Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

DES MOINES – A triple digit win total is cause for celebration for high school wrestlers.

Amassing 109 wins is a careers worth of victories for a highly successful wrestler.

On Friday Hayden Taylor won his 109^th consecutive match.

That’s not a win total – that is wins in a row. 109 of them.

Oh, and still counting.

Top-ranked Taylor pushed his career win total to 140 and stretched his winning streak to 109 with a 9-2 win over sixth-ranked Landon Kirby of Grinnell in the Class 2A quarterfinals at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

“I don’t pay too much attention to that stuff but I know it’s up there because I haven’t lost since January of my freshman year,” Taylor said. “I’m not a stats guys, I don’t really know about that kind of stuff but it’s pretty cool.”

Taylor’s memory is correct, he hasn’t lost since a 3-1 setback to fellow two-time state champion Robert Avila Jr. of Lisbon on January 12 of 2019.

The streak started five days later with a 1:54 first-period pin on January 17, the first of 20 consecutive wins to close his freshman season that featured a state title at 126 pounds.

Taylor went 52-0 last season winning the 145-pound title and moved to 37-0 this season with his quarterfinal win over Kirby on Thursday.

“I felt pretty good today,” Taylor said. “I didn’t really get on any leg attacks but I felt like I controlled the whole match.”

Just as he has been for the duration of his winning streak Taylor was impressive in his quarterfinal win.

Taylor had a takedown in the first period and two more in the second to build a 7-2 lead and added a pair of near fall points in the third.

The only points for Kirby came on a pair of escapes as Taylor has become an absolute bear to score points against.

“You have to have good hips and be able to feel pressure when it is coming,” Taylor said of his defensive prowess. “It’s just feeling it.”

Taylor will put his winning streak on the line on Friday evening against fifth-ranked Allen Catour (21-3) of Davenport Assumption in the 160-pound semifinals on Friday night at 8:45 p.m.

A second match on Friday is a welcome schedule change for Taylor who was already excited to get back on the mat.

“I have so much free time at my hotel it’s ridiculous,” Taylor said. “I’m glad I get to wrestle more than once today. I can’t wait.”

Solon junior Gage Marty dropped a 4-2 decision to third-ranked Crew Howard in the 220-pound quarterfinals.

Tenth-ranked Marty (33-9) took a 2-1 lead with a takedown with 1:06 left in the second period but Howard (46-1) scored the final three points on an escape and the go-ahead takedown with 29 seconds left.

Marty will face Jordan Anderson (29-3) of Emmetsburg in a second-round consolation match.

Class 2A State Wrestling Tournament

At Wells Wargo Arena in Des Moines

Team scores (Top 10; area teams) – 1. West Delaware 59; 2. Osage 45; 3. Crestwood 31; 4. Independence 30; 5. Burlington Notre Dame 26.5; 6. Camanche 25; 6. Winterset 25; 8. East Marshall 22.5; 9. Davenport Assumption 22; 9. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 22; 9. New Hampton/Turkey Valley 22; 30. Solon 10.5

Quarterfinals

160 – Hayden Taylor (Solon) dec. Landon Kirby (Grinnell) 9-2

220 – Crew Howard (Clarinda) dec. Gage Marty (Solon) 4-2

Fridays Semifinals

160 – No. 1 Hayden Taylor (37-0) Jr., Solon vs. No. 5 Allen Catour (21-3) Jr., Davenport Assumption

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