Jefferson Wrestling

Briggs, Culver lead J-Hawks in Minnesota

PIPESTONE, Minn. - Kyle Briggs and Matt Culver enjoyed perfect days for the Jefferson wrestling team at a tournament in Pipestone (Minn.) on Saturday.

Briggs, who is ranked No. 2 at 152 pounds, went 5-0 in the dual meet event with three pins, a technical fall and a forfeit. Culver, who is ranked No. 8 at 170 pounds, finished 5-0 with three pins, a decision and a forfeit.

Joseph Sibomana, Brenden Baker, Zach Main, Tavian Rashed and Nick Dreckman went 4-1 for the J-Hawks.

Jefferson placed second with a 4-1 record in the tournament. The J-Hawks beat TMS/WWG (50-24), Pipestone (39-27), Luverne (52-27) and Medford (75-5). Their only loss was to Wabasso/RRC (37-26).

Briggs raised his record to a perfect 20-0 this season. Culver raised his mark to 20-2.

J-Hawks win 3 titles at SE Polk

RUNNELLS - Cody Clendenen, Kyle Briggs and Nick Dreckman of Cedar Rapids Jefferson won titles at the Red Owens Holiday Classic wrestling tournament Saturday at Southeast Polk High School.

Clendenen took the 145-pound title with a 6-0 victory over Korbin Blankenship of Des Moines Roosevelt in the finals. Briggs raised his record to 15-0 when he pinned Shawn Brown of Des Moines Lincoln in the championship match at 152. Dreckman trimmed Kameron Padavich of Southeast Polk, 8-7, for top honors at 182 pounds.

Brenden Baker (120), Tavian Rashed (160) and Matt Culver (170) finished second for Jefferson. Joseph Sibomana (113) and Dalton Mastin (132) placed third for the J-Hawks.

Wennermark helps Prairie pin J-Hawks

New Cedar Rapids Prairie wrestling coach Kane Thompson has been preaching a "team championship lifestyle" to the Hawks since taking over the squad this season.

Trenton Wennermark embraced the concept Thursday night.

Wennermark rallied from a 9-0 deficit and pinned Brenden Baker in the biggest upset of the match as the sixth-ranked Prairie Hawks topped No. 7 Jefferson, 42-30, in a Mississippi Valley Conference showdown at Jefferson.

Wennermark lost all three of his matches against Baker last year and was headed for a fourth straight defeat when he turned the tables in the third period. He got a reversal to draw within 9-4, then put Baker on his back and pinned him in 4 minutes, 33 seconds.

Thompson and all the wrestlers on the Prairie bench jumped in the air in celebration. Baker, a senior, is ranked No. 2 at 120 pounds by The Predicament wrestling magazine and Wennermark, a sophomore, is ranked No. 8 at 120. They wrestled a weight higher at 126 and Wennermark gave the Hawks a 21-9 lead with his precious victory.

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Briggs wins title for J-Hawk wrestlers

WEST DES MOINES - Kyle Briggs of Jefferson captured top honors at 152 pounds Saturday at the West Des Moines Valley wrestling tournament.

Briggs nipped Collin Hushagen of Johnston, 4-3, for the title.

West Des Moines Valley, which is ranked second in Class 3A, claimed the team championship with 229 points. The seventh-ranked Jefferson J-Hawks finished second out of 10 teams with 198 markers.

The J-Hawks got second-place finishes from Colten Mastin (113), Brenden Baker (120), Tavian Rashed (160) and Nick Dreckman (182). Baker, who is ranked No. 2 at 120 pounds, lost to fourth-ranked Zach Price of Johnston, 7-3, in the finals.

The J-Hawks got third-place showings from Dalton Mastin (132) and Matt Culver (170). Zach Main (126), Cody Clendenen (145) and Keenan Stewart (220) finished fourth.

TEAM STANDINGS

1. West Des Moines Valley 229, 2. Jefferson 198, 3. Johnston 196.5, 4. Waverly-Shell Rock 181, 5. Indianola 175, 6. Marshalltown 105, 7. Hampton-Dumont 73, 8. Sioux City North 71.5, 9. Winterset 70, 10. Des Moines Roosevelt 41.5.