‘We were just hungry for this win’: Jaguars top Waukee NW, raise record to 18-1

Ankeny Centennial’s Mitchell Grider tries to turn Waukee Northwest’s Brayden Williams onto his back during the 215-pound match in Thursday’s dual meet at Northwest. Grider posted a 15-3 major decision to help the Jaguars to a 39-28 victory. (Photo by Dan Holm)

Mitchell Grider and the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers wanted to keep their momentum going heading into next week’s Class 3A regional dual.

Grider won by a major decision at 215 pounds to help the Jaguars to a 39-28 victory at Waukee Northwest in their final dual meet of the regular season on Thursday.

“We had a good game plan coming in,” said Grider, who rolled to a 15-3 win over Brayden Williams. “We knew they were a top team, but we were just hungry for this win.”

**Ankeny Centennial’s Isaac Bruhl controls Waukee Northwest’s Isaac Vollmecke during the 157-pound match in Thursday’s meet. Bruhl went on to record a fall in 3 minutes. (Photo by Dan Holm)**

Centennial finished with a 7-1 record in the CIML Conference. The Jaguars improved their overall mark to 18-1.

“It was a win. I don’t know if it was a nice win, but it was a win,” said Centennial coach Jay Groth. “I felt we were kind of flat. Northwest is a good team, but we let them dictate the pace and we’re a team that likes to push the pace normally. But tonight, not so much. I’ll take the victory, but we’ve got to move on to regional duals–and we have to wrestle better on Tuesday if we’re going to get to (Coralville) on Saturday.”

Centennial built an early 19-6 advantage before Northwest rallied to take a 24-23 lead. The Jaguars then won three of the last four matches to seal the triumph.

Ankeny Centennial’s Cale Vandermark battles for position against Waukee Northwest’s Joey Cahill during the 113-pound match in Thursday’s meet. Vandermark posted a 14-3 major decision to put the Jaguars ahead for good, 27-24. (Photo by Dan Holm)

“I was confident we’d win those matches,” Groth said. “But I’m still frustrated that we’re leaving bonus points on the mat. We did it with some of our big guns, too.”

Centennial had four pins on the night, including one by freshman Ethan Sodergren at 126 that clinched the verdict. The Jaguars added three major decisions.

“It’s nice to know that we can beat a good team when we’re not wrestling our best,” Groth said.

Ankeny Centennial’s Ethan Sodergren tries for a takedown against Waukee Northwest’s Tommy LaPorte during the 126-pound match in Thursday’s meet. Sodergren recorded a fall in 46 seconds to seal the Jaguars’ victory. (Photo by Dan Holm)

Centennial will host either Johnston or Cedar Rapids Xavier in Tuesday’s regional final. The Jaguars posted a 35-30 victory at Johnston on Jan. 4.

“It was a close dual the first time,” Groth said. “But we’re going to plan for both (opponents). If we go out and wrestle the way we’re capable of, I don’t think it’s going to matter. But tonight’s got me a little worried. We’ve got lots of work to do.”

Centennial is seeking its second straight trip to the state duals.

Ankeny Centennial’s Max Dhabolt controls Waukee Northwest’s Ben Gallagher during the 144-pound match in Thursday’s meet. Dhabolt went on to record a pin in 3 minutes 14 seconds. (Photo by Dan Holm)

“We’re pretty confident we can make it back there,” Grider said. “We want to get there again and do better than we did last year.”

Here are the match-by-match results from Thursday’s meet:

Centennial 39, Waukee Northwest 28

138: Freeman (WN) pinned Brennan, 1:08; 144: M. Dhabolt pinned Gallagher, 3:14; 150: L. Bruhl beat Hutt, 8-2; 157: I. Bruhl pinned Vollmecke, 3:00; 165: Ehlts beat Rubino, 16-5; 175: Bry. Williams (WN) beat Smith, 6-4; 190: Parker (WN) beat Ja. Cahill, 7-3; 215: Grider beat Bray. Williams, 15-3; 285: Neeway (WN) pinned Adams, :50; 106: C. Christensen (WN) pinned Larsen, 3:33; 113: Ca. Vandermark beat Jo. Cahill, 14-3; 120: Co. Vandermark pinned Phillips, 2:48; 126: Sodergren pinned LaPorte, :46; 132: King (WN) beat Roland, 14-5.