K.J. Pilcher

Linn-Mar’s Kane Naaktgeboren is a three-time state medalist, returning from a runner-up finish last season. He has prepared for one more shot to climb to the top of the state podium.

Here are 18 Gazette-area individuals to keep an eye on during the 2023-24 Iowa high school boys’ wrestling season.

Here are eight Gazette-area teams to keep an eye on during the 2023-24 Iowa high school boys’ wrestling season.

No. 4 Iowa won six matches, including three straight from 174 to 197 that seal the victory, and defeated No. 8 Iowa State, 18-14, in front of 14,267 fans Sunday at Hilton Coliseum. The Hawkeyes earned their 19th straight win over the Cyclones.

Here are five key items for Sunday’s Cy-Hawk Series dual as No. 8-ranked Iowa State hosts No. 4 Iowa at 2 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum (ESPN).

Iowa’s Drake Ayala stepped in as the 125-pound starter his first season. He qualified for the NCAA tournament and redshirted last year. He learned more about himself and is back as the Hawkeyes’ starting 125-pounder. He has a key matchup in the Iowa-Iowa State dual Sunday.

The Cy-Hawk Series will become the first regular-season college wrestling dual televised live on ESPN. Fourth-ranked Iowa will look to win a 19th straight dual against No. 8 Iowa State, which has one of its best shots at a victory in recent years.

The Pinning Combination podcast returns for the 2023-24 season talking all things wrestling in Iowa. This episode analyzes early impressions of the Iowa, Iowa State and Northern Iowa teams, previews Sunday’s Cy-Hawk dual and looks at some initial storylines in D-II, D-III and high school girls’ wrestling.

After more than six months away from competition, Spencer Lee looked strong, winning the the 125.5-pound title at the Bill Farrell Memorial International men’s freestyle tournament and qualifying for the Olympic Team Trials in April.

Gabe Arnold wanted to make a statement in his home debut. Arnold’s result spoke volumes, beating No. 11 Travis Wittlake, 4-2, in third-ranked Iowa’s 25-11 victory over No. 16 Oregon State Sunday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.

Brennan Swafford won two NAIA championships before transferring to Iowa for the 2021-2022 wrestling season. He has bided his time and has seen action at 184 pounds. Swafford is listed in Iowa’s probable lineup against Oregon State Sunday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Seven Coe football players returned for a fifth season, afforded to them by the 2020 COVID-disrupted year, and the decision was rewarded by Coe’s first trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time since 2016. The Kohawks (9-1) earned one of four at-large bids to the 32-team field and face No. 12 Aurora (Ill.) University on the road Saturday at noon in the first round.

Fourth-ranked MFL MarMac played for a state football title for the first time in school history. No. 1 Grundy Center dominated its way to a second straight crown with a 42-0 victory over the Bulldogs for the Class 1A crown Thursday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

Iowa and Iowa State athletics have been the focus of a sports wagering investigation. The NCAA announced one-year suspensions and loss of eligibility for student athletes that bet on teams at their school. Iowa wrestling coach Tom Brands said the right questions aren’t being asked of the right people involved in the probe.

There’s one week left in the Iowa high school football season. We talk about what to expect in the seven state championship games and what happened in last week’s semifinals on this episode of the Prep Football Huddle podcast.