IWCOA rankings will start to shape postseason dual paths

Alburnett’s Rowdy Neighbor wrestles Lisbon’s Jackson Knapp in a 113 pound match at Lisbon Excessive College in Lisbon, Iowa on Thursday, January 12, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

In per week with tornadoes at some point and extra seasonal winter storm warnings for the subsequent, wrestling gives us some normality all of us crave. IWCOA rankings had been launched, Alburnett shines, Iowa State and UNI rule in Utah. This was the Wrestling Weekend That Was.

IWCOA RANKINGS RELEASED

The Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officers Affiliation launched its second set of twin rankings Monday. The IWCOA polls are essential this season, influencing the trail to State Duals for the highest 24 groups in all three courses this season. This version of the rankings will decide regional twin websites with the highest eight groups internet hosting “if attainable and sensible in geographic areas,” in line with the Iowa Excessive College Athletic Affiliation.

Eight regional duals will include three groups. The 2 worst ranked groups at a regional twin will wrestle within the semifinal Jan. 31. The winner will advance to face the best ranked group within the regional twin closing the identical evening. Regional twin champions advance to the State Duals on Feb. 4 at Xtream Enviornment in Coralville.

“I feel it’s encouraging coaches to become involved within the rankings and to get their group observed,” West Delaware Jeff Voss mentioned. “If the coaches do their homework and do what they’re alleged to do the rankings are fairly true. It ought to make for a enjoyable postseason.”

The method has been used for Class 3A up to now however is a primary for 1A and 2A. Beforehand, 1A and 2A regional twin fields have been crammed by sectional champion and runner-up groups. The equal could be figuring out a slam dunk competitors by a 2-point contest.

“It takes that match facet out of it,” Voss mentioned. “It’s based mostly on twin rankings. I prefer it.”

Don Bosco is the highest group in 1A, whereas Osage is No. 1 in 2A. Perennial energy Southeast Polk is ranked first in 3A. Osage has been on a tear this season, profitable the Battle of Waterloo.

In Class 3A, Linn-Mar is the lone Gazette-area group that needs to be a number. At the moment, No. 15 Iowa Metropolis Excessive, No. 18 Cedar Rapids Prairie and No. 20 Western Dubuque could be in motion, if their rankings maintain for the ultimate ballot.

4-time state twin champion West Delaware is third in 2A. The Hawks will get to host. Mount Vernon is fourth and also needs to keep away from journey for regional duals. Williamsburg is No. 7, with a win over West Delaware, and will host as effectively. The loaded Wamac convention contains 4 possible in regional twin competitors, together with No. 11 Independence. Wamac’s Benton Group and South Tama acquired votes and have a shot to climb into the highest 24 by the top of subsequent week.

In 1A, Alburnett and Lisbon are ranked third and fifth, respectively. MFL MarMac is coming off its first State Duals look final season and is No. 10. Belle Plaine is ranked twentieth.

“I feel 3A coaches like the method of utilizing rankings,” Independence Coach Michael Doyle mentioned. “So, I really feel like 1A and 2A coaches are adapting to the identical course of. I feel extra coaches are getting concerned. We’re seeing that within the quantity coaches collaborating in rankings. That’s good for wrestling.

“The a part of the method I do not like is I want the season was one week longer. In a single week’s time, we may have regional duals, ladies state and boys state duals. Hope the climate is nice. We do not have room for unhealthy climate.”

The timing will probably be attention-grabbing to see play out this season with State Duals being moved to the outdated sectional weekend, which is the conclusion of a three-day championship stretch at Xtream Enviornment, following the primary Iowa Ladies Excessive College Athletic Union state match.

PIRATES PERFORM WELL

Alburnett has been profitable this season and the Pirates had a powerful weekend. They opened with a Tri-Rivers Convention sweep of then-No. 3 Lisbon and North Linn on Thursday, scoring 50 factors in every twin.

Two days later Alburnett adopted that with a runner-up exhibiting on the Cedar Rapids Jefferson J-Hawk Invitational. The Pirates completed simply 1 ½ factors behind 3A’s Waukee Northwest (214-212.5) and a half-point forward of Fort Dodge.

Six Pirates made the finals with Carson Klostermann (152) and Brody Neighbor at 138. Atlee DeWitt (106), Rowdy Neighbor (120), Gunnar Keeney (145) and 170-pounder Reece Klostermann had been second.

Apparently, Alburnett was additionally short-handed. They didn’t have a wrestler within the heaviest three weight courses and virtually gained with simply 11 wrestler.

CITY HIGH TITLE TRIO

For the second straight week, Metropolis Excessive trio of Cale Seaton, Gabe Arnold and Ben Kueter have gained particular person titles. After profitable at Ames final weekend, they every earned gold at Jefferson.

Seaton had a technical fall and pin earlier than a 23-10 main determination over West Des Moines Valley’s Nate Bierma for the 126 championship.

High-ranked Arnold throttled the 182-pound bracket with three technical falls. He tallied 72 whole factors in three matches, together with a 24-9 win within the closing over Muscatine’s Andy Franke.

Kueter pinned his method by way of the sector, but once more. The World champion and three-time state titlist wrestled a mixed 3:12 on the day. He decked Drew Campbell, of Cedar Falls, in 1:05 of the 220 closing, serving to the Little Hawks place fourth as a group.

CCA EARNS RUNNER-UP FINISH

Clear Creek Amana positioned second within the group race Saturday at Solon’s Ed Hadenfeldt Invitational. The Clippers scored 184 factors, edging 1A energy Lisbon by 5 and coming in a distant second to champion North Scott.

Twelve earned medals, together with gold for Cale Nash at 113. He was certainly one of 4 Clipper finalists. Nolan Howell (126), Beck Arant (145) and 182-pounder Kaden Phan had been second.

Nash beat West Liberty’s second-ranked Colin Cassady within the finals, scoring two penalty factors and a reversal for a 4-3 determination.

MID-PRAIRIE WINS HOME TOURNAMENT

Mid-Prairie’s ladies’ wrestling group gained its residence invitational on Saturday. The Golden Hawks 138 factors, beating runner-up North Scott by 16 ½.

Mid-Prairie acquired titles from Gabi Robertson at 100 and 135-pounder Ellie Brenneman. Robertson pinned her method by way of the match – all within the second interval – and improved to 25-3. Brenneman had two first interval pins and a forfeit to notch 25 wins as effectively.

FOUR BUCS FOR GOLD

East Buchanan topped 4 champions on the Oelwein ladies’ match and positioned second to powerhouse Osage Saturday. Vinton-Shellsburg, Anamosa and Independence rounded out the highest.

Andelyn Cabalka (140), 155-pounder Keeley Kehrli, Brooklyn Graham at 170 and 190-pounder Alyson Krum every gained for the Buccaneers, who completed with 250 factors and simply two again of the Inexperienced Devils.

Anamosa’s Ava Scranton (120), Vinton-Shellsburg’s Bree Swenson (110) and Chloe Sanders (130), Independence’s Dakota Whitman (135), Heart Level-Urbana’s Lyni Gusick (125) and Union Group’s nationally-ranked and IWCOA ladies’ state champion Jillian Worthen (105) had been among the many champions.

UNI, ISU thump UVU

Utah Valley might be glad it gained’t cross paths with an Iowa wrestling program any time quickly. On consecutive days, College of Northern Iowa and Iowa State visited Orem, Utah, and dealt with the Wolverines in Huge 12 motion.

On Friday, UNI (4-2, 2-1 gained eight bouts in a 34-9 victory. The Panthers acquired pins from 133-pounder Kyle Biscoglia, Colin Realbuto at 149 and two-time All-American 184-pounder Parker Keckeisen.

The third-ranked Cyclones () had been virtually as dominant Saturday. They gained seven matches in a 31-9 win. Zach Redding (133), NCAA champion David Carr (165) and 184-pounder Marcus Coleman had falls for Iowa State.

GNIDA WINS AT CORNELL

Former Solon prep and Loras junior returned close to his hometown to win the 174-pound title of the Cliff Eager-Mike Duroe Invitational Saturday at Cornell Faculty in Mount Vernon.

Gnida went 5-0, beating the Rams’ Jacob Sherzer, 11-1, within the finals. Gnida opened with a serious determination and technical fall earlier than beating Coe’s L.J. Richardson, 5-3, within the quarterfinals and Augsburg’s Carter Sorenson, 7-4, within the semifinals.

The trouble earned Gnida American Rivers Convention Male Athlete and Wrestler of the Week honors. He went 6-0 general final week, recording a pin in a convention twin in opposition to Central. Gnida is having his most profitable school season, enhancing to 11-3 general this yr.

Cade Hornback (125), Will Esmoil (165), Tristin Westphal at 184 and heavyweight Kaleb Reeves all gained titles for Coe. The Kohawks gained the group title with 214 1/2 factors, topping Augsburg by greater than 60 factors.