Linn-Mar’s Evan Pulis attempts to make the most of his first and final season as a full-time starter

MARION – Linn-Mar’s Evan Pulis patiently waited for his chance.

He toiled behind a state qualifier, a state medalist and state champion the last three seasons. His final campaign is his first as a full-time starter and he is determined to make the most of the experience.

“It means the world me,” Pulis said. “It feels good to finally get the opportunity because I’ve been watching our varsity guys for three years. I’ve gotten a taste of it but it feels good to be a captain and be one of those leaders, one of those guys being a starter and that everyone looks up to. It's a bigger deal this year, for sure.”

Pulis posted one of six Linn-Mar pins, giving the Class 3A seventh-ranked Lions a lead they didn’t surrender in a 49-25 victory over No. 14 Western Dubuque Thursday in a home Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division boys’ wrestling dual on Senior Night. Linn-Mar also won the girls’ dual, 48-29.

Pulis built a quick 6-0 lead, pinning Asher Farley in 57 seconds at 132 pounds. The Lions took a 23-21 lead and never looked back.

“It's great to come out one last time for the home crowd,” Pulis said. “We always have a good student section over there, especially this year with all of all my friends over there.

“It feels great to really just get a good win in front of friends, family and everyone that came out to see us on senior night.”

Resilience defeated discouragement. He continued to work hard and was the first to accept any shot to contribute to the team.

“He does the right things in the room,” Linn-Mar co-head coach Beau Westpfahl said. “He works hard, he's committed to the sport, and now he's finally starting to get some of those wins where the confidence is there with the technique. I feel like he’s rolling and he feels confident.”

Pulis devoted time in the offseason, wrestling freestyle and adding performance training to his regimen. He is reaping the rewards. Pulis said he feels more athletic and explosive. Almost a different wrestler.

Varsity action was limited behind teammates Keaton Williams, Brayden Parke, who currently wrestles at Coe, and Kane Naaktgeboren, a state champion wrestling for Iowa State. Pulis watched and learned how they competed and how they served as leaders. Westpfahl said Pulis is demonstrating some of their traits as an outspoken captain for the Lions.

“He loves the sport,” Westpfahl said. “He loves wrestling and I think that's a big part of it.”

Pulis has won five of his last six matches. He even tallied wins over two ranked wrestlers at the Battle of Waterloo dual tournament in December. Pulis switched his mental approach during that tournament.

“A big thing is I just trust my coaching and my training,” Pulis said. “I don't think about who I'm going up against. I just I think about what we’ve got and I'm a strong believer that we have the best coaching staff in the state. I believe that with my whole heart, so I know that my training is up there.

“I know the work that I've put in, so I don't even bother to think about the other guy. I just go out there and I do what I know I can do.”

Linn-Mar (9-1, 4-0 MVC) overcame a slow start that resulted in a 21-0 deficit. The Lions clawed back with six straight victories for a 31-21 lead with four matches left. Aiden Kiesey sparked the rally with a second-period fall at 113. Will Smith (120) and Pulis had pins and Malik DeBow (126) and Hud Turner (138) added technical falls for Linn-Mar.

Linn-Mar pulled away and sealed the win late with three straight pins from Brayden Fish (157), No. 3 Barrett Mieras at 165 and 175-pounder Philip Jacobs, who scored a defensive fall over David Theisen.

“We’ve got a pretty solid run once we get into the heart of our lineup,” Westpfahl said. “Overall, we came out a little bit flat and there's definitely some things that we got work on.”

Western Dubuque (5-6, 3-2) received pins from Alex Gassman (215), heavyweight Garret Kluesner and Caden Gotto at 106 during a four-match win streak to begin the dual. Brady Rissman added a major decision at 150 for the Bobcats.

Both teams will compete in the Linn-Mar Duals on Saturday.

AT LINN-MAR

Linn-Mar 49, Western Dubuque 25

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

190 pounds – Daniel Kenneally (WD) dec. Parker Gasper, 8-2 (1,0); 215 – Alex Gassman (WD) pinned Holden eideman, 1:34 (2,0); Hwt. – Garret Kluesner (WD) pinned Harrison Kensinger, 2:29 (1,0); 106 – Caden Gotto (WD) pinned Ashton Landherr, 2:26 (1,0); 113 – Aiden Kiesey (LM) pinned Isaiah Streif, 3:07 (3,0); 120 – Will Smith (LM) pinned Ethan Schlichtmann, :42 (1,0); 126 – Malik DeBow (LM) technical fall Kellen McKenna, 17-1 (3,0); 132 – Evan Pulis (LM) pinned Asher Farley, :57 (1,0); 138 – Hud Turner (LM) technical fall Preston Errthum, 16-0 (2,0); 144 – Aidan Ehlinger (LM) dec. Will Casey, 6-3 (2,0); 150 – Brady Rissman (WD) major dec. Cain Boddicker, 10-0 (2,0); 157 – Brayden Fish (LM) pinned Noah Nickol, :53 (1,0); 165 – Barrett Mieras (LM) pinned Chase Brunscheen, 2:45 (2,0); 175 – Philip Jacobs (LM) pinned David Theisen, 1:21 (0,1)

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns: Linn-Mar 15, Western Dubuque 8. Reversals: Linn-Mar 1, Western Dubuque 2. Escapes: Linn-Mar 1, Western Dubuque 8. Nearfall points: Linn-Mar 29, Western Dubuque 11. Penalty points (awarded): Linn-Mar 1, Western Dubuque 0. Total match points: Linn-Mar 78, Western Dubuque 47.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com