West wins Battle of Waterloo

WATERLOO – Being short-handed can make it tough to be successful, but Iowa City West managed a winning hand.

The Trojans defended their title at the Battle of Waterloo, going 3-0 in the round-robin championship bracket Saturday at Young Arena. After a 3-0 mark Friday and winning its pool bracket, West defeated West Des Moines Valley, Waverly-Shell Rock and West Delaware for the championship in the 32-team, two-day dual extravaganza.

“Obviously, when you're not playing with all your cards, at this level and against these guys, you're going to have to find ways to get to it,” West Coach Mark Reiland said. “We told some of them there's kids that win that you don't expect and come through.”

The Trojans were without state qualifier Mickey Pelfrey at 195. Reiland also mentioned Payton Kauzlarich as a possible starter who missed Saturday.

West had to gut out two wins, including a 39-36 dual against West Delaware. The Hawks scored five straight victories to take a 36-18 lead, but the Trojans' balance was too much, closing with pins by state champions Phillip Laux (113) and 126-pounder Jack Hathaway, a major decision by Ernest Willis at 120 and a technical fall by 132-pounder Dakota Bauer.

Bonus points were important the entire day. West managed enough to beat Valley 34-29 before an easier time beating Waverly-Shell Rock, 40-27.

“Every time out we're trying to get bonus points,” Reiland said. “If we don't get bonus points we're in trouble.”

West senior Mike Watkins provided a punch in the final dual, pinning Nolan Zumbach at 170. The match was scoreless with Watkins on top. He turned Zumbach to his back with a crossface butcher and got the fall in 2:41.

“I like that move,” Watkins said. “I went for it and it worked.”

Watkins went 2-1, scoring a 3-0 victory against Valley's Clint Underwood. He was one that responded to a challenge to perform better Saturday.

“He had a good day,” Reiland said of Watkins. “I challenged some of those seniors that they had to step up. I needed those guys to step up.”

West survived an opening round challenge against West Des Moines Valley. The Trojans trailed 29-27 entering the final two bouts. Laux posted a major decision at 113 to give West a two-point lead when 10th-ranked Willis faced Valley's Eli Johnson in the final match at 120. Willis came back from a 4-0 deficit to win, 7-6, scoring a takedown and riding Johnson the final 50 seconds for the win.

Willis said he almost released Johnson, thinking the score was tied. He noticed the score and was confident he could ride Johnson out. Nerves and Johnson's strength resulted in a slow start, but Willis adapted.

“Once the ref called the first stalling I knew the kid wasn't going to go with me,” Willis said. “So, I started taking shots.”

Willis was one of many Trojans who contributed in that tight first win. Reiland said a win by 220-pounder Aydan Wynos, Watkins' decision and come-from-behind wins by Gradey Gambrall (152) and Willis were keys.

“I thought we could win those matches,” Reiland said. “We didn't want to come from behind to do it.”

West Delaware went 1-2 Saturday. The Hawks lone triumph was a 32-26 win over Waverly-Shell Rock. It was the third time they wrestled this season. The Go-Hawks won the previous two meetings by a combined seven points with each being decided in the final bout. The Hawks won five straight matches, including five in a row, for the opening round victory.

The Hawks were dropped 34-21 by West Des Moines Valley in the second round. The Hawks discovered a balanced effort is the only way to win against top competition.

“It was a good learning experience for our kids,” West Delaware Coach Jeff Voss said. “If you're going to beat quality teams you have to compete at the top of your game.

“We learned some valuable lessons.”

Linn-Mar completed the day unbeaten, earning the title in Bracket 2 after finishing second to West Des Moines Valley in its pool Friday. The Lions beat Mason City, 37-21, and then avenged a loss to Cedar Rapids Prairie by beating the Hawks, 34-22. The Lions handled Nashua-Plainfield, 50-19, in the final round.

Prairie finished 1-2 for third place in Bracket 2.

Western Dubuque went 5-1 the last two days, posting a 3-0 mark Saturday to win Bracket 5. The Bobcats beat Independence, 41-28, Crestwood, 42-27, and Cedar Falls, 33-30.

Iowa City High finished with a .500-mark at the two-day competition, winning its last two duals to finish second in Bracket 6.