Starmont’s Keaton Moeller posts dominant return to Class 1A state wrestling tournament

DES MOINES – Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

For Keaton Moeller, it also serves as a source of appreciation and determination to make the most of each moment.

The Starmont senior reveled in another chance to take the mat at the Class 1A state wrestling tournament Thursday at Casey’s Center. Moeller pinned West Monona-Whiting’s Evan Carrier in one minute of the second round, making his first state appearance since winning a title as a sophomore.

“You don’t realize how much you miss it until it’s gone,” Moeller said. “It’s one of those things you take it for granted and it gets taken away from you, so you’re not appreciating it enough.”

Moeller placed third at this tournament as a freshman but was denied an opportunity to defend his title as a junior by a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the season-opening football game.

Moeller stepped to the edge of the circle with his back to center mat. He looked up for a brief moment, extended his arms and motioned upward before toeing the line. This instance was a longtime coming.

“To be honest, I don’t care much about the wins and losses in this tournament,” Moeller said. “Big things happen. Bad things happen. I want to give God the glory and let the rest happen.

“You don’t realize this tournament is just temporary. It lasts a couple days and then after that it’s over and you’re chasing the next thing.”

The sting of not competing did not keep Moeller from Des Moines. He still attended to support and even help tutor teammates. It was tough to watch wrestlers he beat get to compete for a title that could have been his. Moeller developed a new perspective and relied even more on his faith.

“I don’t think I’d be where I am right now without last year,” Moeller said. “Both mentally and physically. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Moeller improved to 40-0 this season, racking up three takedowns before turning Carrier and adjusting for the fall. He continued his mauling of opponents all year.

“It’s a mindset,” said Moeller, who was joined in the quarterfinals by 138-pounder Jax Tommasin. “You’ve got to have a mindset that you’re always trying to score points. You’re always trying to keep your feet moving, your hands moving. Just having fun out there. If I don’t smile before a match. I’m not doing what I normally do.”

Like Moeller, Jesup’s Ayden Bergman was a medalist his first two seasons and missed last year’s state tournament due to injury. He was successful in his return with an 18-3 technical fall over North Linn’s Jacob Rauch to reach the 120-pound quarterfinals.

Bergman was one of five J-Hawks to move to the quarterfinals. Jesup went 10-4 overall in the first day and advanced all of its qualifiers to Day 2. The J-Hawks finished in second with 42 points, 13 back of leader Don Bosco.

“We still have nine guys alive,” Jesup Coach Levi Vogel said. “The guys battled back to finish strong on the backside. We knew this was a tough tournament coming in. Each round gets a little tougher. We have to dig deep. Keep scoring points and keep winning on the backside one match at a time.”

The J-Hawks were boosted by 14 bonus points, including four pins and two technical falls.

“That’s how you separate yourself in the team race with bonus points, getting some tech falls and falls,” Vogel said. “We tell the boys you get a kid on their back we’ve got to put them away. Don’t give them any second opportunities.”

Iowa Valley and Lisbon each advanced three to the quarterfinals. The Tigers went 3-for-3 with wins from 150-pounder Chance Hoyt, his brother, Mason Hoyt, at 175 and Nolan Kriegel (190).

Mason opened his tournament a 10-1 decision over Jaxon Edwards, of Central Springs.

Chance was a medalist last season, placing fifth. Mason fell a win short of the podium. He missed a medal but gained a white-hot desire to earn his own hardware.

“It means a lot,” Hoyt said. “Last year, I didn’t quite get what I wanted. This year, I’m coming for it.

“I just have to stay on my shots, get to my things and I’ve just got to dominate.”

“It made everything like a fire,” Hoyt said. “Just burned brighter.”

Interestingly, the Hoyts and their sister, Skyler, are triplets. Skyler was a state qualifier for the 2025 Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union state tournament.

Wrestling is a family affair. This is a move the living room furniture, causing mom to yell for them to stop kind of thing.

“Wrestling is pretty much everything,” Hoyt said. “Coming from my older two brothers, qualifying for state, trying to follow after their footsteps and be better. We’ve always been a wrestling family.”

While the Hoyts have family to train with, South Winneshiek’s Kyle Kuboushek has the next best thing in teammate Landen Schnuelle. Teammates and buddies are also quarterfinalists.

“He’s my best friend,” Kuboushek said of Schnuelle. “We practice together almost every day. It’s awesome having a partner that’s the same level as you that can push you harder and harder every day.”

Kuboushek opened his final state tournament with a 17-2 technical fall over Southwest Valley’s Gavin Wetzel at 165. He scored three takedowns and seven nearfall points, ending it in a little more than three minutes.

“I knew coming into this tournament I needed get to my attacks,” Kuboushek said. “Just stay on my offense because that’s where I’m best.

“It felt good getting that first tech out of the way and get rid of the tournament nerves.”

Schnuelle, the 11th seed, blanked Dyersville Beckman’s No. 6 Cody Hageman, 6-0, at 175.

Kuboushek (51-3) became the second four-time state qualifier for the Warriors. He placed third last season and is the No. 1 seed. He has his sights set on wrestling Saturday night.

“That’s ultimately the goal,” Kuboushek said. “I feel like getting third left me hungry for more.”

Belle Plaine, Cascade, Dyersville Beckman, HLV, MFL MarMac, Midland, Montezuma and Sigourney-Keota each boasted a quarterfinalist.

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