K.J. Pilcher

Each of his first two seasons, Alburnett’s Preston Klostermannwas forced to settle for second the opening weekend of the season. Not this time. Klostermann tallied four pins in the two-day competition, including a third-period fall over Clear Creek Amana’s Ryker Jones, to claim the 144-pound title Saturday at the Cliff Keen Independence Invitational.

Zach Glazier secured the victory for the second straight dual, Bradley Hill capped Friday night with his own decision and the Iowa men’s wrestling team downed Penn, 22-13, at The Palestra in Philadelphia.

Linn-Mar’s Grant Kress has dedicated his time to wrestling, working on his own skills and improving by helping with the program’s youth club. The Lions’ second-ranked 157-pounder opened the season with a pin, but No. 13 Dubuque Hempstead topped No. 5 Linn-Mar, 37-36, on tiebreak criteria.

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.