First-year wrestler Setrum one of four Linn-Mar champs

Linn-Mar’s Hayley Setrum defends a takedown from West Liberty’s Nellie Stagg in the course of the Iowa highschool ladies regional qualifier 5 on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, on the Alliant Power Powerhouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)

CEDAR RAPIDS – Hayley Setrum had some slight swelling and bruising to associate with a skinny minimize above her left eye.

The Linn-Mar senior was unfazed by the shiner and even took a bit of delight in it. A badge of honor after a formidable accomplishment.

Setrum posted a 4-0 document with two pins and two main choices, dominating her strategy to the 140-pound title of the Iowa Women Excessive Faculty Athletic Union Area 5 wrestling match Saturday on the Alliant Power PowerHouse. She was one in every of 4 Linn-Mar titlists, serving to the Lions place second behind staff champion Bettendorf.

Linn-Mar superior six wrestlers to the inaugural IGHSAU state match Feb. 2-3 at Xtream Enviornment in Coralville.

“It’s very thrilling,” Setrum mentioned. “We’ve labored so laborious for this repeatedly in follow. Everybody has actually put in all their effort, particularly as we speak. We’ve had some nice practices that had been excessive vitality, coming into this.”

Setrum earned spot within the historic state area, producing a memorable conclusion to her first 12 months wrestling. She wouldn’t be on the mat if it wasn’t for teammate Ally Jelinek’s affect. Jelinek’s recruiting labored out for Setrum and the remainder of the Lions.

“She ended up convincing a few us to affix,” Setrum mentioned. “It was a type of ‘In the event you do it, I do it’ issues. For certain, I’m joyful (in regards to the selection). I’m very grateful.”

Setrum reached the finals and secured a state berth with a pin over Cedar Rapids Jefferson’s Joseph Budederi, who additionally certified with a fourth-place end. Setrum capped the day with an 11-3 main choice over West Liberty’s Nellie Stagg within the closing. She didn’t think about this feat on the season’s begin.

“Under no circumstances,” Setrum mentioned. “I’m simply grateful to be right here and be capable of wrestle.”

Linn-Mar Coach Mike Geers has seen Setrum progress together with the season. Even inside the final week, Setrum was runner-up final weekend at Prairie and improved to regional gold.

“She’s been stable,” Geers mentioned. “She’s gotten higher and higher because the 12 months has passed by.”

The Lions’ 110-pounder Kate Seery tried wrestling in seventh grade, which was restricted because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The freshman is in her first full season and attain state. She scored three reversals and 5 nearfall in a 14-9 choice over Waco’s top-seeded Rylee Rice within the closing.

“I used to be actually pleased with the best way we got here out,” mentioned Seery, who’s 34-7. “We’ve been ready all season, ready for this second to occur.

“We work laborious collectively in follow day by day. Simply have the identical mentality.”

Seery spent a lot of time following her father, Kelly, to wrestling meets when he coached at Cedar Rapids Prairie and Linn-Mar. She developed a love for the game in the course of the time along with her dad, who’s on Geers’ employees. He was in his daughter’s nook for her title run.

“It’s my favourite factor,” Seery mentioned. “I like having him in my nook. It’s so useful having him there. He’s at all times so useful.”

Jelinek (120) and Trinity Younger at 235 additionally gained titles. Reese Roberts was third at 125 and Ava Hofer was fourth at 130, rounding out Linn-Mar’s qualifiers. The Lions scored 177 factors, 40.5 again of the Bulldogs.

“We had a superb week of follow, preparing,” Geers mentioned. “Similar to you hope to do. Wrestle your finest on the finish of the 12 months.

“We needed to battle as we speak. There have been some robust matches. We got here out on the nice finish in a number of of them.”

West Liberty duo Silvia Garcia-Vasquez and Dionni Garcia-Vasquez claimed titles at 115 and 145, respectively. Silvia wanted simply 38 seconds to pin Bettendorf’s Lauren Rogalla within the closing. Dionni tallied two first-period takedowns and rolled to a 6-2 choice over Davenport’s Greta Brus for the title.

The Comets matched the Lions and Bulldogs with six state qualifiers.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Ella Brown gained the 190-pound title. She avenged a earlier loss to Independence’s nationally ranked Rachel Eddy within the finals. Brown scored a first-period takedown and added a reversal within the third for a 4-0 choice.

Eddy was one in every of three Mustangs within the finals. Dakota Whitman (44-3) produced a title for Independence. She pinned her manner via the bracket, decking Mid-Prairie’s Ellie Brenneman in 1:09 of the 135 closing for her fourth pin of the day.

Libby Dix was one in every of three Mount Vernon state qualifiers. Dix improved to 37-1 this season, recording three pins. She closed the match with a 3:11 fall over Independence’s Izzy Strickert to seize the 170 crown.

REGION 5 TOURNAMENT

At Alliant Power PowerHouse

Groups – 1. Bettendorf 217.5, 2. Linn-Mar 177, 3. Independence 159, 4. Mid-Prairie 152, 5. C.R. Kennedy 146, 6. West Liberty 144, 7. North Scott 113, 8. Mount Vernon 108, 9. (tie) Davenport and Iowa Metropolis Excessive 92.

Different Gazette space groups – 11. Tipton 88, 12. C.R. Jefferson 85, 15. Highland 59, 16. Benton Group 55, 19. Midland 34, 20. Washington, Iowa 27, 23. Maquoketa 5, 24. Belle Plaine 4.

State qualifiers

100 kilos – 1. Hailey Kemper (Ft. Madison), 2. Gabi Robertson (Mid-Prairie), 3. Koda Fogg (Tipton), 4. Abigail Kennis (Bettendorf); 105 – 1. Taylor Strief (Bettendorf), 2. Lainey Shelangoski (Durant), 3. Ella McNamee (Mt. Nice), 4. Madi Lundvall (Wapello); 110 – 1. Kate Seery (Linn-Mar), 2. Rylee Rice (Waco), 3. Morgan Krall (Independence), 4. Alissa Sanchez (West Liberty); 115 – 1. Silvia Garcia-Vasquez (West Liberty), 2. Lauren Rogalla (Bettendorf), 3. Angelina Roling (Highland), 4. Alyssa Eckhardt (Midland); 120 – 1. Ally Jelinek (Linn-Mar), 2. Khylie Wainwright (North Scott), 3. Jadalynn Every day (Davenport), 4. Isabella Giza (Bettendorf); 125 – 1. Nesa Selmani (Bettendorf), 2. Erin Anderson (Iowa Metropolis Excessive), 3. Reese Roberts (Linn-Mar), 4. Kiley Collins (West Liberty); 130 – 1. Alexys Petersen (Bettendorf), 2. Claire Brown (Iowa Metropolis Excessive), 3. Becca Hinderaker (Tipton), 4. Ava Hofer (Linn-Mar); 135 – 1. Dakota Whitman (Independence), 2. Ellie Brenneman (Mid-Prairie), 3. Lizzy Wolf (Benton Group), 4. Jacie Bedell (C.R. Kennedy); 140 – 1. Hayley Setrum (Linn-Mar), 2. Nellie Stagg (West Liberty), 3. Grace Conway (Mid-Prairie), 4, Josephine Budederi (C.R. Jefferson); 145 – 1. Dionni Garcia-Vasquez (West Liberty), 2. Greta Brus (Davenport), 3. Mia Garvey (Mid-Prairie), 4. Havana Griffith (Independence); 155 – 1. Jorie Hanenburg (North Scott), 2. Teegan Sulentich (Washington, Iowa), 3. Molly Carlson (Iowa Metropolis Excessive), 4. Gracie Pickney (Mount Vernon); 170 – 1. Libby Dix (Mount Vernon), 2. Izzy Strickert (Independence), 3. Ellie Callahan (Mid-Prairie), 4. Jessa DeMoss (Benton Group); 190 – 1. Ella Brown (C.R. Kennedy), 2. Rachel Eddy (Independence), 3. Amerie Alvarado (West Liberty), 4. Grace Fort (Waco); 235 – 1. Trinity Younger (Linn-Mar), 2. Bralyyn Wagler (Waco), 3. Madison Andrews (North Scott), 4. Aly Lashley (Mount Vernon)

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