K.J. Pilcher

Iowa’s Zach Glazier has bided his time and is now making the most of his chance as the 197-pound starter. He is 7-0 overall and 3-0 in duals, entering No. 4 Iowa’s dual Friday at Penn.

Despite a knee injury and surgery that kept him from live wrestling for part of the season leading up to the Cy-Hawk series dual, Iowa’s Patrick Kennedy returned to the lineup and posted a key win.

The Pinning Combination podcast with Hall of Fame coach Dick Briggs talks all things wrestling in Iowa. This week, that’s a lot of Cy-Hawk talk after Iowa’s 18-14 dual win over Iowa State on Sunday. Plus, a class-by-class preview of the high school boys’ wrestling season.

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.