Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – Last season Zyaire Washpun was in and out of the City High varsity lineup.

Washpun learned some very valuable during that sophomore season that ended with an 8-17 record in varsity matches.

That lesson?

Let every loss be a learning experience.

“All the losses I had in the past, I try to learn from them,” Washpun said. “I try to make sure I don’t let my losses shape me, I try to have the losses make me better as a person. I try to stay positive.”

That valuable lesson has led Washpun all the way to the state tournament.

Washpun won the 132-pound title at the Class 3A, District 6 tournament on Saturday at City High to secure at spot at the 3A state meet next week at Casey’s Center in Des Moines.

“For me this is shocking,” Washpun said. “I never really expected to be at state so I’m mind blown right now.”

Washpun (32-11) dominated his way to the 132-pound title on Saturday scoring 58 points in three tech fall victories.

The junior won a 19-4 tech fall over Will Sloan of Ankeny Centennial in the 3:15 in the title match to secure his spot at state.

“I just wanted to focus on what I need to get to,” Washpun said. “When I am out there no one is better than me. That’s my mindset always.”

Washpun joined Chase Williams and Kane Willey as district champions on Saturday for City High as the Little Hawks qualified six wrestlers for the state meet.

Led by the three titles and a runner-up finish from junior Malachi Clement City High finished fourth in the team standings with 149.5 points.

“I feel like I’ve improved a lot,” Washpun said. “Last year I was on varsity off and on this year it’s been a switch. My coach has always supported me, always been in my corner and telling me I could be better and he sees more potential in me and I carry that with me everywhere I got.”

Williams (27-14) won the 113-pound title with a 15-4 major decision over Cole Bruck of North Scott in the title match.

Class 3A No. 11 ranked Willey (29-7) scored a late takedown to win a 5-4 decision over Bryce Stewart of North Scott in the 285-pound championship match.

“I knew he was a lot bigger than me so I knew a throw was coming at any point, I got up there in some ties and I didn’t want to be there,” Willey said. “I saw that leg come forward and shot on it and finished.”

Stewart scored a first-period takedown to take an early led before Willey notched a pair of escapes, one in each of the first two periods to cut the lead to 3-2.

Trailing 4-2 in the final 30 seconds Willey got in on a shot and finished the takedown with under five seconds remaining to secure the win.

“It was a good scramble there for a minute,” Willey said. “I haven’t been in too many of those at heavyweight so it was a fun match.”

Malachi Clement (37-13) won three consecutive consolation matches on his way to a runner-up finish at 138 pounds.

Clement lost to Aidyn Roman of Cedar Rapids Kennedy in the semifinals but responded with a pair of pins before earning an 13-11 win over fourth-ranked Will McDermott of North Scott in a wrestle back to earn a spot at the state meet.

Jack Litton (18-17) finished third at 106 pounds and Jimmy Milder (21-23) was third at 144 pounds to earn spots at the state meet.

Class 3A, District 6

At City High

Team scores – 1. North Scott 211.5; 2. Ankeny Centennial 194; 3. Cedar Rapids Kennedy 151.5; 4. City High 149.5; 5. Newton 114.5; 6. Burlington 51.5; 7. Cedar Rapids Jefferson 47.5; 8. Davenport Central 25

Individual results (Championship matches) 

106 – 1. Thayer Hagstrom (CRK) pinned Brenden Harless (AC) 1:21

113 – 1. Chase Williams (ICH) major dec. Cole Bruck (NS) 15-4

120 – 1. Kent Montgomery (NEW) pinned Zayd Igram (CRJ) 2:41

126 – 1. Cale Vandermark (AC) pinned Matthew Williams (NS) :23

132 – 1. Zyaire Washpun (ICH) tech. fall Will Sloan (AC) 19-4

138 – 1. Aidyn Roman (CRK) pinned Will McDermott (NS) 1:35; 2. Malachi Clement (ICH)

144 – 1. Ethan Sodergren (AC) pinned Collin Kruse (NS) 2:36

150 – 1. Zach Green (NS) major dec. Aiden Robson (NEW) 16-4

157 – 1. Benjamin Lightle (NS) dec. Brogan Ganshert (DC) 8-4

165 – 1. Cole Green (NS) tech. fall Lane Rozendaal (NEW) 15-0

175 – 1. Maximus Dhabolt (AC) pinned Kepler Carmichael (NS) 2:25

190 – 1. Owen Difederico (BUR) pinned Timmy Zachar (CRK) :33

215 – 1. Trey Feist (NS) pinned Nick Milburn (NEW) 1:30; 2. Brandon Bogseth (AC)

285 – 1. Kane Willey (ICH) dec. Bryce Stewart (NS) 5-4

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