Prairie Wrestling

Netolicky, Northrup end careers in style

DES MOINES -- Joel Northrup will be remembered as the devout young man who declined to wrestle a girl at the state tournament two years ago, but he also should be remembered as a talented athlete who enjoyed a highly successful high school career.

Northrup placed third at the Class 3A state tournament in 2010, finished fourth in 2012 and capped his career by taking third at 145 pounds again Saturday for the Linn-Mar Lions.

He also qualified for the state wrestling meet in 2011, but that was the year he forfeited to a girl in the first round due to his religious convictions, saying he did not think it proper to engage a female in that manner.

Saddled with a first-round defeat that season, he failed to place in the midst of intense national attention.

"I'm not ashamed of that," he said Saturday. "I'm proud of what I stood up for and I have no regrets on that."

Cedar Rapids Prairie senior Andrew Netolicky also finished his prep wrestling career Saturday as a three-time placewinner when he finished third at 285 pounds.

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Lions struggle at state wrestling; Hawks 2nd

DES MOINES - Linn-Mar Coach Doug Streicher left Wells Fargo Arena Thursday afternoon with a muffin in one hand and a half-empty feeling in the other.

The Lions struggled in spots on the opening day of the Class 3A state wrestling tournament and face an uphill struggle to catch mighty Southeast Polk in the team standings.

Linn-Mar compiled a sub-.500 record of 8-and-9 in 17 matches Thursday and had four grapplers knocked out of the tournament, leaving only eight in contention.

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Controversies erupt at state wrestling tourney

DES MOINES - Controversy was piled upon controversy at the state dual meet wrestling tournament Wednesday at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

The Linn-Mar Lions defied a state edict to use their top lineup, got clobbered by Waverly-Shell Rock in the first round  and face possible sanctions from the Iowa High School Athletic Association.

The Prairie Hawks used their best guys in the opening round and beat Dowling Catholic, but their worst fears were realized when 106-pounder Sam Uthoff suffered a knee injury that put his status in doubt for the individual state tournament that starts Thursday.

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Hawks sending 8 to state

Linn-Mar wrestling coach Doug Streicher never panicked when the Lions kept losing to Cedar Rapids Prairie during the season.

He knew he had a potent lineup that could accomplish great things this season once it was healthy and fully assembled.

They proved it Saturday.

Linn-Mar topped Prairie for the Class 3A district title with an impressive performance Saturday and qualified a school-record 12 grapplers for the state meet.

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