Iowa City West freshman Alexander Pierce, City High trio win state wrestling titles

DES MOINES — The match was a blur. The moments after it seem surreal.

Iowa City West’s Alexander Pierce earned a moment that he won’t likely ever forget. All because he transformed a dream into reality.

Pierce scored four takedowns to beat Norwalk’s Tyler Harper, 10-7, to capture the 106-pound title at the Class 3A state wrestling tournament Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena. He became the third Trojan freshman to win a state crown, joining Dylan Carew in 2006 and Nick Moore (2007).

“It doesn’t feel real,” Pierce said. “All glory to God but it’s a dream that when I was little I didn’t think it was possible for me.”

Pierce finished his first varsity campaign. How could this have seemed unfathomable? He never won an AAU or USA state title. The love for the sport propelled him to a high school championship in his first try.

“I wasn’t that good when I was younger, but I just had to stay mentally focused and hungry,” Pierce said. “I got a better one here.”

Pierce claimed an advantage on his feet. He used three takedowns in the first two periods for an 8-3 lead after two. Pierce added another in the third but the early scores were key. Well, as much as he can recall.

“It helped me a lot,” Pierce said. “I don’t remember what just happened. That was the weirdest, craziest thing I’ve done in my life. I don’t even know what’s going on right now.”

Iowa City High’s golden trio

Crosstown rival Iowa City High boasted three champions with compelling tales. One looked to join the ranks of the Iowa elite. Another faced a fourth battle with another nationally-ranked foe. The third held off surgery to repair a knee injury to prevent a premature end to his season.

The Little Hawks’ Ben Kueter made history, beating Dubuque Hempstead’s Joe Lewis, 19-4, in the 220-pound final to become the state’s 32nd state champion. He ended the season 39-0 and finished 111-0, becoming the seventh Iowa high school wrestler to post an undefeated career.

“It’s unreal,” Kueter said. “Look at Iowa’s history with wrestling just with Iowa, Iowa State and UNI. You have great programs here and even better high school wrestling here.

“It’s a blessing to be a part of that. I’m just super grateful.”

Kueter’s win came shortly after the most-anticipated matchup of the night. University of Iowa signee and City High’s top-seeded Gabe Arnold and Iowa State signee and Linn-Mar’s No. 2-seed Tate Naaktgeboren faced off for the fourth time this season. This time with the biggest reward at stake.

The fourth installment ended like the first three — an Arnold decision. This was as competitive as the others. They exchanged escapes in regulation. In the final minute and in sudden victory, they produced flurries and scrambles, fending off the other’s attempt to score.

Arnold (41-0) scored an escape and a rideout in the two overtime tiebreaker periods for a 2-1 decision.

“Every single time we competed against each other I wanted it more,” Arnold said. “I knew I wanted it more. I trained harder. I worked harder. I did everything harder than Tate Naaktgeboren did this year. I’m not afraid to say that.”

After the victory, Arnold went into the stands and shared a long embrace with his mom before bounding up the stairs to find other supporters.

“It’s been a heck of a year and the year’s been nothing but great,” said Arnold, a two-time national prep champion at Wyoming Seminary Prep in Kingston, Pa., who transferred to City High this season. “I have a great family. I have a great team. I have a great everything.

“That’s why one of the first things I wanted to do was go see my family. Not just my parents, not just my girlfriend, but everyone who has been here for me since I moved to this place. It’s been nothing short of amazing. This place is home and forever will be home. I’m, excited to end this year on a high note.”

Cale Seaton suffered a knee injury less than a month ago that some thought was season-ending. Seaton was not one of them. He returned to competition for districts, qualified and then ran the 126-pound bracket. The top seed used a takedown in the first and an escape in the third to defeat Ames’ Jabari Hinson, 4-3, for the title.

The injury didn’t hamper his style.

“I lead my leg so I was comfortable and I think it made my wrestling better,” Seaton said. “I was so much more focused this week with everything. I was just locked in and felt great.”

A banner tournament for Linn-Mar

Linn-Mar had four runners-up Saturday night. Naaktgeboren was joined in the finals by his brother, Kane Naaktgeboren (138), senior Brayden Parke (132) and 152-pounder Grant Kress.

The Lions had a banner tournament, setting a school record with four finalists and tying the team’s best finish. The Lions were fourth with five medalists overall.

The potential was apparent at the end of last year’s state meet.

“We knew had a lot of guys coming back,” Parke said. “We knew we had good potential. We all came to battle and that’s all that matters in the end of the day.”

“We were wrestling hard-nosed,” Linn-Mar Coach Doug Streicher said. “I’m damn proud of our home-grown program and the points we’re putting up.”

The Lions matched the fourth-place showings in 2014 and 2012. The 130 points scored was better than 126 in 2012, even though this year included an expanded field. Linn-Mar was propelled by an outstanding semifinal win that saw the second-seeded Naaktgeborens pin their way to the finals. Third-seeded Parke and Kress showed grit in close wins over No. 2-seeds to advance to Saturday night, overcoming having points taken off the board in their matches.

“I mean, I’m expected to make the finals, right?” Tate Naaktgeboren said. “I think I’m only the second four-time finalist in Linn-Mar history, but I was more excited for those guys. I know how much work Brayden puts in. I know how much work Kane puts in. I know how much work Grant puts in. They work so hard and they’re just dawgs in the room.

“To see them win and to see them (advance) to the next level of wrestling for Saturday night? That brings me more joy than my win (in the semifinals). Love seeing the boys win.”

Throw in Malik DeBow’s 4-2 performance to get fifth at 113, the 28 bonus points entering the finals and the fact that eight of 10 qualifiers won at least two matches. Streicher noted that all 10 wrestled to their seed or better.

“(Friday) night was a heck of a gutsy performance,” Streicher said. “You can talk about ride outs and winning close matches in overtime, battles on the edge of the mat. It was a heck of a team effort. We had a follow through this morning. It was a heck of an effort from Malik, beating a good kid.

“It makes me very proud of how we performed.”

City High’s three champions were joined on the podium by Kael Kurtz, who was fourth at 132. The Little Hawks finished fifth with 119 1/2 points. Waverly-Shell Rock won the team title with 169, beating runner-up Southeast Polk by 16.

Cedar Rapids Prairie also produced a quartet of medalists. Blake Gioimo led the way with his third career medal. The Iowa State signee placed fourth at 120. Dylan Munson (106) and Tyler Lee (132) both placed seventh. Hawks heavyweight Carter Dawley finished eighth.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Colin Falck survived a grind, wrestling eight matches on his way to a sixth-place finish at 160. The Cougars’ junior went 5-3 overall, winning four straight consolation matches. With the expanded bracket, the consolations are a tougher grind than ever.

“That is a hell of an accomplishment,” Kennedy Coach Nick LeClere said. “I am very proud of his grit and determination to place. He is a tough kid.”

Western Dubuque’s Logan Massey reached the quarterfinals and placed eighth at 182.

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