5:00; 132 - Becicka (CRP) pinned Luebe, 1:54; 138 - St. John (CRP) pinned Mercado, 3:13.

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