DES MOINES - Waverly-Shell Rock experienced a little deja vu throughout the first half of Thursday's Class 3A state quarterfinal session.

With three wrestlers in black and gold competing simultaneously to earn a spot in the semifinals, it evoked memories of last season's performance when the Go-Hawks had 12 quarterfinalists.

"It is hectic when you have two or three guys wrestling at the same time," coach Rick Caldwell said. "But I have very quality assistant coaches that do a great job.

"It's like an eight-ring circus out here."

The Go-Hawks had a wrestler in each of the first seven weight classes and an eighth at 215 pounds. Five of those eight advanced to the semifinals, while two remain alive in the consolation bracket and are guaranteed a medal.

Iowa City West surpassed Waverly-Shell Rock on day two with seven semifinalists, but has no competitors in the consolation bracket. The Trojans lead the Go-Hawks, 73 1/2-70. Southeast Polk is third with 60 points.

It was the work of defending state champions Eric DeVos and Jake Ballweg that helped keep first place within reach for Waverly-Shell Rock. The duo each recorded clutch third-period pins against top-four rated quarterfinal opponents.

DeVos set the tone for his team at 112, converting a 6-0 lead into a fall over 34-1 Jordan Jones of Des Moines North-Hoover with 21 seconds remaining.

"You want to get the fall for your team, but if you take care of yourself, you're going to take care of your team," DeVos said of the bonus points. "That's the mentality that I have and all of our wrestlers have. You go out there for yourself first, and then let the team race play out."

Just moments after DeVos' pin, Ballweg improved from a decision to a fall over No. 3 Elijah Sullivan with six seconds left on the clock.

"That was great for team points, and it just felt good to get the pin at the end," Ballweg said.

The savvy veteran used his skill on the mat to secure the bonus points.

"I was on top a lot this past season, and I always try to work hard and get the pin," he said. "I don't like cutting guys. … I try to stick to my style and just impose it on the other guys."

W-SR's Jordan Rinken (119), Cody Caldwell (125), and Cody Krumwiede (215) also imposed their style on quarterfinal opponents. Krumwiede recorded a second-period pin, while Rinken earned a 10-0 major decision and Caldwell secured a 6-1 decision.

A track record of consistency throughout the season makes coach Caldwell feel confident in his five semifinalists heading into this weekend.

"They're real focused kids, and that's been the backbone all year," he said. "I know it's the state tournament and all, but I don't feel like we need to upset anybody with those five. We just can't get upset."

W-SR's Luke Pint (130) and Keelan Moore (140) remain alive on the back side. Moore overcame a 9-4 deficit with under 20 seconds remaining in his consolation match, recording a takedown and three back points. He then won in the first overtime period.

That type of drama has been tough to find for Waterloo East 171-pounder Kyven Gadson. He needed just 43 seconds to dispose of Spencer's Zach Van Wettering.

Gadson has pinned his way into the semifinals with a total mat time of two minutes and 30 seconds.

"My dad (coach Willie Gadson) just told me to go out there and have fun, and that's what I've been trying to do," Kyven Gadson said. "The whole point of wrestling is to dominate and pin. That's what the crowd comes to see, so I try to please the crowd."

East 125-pound junior Demetrious Taylor continued his late-season surge by booking a ticket to the semifinals with a 4-0 decision. With no score, he rode out Brock Storm for nearly the entire third period before turning him for three back points and a subsequent injury point.

Gadson and Taylor highlighted a day of mixed emotions for East coach Willie Gadson. All five Trojans earned a place on the medal stand.

However, top-rated and unbeaten senior Tray Pendleton was upset in his quarterfinal heavyweight bout with seventh-rated Brody Berrie of Bettendorf. The duo reached the fourth overtime period tied at 2 with no takedowns. Berrie, who scored first, chose down and quickly stood up for a sudden-death escape.

Pendleton recovered from his dramatic loss to earn a consolation-bracket pin. Onazi Agbese (215) and Quinten Hayes (152) also advanced in the back draw with dramatic one-point wins.

"It's good (to have everyone on the podium), but it's still been disappointing for us this last round," Willie Gadson said of his team that is tied for eighth place with 33 points. "You've got to take what comes to you. All of my guys are still competing and that's what we've worked so hard for."

Cedar Falls' No. 2-rated 145-pounder Michael Kelly found himself competing tooth-and-nail to earn a trip to the semifinals with a 1-0 win over No. 3-rated Matt Vercillo of Bettendorf.

Kelly took his lead into the third period and rode out Vercillo. He held off a last-second reversal attempt.

Kelly's teammate, Aidan Brock, was eliminated in the second consolation round with an 11-8 loss to A.J. Arrendell of Pella.

Waterloo West heavyweight Johntrell Humphrey recovered from an overtime quarterfinal loss to earn a trip to the medal stand with a second-period pin of Jorge Hernandez. Teammate Nick Sand advanced in the back draw with a 6-4 overtime decision.

West's 103-pounder Alozno Henderson was eliminated, 6-5, on a last-second takedown to Linn-Mar's Greg Keating.

"There's two of us left," Humphrey said. "We both want to get something, take it home and show it off."

Contact Nick Petaros at (319) 291-1428 or nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com