Linn-Mar Wrestling

Linn-Mar - Wrestling

Tearful Jeffery claims 120 state title

Sat - 22 Feb Written by Jim Ecker

DES MOINES - Linn-Mar senior Alijah Jeffery rarely shows any emotion at a wrestling tournament, but he made an exception Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena to savor the best moment of his career.

Jeffery finished his perfect season Saturday with a 7-0 victory over Paul Glynn of Bettendorf in the Class 3A 120-pound finals to end the season as an undefeated state champion with a sparkling 41-0 record.

Jeffery raised his arms in celebration, saluted Linn-Mar fans in the sold-out arena, leaped into assistant coach Ryan Gotto's arms and was mobbed by happy teammates as he left the floor in tears.

"It's kind of overwhelming," he said a few minutes later. "It's hard to believe it finally happened."

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Last Updated on Saturday, 22 February 2014 22:19

Linn-Mar - Wrestling

Baker, Lembeck, Turner take 3rd at state

Sat - 22 Feb Written by Jim Ecker

DES MOINES - One guy was elated, another guy philosophical in defeat and the third guy sorely disappointed.

That's what happens when you finish third at the state wrestling tournament. The level of happiness - or sadness - depends on your point of view.

Cole Turner (285) of Xavier, Ross Lembeck (152) of Linn-Mar and Brenden Baker (106) of Jefferson all placed third at the Class 3A state meet at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines Saturday afternoon.

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Linn-Mar - Wrestling

4 Metro wrestlers eye state titles

Fri - 21 Feb Written by Jim Ecker

DES MOINES - The Linn-Mar Lions and Prairie Hawks have staged a friendly battle for bragging rights in Metro wrestling for a number of years, usually taking turns at the top.

They'll settle this year's tussle at the Class 3A state tournament in Des Moines Saturday night.

Both Linn-Mar and Prairie will have two experienced grapplers in the championship round - although not against each other - and the results of those four matches could determine who finishes higher in the team standings.

The Lions enter the final day of the state tournament in fourth place with 73.5 points. The Hawks enter the final day in fifth place with 67 points, within striking distance.

Alijah Jeffery (120) and Andrew Holladay (195) will be going for the gold for Linn-Mar. Trey Blaha (152) and Skyler St. John (160) are in the finals for Prairie.

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Linn-Mar - Wrestling

Metro wrestlers enjoy good start at state

Thu - 20 Feb Written by Metro Sports Report

DES MOINES - Metro wrestlers compiled a 22-15 record with eight pins on the opening day of the Class 3A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines Thursday.

The Prairie Hawks stand in fourth place in the team standings. All six of Prairie's wrestlers advanced to Friday's competition, with Marcus England (106), Sam Uthoff (120), Josh Wenger (138), Trey Blaha (152) and Skyler St. John (160) alive in the quarterfinals.

The Linn-Mar Lions are in fifth place, just a half-point behind Prairie. Alijah Jeffery (120), Damon Griffin (126), Ross Lembeck (152) and Andrew Holladay (195) reached the quarterfinals with opening-round victories.

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Linn-Mar - Wrestling

Metro wrestlers fall short at state duals

Wed - 19 Feb Written by Jim Ecker

DES MOINES - Prairie, Jefferson and Linn-Mar all took the same serious approach to the state dual meet wrestling tournament in Des Moines Wednesday and went for the gold.

Unfortunately for the three Metro squads, so did everybody else.

Unlike the last two years, teams used their best wrestlers in the dual meet tournament for as long as it made sense before backing off and resting key guys for the individual state tournament that begins Thursday.

The fourth-ranked Prairie Hawks clipped No.5 Linn-Mar, 35-27, in a spirited battle in the opening round and the seventh-ranked Jefferson J-Hawks pushed No.2 Waverly-Shell Rock to the limit before falling 32-26 in the first round.

It was mostly downhill from there for the Metro clubs, however.

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