CEDAR RAPIDS — It was the type of ending wrestling fans have come to expect whenever Iowa City West and Waverly-Shell Rock dual.
The two Class 3A powers have made it a regular occurrence to fight to the bitter end against each other, and the latest installment followed suit.
Waverly-Shell Rock notched the last of six lead changes and won the final bout, capturing their third straight duals crown with a 34-30 victory over top-ranked West in the Class 3A championship of the Iowa High School Athletic Association State Duals wrestling tournament …

Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Zach Witte had a disappointing end to his individual season. The 2009 Class 3A 135-pound state finalist didn’t advance out of district, placing behind 145-pound state champion Cody Caldwell of Waverly-Shell Rock and runner-up Gustavo Martinez of Marshalltown.
He was anxious to compete again.
“It kind of (stunk) not to get down there,” Witte said about not reaching traditional state. “Things don’t work your way every time.”
Witte (32-4) rebounded with a fall over Waverly-Shell Rock’s Blake Seehusen in a 50-18 Class 3A State Duals quarterfinal loss by the Hawks …

Northeast Iowa has always been a hotbed of wrestling talent. Don Bosco, Denver-Tripoli and Waverly-Shell Rock have done their part to make the Cedar Valley the epicenter of championship wrestling this season.
All three sit within a 30-mile radius of each other, and claimed team state titles last weekend in Des Moines. They will attempt for a championship sweep at the Iowa High School Athletic Association State Duals tournament today at the U.S. Cellular Center.
Don Bosco and Denver-Tripoli are top seeds in Class 1A and 2A, respectively. Waverly-Shell Rock is second in …

IOWA CITY — Rebounds are more associated with a different winter sport, but the Iowa City West wrestling team is looking for one.
The Trojans placed a surprising fourth at the traditional state tournament last weekend after having hopes of a championship performance.
West will take its first step of a bounce back in a class 3A regional dual meet tonight against Keokuk at West High School. Competition begins at 7 p.m. Regional dual winners advance to the 3A State Duals tournament Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids.
“You never …

DES MOINES — The most important thing at the state tournament is to win.
For the most part, Iowa City West did a good job collecting wins, however, it wasn’t enough to keep them from being on the outside looking in on the team race.
Second-ranked West went advanced seven wrestlers to the quarterfinals with eight remaining, but are fourth in the team race after the opening day of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 3A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. West has 21 points, but Bettendorf has the early …

*-Returning champions: Cory Clark, Southeast Polk (112), Brandon Jones, West Des Moines Valley (119), Adam Perrin, North Scott (125), John Meeks, Des Moines Roosevelt (125), Jake Ballweg, Waverly-Shell Rock (140), Cody Caldwell, Waverly-Shell Rock (145), Michael Kelly, Cedar Falls (152), Nick Mooe, Iowa City West (160), Kyven Gadson, Waterloo East (189), Evan Knight, Urbandale, (189), Cody Krumwiede, Waverly-Shell Rock (215)
*-Other individuals to watch: Colby Knight, Urbandale (103), Jack Hathaway, Iowa City West (112), Eric DeVos, Waverly-Shell Rock (119), Kirk Sallis Jr., Waterloo East (119), Jordan Rinken, Waverly-Shell Rock (130), Bo …

With conference tournaments reaching a peak on Saturday, many teams will be looking to extend their league supremacy.
Belle Plaine’s dominance in the South Iowa Cedar League started before some of the current wrestlers were even born. The Plainesmen will attempt to win their 18th straight SICL title this weekend.
MFL MarMac, of the Upper Iowa conference, and Waverly-Shell Rock, of the NEIC, are both looking to win their sixth consecutive conference championships.
East Buchanan’s Tri-Rivers Conference streak is a little more cloudy. Officially, a win this weekend would be its second straight …

It’s no surprise that the top three include Waverly-Shell Rock, Iowa City West and Bettendorf. West and Waverly are flipped based on West’s victory over the Go-Hawks at the Five Seasons Duals in December. It will be interesting how the next month plays out setting up their stretch runs to the state tournament. Waverly has four No. 1 wrestlers, while West has one, but three others in the top three of their respective weights. BUT, guess you has the second-most top-ranked wrestlers. It’s fourth-ranked Urbandale.
Please discuss.
Top 10 State Tournament Teams (# …

Waverly-Shell Rock improved to 9-1, going undefated in three duals at the Cedar Rapids Prairie Holiday Wrestling Classic on Saturday. The second-ranked Go-Hawks dominated Cedar Falls and Mount Vernon before handling the host Hawks, 40-24, in the final round.
WSR Coach Rick Caldwell said consistency was the key to the Go-Hawks’ final performance until after the holiday break. He said their more accomplished wrestlers did what they were supposed to but others, who don’t have the state meet experience, under their belt wrestled well.
Listen to him discuss the team’s performance.

Go-Hawks two-time …

CEDAR RAPIDS — Wrestling teams competing in duals resemble chains. They’re only as strong as their weakest link.
Waverly-Shell Rock has six elite wrestlers, favored to win almost every time out, but the rest of the lineup exhibited the Go-Hawks’ sturdiness.
Class 3A second-ranked Waverly-Shell Rock went 3-0, including a 40-24 win over No. 10 Cedar Rapids Prairie, to win the Holiday Wrestling Classic dual tournament Saturday at Prairie.
“I thought we were more consistent today than we have been,” Waverly-Shell Rock Coach Rick Caldwell said. “Those kids who aren’t the returning state …