Prairie Wrestling

Williams nets 2 milestones at Prairie

WATERLOO - Cedar Rapids Prairie wrestling coach Blake Williams collected a pair of major milestones Thursday night when the Hawks swept a Mississippi Valley Conference double-dual from Dubuque Hempstead and Waterloo East in Waterloo.

Williams picked up his 300th career victory and his 100th Mississippi Valley Conference victory on the same night.

Prairie whipped Dubuque Hempstead, 52-15, and also defeated Waterloo East, 57-12.

Williams has notched 300 victories in 16 years as a head coach, including four years at Solon High School and the past 12 years at Prairie. All 100 of his MVC victories have come at Prairie.

"It's an honor, but like I told the kids, this isn't about me, it's about you and the guys who have been here before you," he said. "It shows we've had a consistent program through the years.

"It means I'm getting a little older and I'm losing a little more hair," he joked.

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Josh Wenger wins Metro Spotlight Award

Cedar Rapids Prairie senior Josh Wenger is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school boys this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Wenger is one of the top wrestlers in the state and is currently ranked No. 2 at 138 pounds with a 28-1 record.

Wenger captured top honors at the Mendenhall Invitational in Ames Saturday, helping Prairie win the team championship in a strong field that included West Des Moines Valley and Waverly-Shell Rock.

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Uthoff, Wenger lead Prairie wrestlers to win

AMES – The Prairie wrestling team won two individual titles and scored 206 points for first place at the Mendenhall Invitational. Kennedy was 10th with 88 points.

Sam Uthoff won the 126-pound title for the Prairie Hawks, beating OABCIG in a 5-0 decision. Josh Wenger also won the 138 title with a 10-2 major decision over Ben Sarasin of Kennedy.

Taylor Mehmen was second at 195 for Prairie.

Team scores

1. Prairie 206; 2. West Des Moines Valley 199½; 3. Clarion-Goldfield 163½; 4. Waverly-Shell Rock 150½; 5. Ballard 136½; 6. Ames 134; 7. West Des Dowling 112; 8. Indianola 105; 9. Seargent Bluff Lutton 102; 10.  Kennedy 88; 11. OABCIG 79; 12. Applington Parkersburg 70½; 13. Perry 43½; 14. Carroll 34; 15. Boone 33½; 16. Council Bluffs St. Albert 11; 17. Nevada 8.

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Prairie grapplers shine in Solon

SOLON - The Prairie Hawks dominated all five of their opponents Saturday and walked away with top honors at the Solon dual meet wrestling tournament.

The Hawks outscored their foes, 294-71, with lopsided victories over Dallas Center-Grimes (48-18), Keokuk (49-27), Davenport Central (69-9), Interstate 35 (72-5) and Solon (56-12).

Josh Wenger won all five of his bouts at 138 pounds with four pins and a forfeit. Marcus England went 5-0 at 106 pounds with two pins, a major decision and two forfeits.

Taylor Mehmen finished with a 4-0 record at 195 and 220 pounds with two pins, a major decision and a technical fall.

Dylan Kelinschmidt (120), Sam Uthoff (126), Nick Hogan (170) and Jarod Cadena (182) finished with 4-1 records. Kleinschmidt posted two pins and two major decisions. Uthoff had four pins. Cadena also had four pins.

Tyler Pasker went 3-0 at 195 pounds with two pins. Seth Wennermark was 3-1 at 132 pounds with three pins.