Prairie Wrestling

Thompson's sad day ends with title

New Cedar Rapids Prairie wrestling coach Kane Thompson ran the gamut of emotions Saturday with deep sadness, some happiness and a bittersweet victory all rolled into a short period of time.

Thompson helped bury his 82-year-old grandfather Saturday morning in Brooklyn (Iowa), then drove back to Cedar Rapids Saturday afternoon with a heavy heart and saw his Prairie Hawks win the championship of the Five Seasons Duals at Kennedy High School.

Ironically, Prairie defeated Thompson's former team in the finals when it topped Alburnett 40-34 in a tight battle for the crown.

Thompson missed Prairie's first three matches Saturday before arriving in time for part of its fourth match and all of the finals against Alburnett, where he coached for the last eight years.

Read more...

No. 6 Prairie tops Wash, City High

The sixth-ranked Prairie wrestling team cruised to a pair of victories over Washington and Iowa City High in a double-dual Thursday night at the Prairie gym.

Marcus England, Chase St. John and Casey Hogan won both of their matches for the Hawks. England and St. John collected a pin and major decision, while Hogan had a pin and regular decision.

Will Foreman won both of his matches at 126 pounds at Washington for a 9-0 record this season.

Read more...

Prairie grapplers win Independence title

INDEPENDENCE - Cedar Rapids Prairie crowned three champions and captured top honors at the Independence wrestling tournament Saturday.

Marcus England, Sam Uthoff and Taylor Mehmen came home with titles for the Hawks.

England pinned Kyle Prewitt of Christian Brothers College in 1:46 for the crown at 113 pounds. Uthoff pinned Chase Lienhard of Crestwood in 3:20 for the championship at 132 pounds. Mehmen trimmed Matt McMillan of Independence, 9-7, in overtime for the title at 195.

Clint Lembeck of Xavier won the 138-pound title with a 10-4 victory over Drew Davis of Independence in the finals.

Johnny Clymer of Linn-Mar won the 145-pound crown with a 4-3 victory over Josh Gerke of Xavier.

Prairie claimed the team championship with 223.5 points. Crestwood finished second with 159 points. Linn-Mar placed sixth and Xavier finished seventh out of 12 squads.

TEAM STANDINGS

1. Prairie 223.5, 2. Crestwood 159, 3. Independence 145.5, 4. Alburnett 139.5, 5. Christian Brothers College 130, 6. Linn-Mar 128, 7. Xavier 122.5, 8. Hampton-Dumont 119, 9. Osage 113, 10. North Fayette 104, 11. Algona 68, 12. Chariton 28.5.

No. 6 Prairie wrestlers pin Rams

DUBUQUE - The sixth-ranked Cedar Rapids Prairie wrestling team gave Kane Thompson a lopsided victory in his first meet as their new head coach Thursday night.

The Hawks collected eight pins and flattened Dubuque Senior, 75-6, in a Mississippi Valley Conference match in Dubuque.

Conrad Braswell (106), Trent Wennermark (126), Sam Uthoff (132), Casey Hogan (145), Rhett Ruzicka (152), Morgan Hood (160), Derek Horak (170) and Preston LaGrange (182) all had pins for Prairie. Wennermark posted his pin in 30 seconds and LaGrange needed only 47 seconds for his stick.

Read more...