Schools

Could Linn-Mar Wrestling Get Banned for Breaking Rules?

Linn-Mar is one of the favorites in the Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament in Des Moines.

The Linn-Mar Lions headed into the state high school wrestling tournament as one of the favorites.

Lion wrestlers at 12 weight classes qualified to the tournament, but the school sat starters during the team portion of the competition on Wednesday to save the top wrestlers for the individual tournament, which runs through Saturday.

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Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament: Follow Live Updates

Coaches and wrestlers fear injury in the team portion, which happened to Sam Uthoff, a wrestler from Cedar Rapids Prairie this year.

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Linn-Mar wound up in eighth place in the team competition in Class 3A on Wednesday after losing several duals.

Metro Sports Report reports that resting the starters defies state edict, and Linn-Mar could face sanctions from the Iowa High School Athletic Association.

"I'm a coach of the kids in our Linn-Mar district that are out for wrestling," Linn-Mar Coach Doug Streicher told Metro Sports Report. "They are trying to reach their goals of getting on the podium (for the awards ceremony at the individual state tournament), and that's where my allegiance lies."

An athletics association official said after the tournament, they will review the circumstances for possible sanctions, which could include a ban from next year's state tournament.

Coaches and athletics officials have been debating the merits of the rule.


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