Iowa City West’s Justin Avila claims gold at Class 3A boys’ state wrestling tournament

DES MOINES – Family is everything to Iowa City West’s Justin Avila.

So, it’s no surprise they were the first ones he sought out to share his celebration, a lot of joyful tears and hugs.

“I love them,” said Avila, who embraced West assistant and his older brother, Robert Avila Jr., in his corner. “My family's my world. Without them, I wouldn’t be here. It means everything. It's not just my state title. It’s my family’s.

“All the emotions just poured out there. They were all crying. It’s something sweet, special.”

Third-seeded Avila provided an exciting cap to his prep career, scoring a seven-point move in the first and fended off a late takedowns attempt to upend Ames’ No. 1 Jabari Hinson, 9-7, for the 150-pound title at the Class 3A boys’ state wrestling tournament Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena. Avila became West’s 38 th state champion.

“I believed in myself,” Avila said. “Predictions don't matter to me. Seeds don't matter me. It's like I've been saying the whole time, I believe in my capabilities, my brother believes my capabilities and my coaches (believe in me). You have that support backing you, unstoppable.”

Avila wowed the crowd with a headlock that placed Hinson on his back about a minute into the match. He realized he could utilize underhooks when they went out of bounds earlier. Then h let it fly – advice his brother has given him.

“I like going for big moves,” Avila said. “When I got that locked up, it was pretty sweet. I got a little excited there. Wasn't able to get the pin, but it was enough to get the job done. So, it was good for me.

Avila has a penchant for headlocks. West Coach Nate Moore has seen it plenty and it keeps things exciting.

“This year, I’ve seen him probably hit a headlock on half the kids he’s wrestled,” Moore said. “He’s not afraid to hit it.”

Maybe any other weekend but in the state tournament finals?

“I wouldn’t predict it,” Moore said with a laugh, “but it doesn’t surprise me.”

Hinson battled back, pulling within two on a stall call. He threatened with a shot in the final 15 seconds but Avila was able to scramble and prevent any points.

“Yeah, it was kind of scary, nerve-racking,” Avila said. “Thankfully, I was able to keep my composure. .. I was able to hold on. State champ.”

Avila (49-3) was joined in the finals by teammate Alexander Pierce, who has made three title bouts in as many years. Second-seeded Pierce faced Southeast Polk’s No. 1 Nico DeSalvo in the 113-pound final, pitting the last two 106-pound state champions (Pierce in 2023 and DeSalvo in 2024).

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DeSalvo and Pierce seemed to feel each other out in the scoreless first period. They exchanged escapes but DeSalvo dropped in on a single and was able to finish for the decisive score, scoring a takedown with 20 seconds remaining for a 4-1 decision.

“We knew going into it that Alex is not the type of kid that can make it a one transaction match,” Moore said. “When you make it a one-transaction match, you’re flipping a coin.

“He had good pressure. Got that stalling call. One little slip-up and bam. He was in on our legs and that’s it. You run out of time. There’s only six minutes.”

Pierce (47-3) posted his second straight runner-up finish. The result stung but Moore said Pierce knows what needs to be done to get back up on top, being willing to make adjustments.

“This isn’t the end all for Alex Pierce,” Moore said. “. There’s a lot of ceiling there.”

Pierce did become the fourth three-time state finalist for the Trojans, joining Moore, his brother, Nick Moore, Nelson Brands and Hunter Garvin. Robert Avila Jr. reached the finals once with West after three titles at Lisbon.

“For me, the coaching staff and his family, yeah, we’re proud of him,” Moore said. “We love him. For him, right now, probably not so much.

“Someday he’ll see that bigger picture and realize what he’s done is quite an accomplishment.”

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Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Jean Ngoma wrestled in the 215-pound final, facing Fort Dodge’s No. 1 Dreshaun Ross. Ngoma is the third Saints finalist and first since Clint Lembeck in 2016.

Ross, an Oklahoma State commit, won with an 18-2 technical fall for his third state title. It was the first loss of the season but he earned his second straight state medal, improving on seventh place a year ago.

“That’s not what he came for,” Xavier Coach Ryan Chambers said. “He didn’t come here to be 38-1. He came here to be 39-0. It’s part of the process, I guess. It was a pretty tough task for anybody and he lasted longer than anybody (against Ross).”

The Trojans had four medalists overall, placing sixth or better. They made a push for the top-10 in the team standings, entering the finals tied with Ankeny at 80 ½ points.

“This is just one of those tournaments where you got to be ready to go every single match,” West Coach Nate Moore said. “Some of the matches that we kind of got caught on our heels a little bit, we weren't ready to go. Then, we have a day like (Friday) where we go 6-0 and we're firing on all cylinders.

“Overall, I think it went as expected for the most part.”

Cole Krutzfeldt finished fifth, while Matthew Tran placed sixth. Krutzfeldt was a two-time Montana state champion that moved to Iowa this year. Moore said he wanted to test himself against tougher competition before heading to University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and concluded his season 44-6.

“We’re proud of him,” Moore said. “He had a fun year.”

Pierce and Tran highlight talented returners and some young wrestlers show promise.

“I'm excited for next year,” Moore said. “We've got a really good squad coming back and a good group of eighth-graders.”

Linn-Mar was the next highest team finisher, placing 20 th. The Lions’ Malik DeBow (126) placed third and 175-pounder Philip Jacobs finished seventh.

DeBow closed his tournament, avenging two previous including the quarterfinal setback Thursday. He edged Pleasant Valley’s Carter Siebel, 4-3, for third. It came on the heels of his 4-1 sudden-victory decision over Ankeny’s Truman Folkers.

“ It means so much to me,” DeBow said. “I try not to let a score become personal but when he beat me in the quarterfinals, it was kind of my mission that I’m going to get the next best thing. So, that was my mission and I came and did it the last two days. It feels great.”

DeBow (36-4) joined elite Linn-Mar company, becoming the eighth four-time medalist. The others include Jay Borschel, Matt McDonough, Alijah Jeffery, Ross Lembeck, Matt Wempen, Tate and Kane Naaktgeboren.

“Going into high school my only goal was to somehow get a medal at state,” DeBow said. “To do it four times, it's pretty magical. It's a surreal feeling to be in a class with those guys.

“I couldn't have done it without the great coaching staff we have. I believe we have some of the best coaches in the state and they put in so much work and so much time to help us get better.”

Like Linn-Mar, Iowa City High had two placewinners in Kendall Kurtz and Raphael Etuma (6 th at 215).

Kurtz capped his career with a win. He rebounded with two wins Saturday, following a semifinal loss a day earlier.

“This whole year I've been telling myself no matter if you win or lose always do your best,” the Little Hawk 120-pounder said. “When I came off the mat (Friday), it sucked. I had the whole day to recover. I used it for motivation for the first match.

“That last match was just to have fun. My last match of my career in high school, so I just wanted to have fun and not regret anything.”

Kurtz (40-6) matched his seed with an 8-0 major decision over Southeast Polk’s Mat Prine. The last win was gratifying.

“It was pretty amazing,” Kurtz said. “They've had that kid ranked above me the whole year. The whole time I've been telling myself that he's not better than me, and then I go out there and don't give him a single point. Makes it feel better that I destroyed him and dominated him the whole match instead of just winning by one takedown.”

Cedar Rapids Prairie produced three medalists. Sophomore 106-pounder Chase Watkinson led the way. He handled Johnston’s Isaac Beirman, 10-2, for fifth.

“I was thinking one more match, finish out strong and trust in my abilities,” Watkinson said. “I felt like I didn’t trust my abilities in my semifinal and consolation semifinal matches. I was wrestling safe and focused too much on what they do.”

Watkinson finished 50-5 and took a step, reaching the podium in his first trip. He was getting back to work to make a bigger jump for next season.

“Keep moving forward,” Watkinson said. “Keep working toward my goal of winning a state title and it will get there.”

Dylan Munson (113) was sixth and Louden Bloxham (175) placed seventh for the Hawks.

Western Dubuque’s duo of Joe Hirsch (157) and Brady Rissman (150) reached the podium. Hirsch was fifth, while Rissman took seventh. Iowa City Liberty’s Landon Bell (175) grabbed his first medal, placing fifth at 175. Clear Creek Amana’s Nolan Howell was fifth at 144, improving his seventh-place performance last year.

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