K.J. Pilcher

Cedar Rapids Xavier broke open the boys’ wrestling dual with seven straight wins and topped Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 52-14, Thursday night at Ron Thillen Gymnasium. Kennedy won the girls’ dual, 72-6.

University of Iowa’s Drake Ayala said he was destined to be a wrestler and than wrestling is in his family’s blood. They have been by side through the good and the bad. Now, he is reunited with his brother, Dru, on the Hawkeyes roster.

The Pinning Combination podcast with The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher and Dick Briggs discusses Iowa’s win over Wisconsin and the upcoming dual with No. 9 Illinois. They also talk about UNI men and Iowa women winning NWCA titles, Iowa State’s lineup and high school results from last weekend and Saturday’s tournaments.

Here are The Gazette’s third 2024-25 installment of area high school boys’ wrestling individual rankings.

Iowa City High lost a lot of talent from last season due to graduation. In what could have been a rebuilding season, Little Hawks have worked hard and stepped in the lineup, experience success this season.

Hawkeye Wrestling Club’s Olympic silver medalist announced Monday that he will wrestle Japan World champion Masanosuke Ono in Flowrestling Feb. 26 at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Iowa men dominate, UNI men and Iowa women win NWCA National Duals and more in the Wrestling Weekend That Was.

Second-ranked Iowa dominated Wisconsin in the Big Ten Conference opening dual Sunday. The Hawkeyes won all 10 bouts, including seven bonus-point victories, in a 45-0 shutout.

Benton Community’s Class 2A second-ranked Brenden Heying defeated Anamosa’s No. 3 Austin Scranton and West Delaware’s No. 4 Brent Yonkovic to claim the 190-pound title at the Bobcat Jerry Eckenrod Invitational on Saturday.

Ben Kueter and Gabe Arnold were standout high school wrestlers, finishing their final seasons together at Iowa City High. They saw limited action during their redshirt seasons with University of Iowa. Now, they are redshirt freshman wrestling for the Hawkeyes.

Evan Pulis wrestled behind a state qualifier, a state medalist and a state champion during his first three years at Linn-Mar. As a senior, he is making the most of his first and final season as a full-time starter. He had one of six pins for the Lions in a 49-25 dual win over Western Dubuque.

NCAA Division I programs will compete in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Multi-Divisional Duals for the first time since 2011. University of Northern Iowa will host the two-day event that includes men’s and women’s teams from NCAA Division I, II and III and NAIA.

Here are The Gazette’s second 2024-25 installment of area high school boys’ wrestling individual rankings.

The Pinning Combination podcast with The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher and hall of fame coach Dick Briggs welcomes the “Voice of College Wrestling” Tim Johnson

The first Iowa High School Athletic Association released its first dual rankings on Jan. 2. Williamsburg went 19-0 in the first half of the season and was voted No. 1 in Class 2A.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy senior Brent Bercerra missed last season due to injury. He is focused to utilize every moment of this season. Becerra posted a comeback win in the Cougars’ 44-27 dual win over Newton.