2024-25 high school boys’ wrestling: Gazette-area wrestlers and teams to watch

WRESTLERS TO WATCH

Alexander Pierce, jr., Iowa City West, Two-time state finalist, placing second at 113 with 35-2 record last season and winning the Class 3A 106-pound state title in 2023, first-team all-Mississippi Valley Conference, owns 77-4 career record, University of Virginia commit.

Jace Hedeman, sr., Union Community, Two-time state champion and three-time finalist, placed second at 126 last season with 44-2 record, won 2A state titles at 106 and 113, two-time North Iowa Cedar League champion, posted 138-2 career mark, University of Northern Iowa commit.

Brayden Bohnsack, sr., Union Community, Two-time state champion and three-time medalist, claimed 2A 113-pound title with 42-4 mark last season, won 106 crown in 2023 and placed eighth as a freshman, 2022 NICL tournament champion, owns 129-17 career record, Air Force commit.

Jase Jaspers, jr, Mount Vernon, Two-time state finalist, placing second at 126 as a freshman and 128 last season with a 40-4 record, two-time Wamac Conference finalist and 2023 champion, 81-9 career record.

Austin Scranton, jr., Anamosa, 2A 175-pound state champion with 49-0 record last season, placed sixth at state at 170 in 2023, two-time River Valley Conference tournament champion, produced 140-10 career record.

Rowdy Neighbor, sr., Alburnett, 1A 120-pound state champion with 53-2 mark, two-time state finalist and three-time state medalist, finished second at 113 in 2023 and eighth at 106 as a freshman, owns 141-20 career record.

Brock Morris, sr., Cascade, 1A 126-pound state runner-up, two-time state qualifier, placing fourth at 106 as a freshman, River Valley Conference tournament champion and two-time finalist, has 119-20 career mark.

Malik DeBow, sr., Linn-Mar, Three-time state medalist, placed fifth in 3A at 120 last season, going 34-4, placed fifth at 113 in 2023 and seventh at 106 as a freshman, two-time Mississippi Valley Conference champion, owns 97-26 career record.

Preston Klostermann, sr., Alburnett, Three-time state medalist, placed fourth in 1A at 138 last season with 53-5 record, finished fifth at 126 at 2023 state meet and sixth at 120 as a freshman, Tri-Rivers Conference champion, enters season with 135-21 career mark.

Nathan Beitz, sr., Maquoketa Valley, Two-time state qualifier, placing third at 190 with a 46-3 record and third at 195 in 2023, two-time Tri-Rivers Conference titlist, owns 107-21 career record.

Brenden Heying, sr., Benton Community, Two-time state medalist and three-time qualifier, placed fourth at 165 in 2A with 40-3 record last season, finished sixth at 152 in 2023, Wamac Conference champion and three-time finalist, 2024 USA Wrestling Greco-Roman All-American, 114-15 career record.

Brent Yonkovic, sr., West Delaware, Two-time state medalist and three-time qualifier, placed third at 175 in 2A, going 42-3 last season, placed fifth at 138 as a freshman, three-time Wamac Conference champion, owns 105-16 career mark.

Dylan Munson, sr., C.R. Prairie, Two-time state medalist, placed sixth at 106 in 3A with 39-6 record last season, finished seventh as a sophomore, MVC tournament champion, state Greco-Roman and freestyle state champion, owns 97-26 career varsity record.

Justin Avila, sr., Iowa City West, Two-time state medalist and three-time qualifier, placed fifth at 150 in 3A, going 37-5 last season, finished fourth at 170 as a freshman, first-team all-MVC and MVC tournament champion, 106-26 career mark.

Jean Ngoma, sr., C.R. Xavier, Placed seventh at 215 in 3A, posting 39-11 record last season, first-team all-MVC and second-team all-Metro.

Aaron Boone, sr., Washington (Iowa), Two-time state medalist, placed fourth at 132 in 2A with a 46-3 record, finished fifth at 120 as a sophomore, owns 136-13 career mark.

Tiernan Boots, sr., Lisbon, Two-time state medalist and three-time qualifier, placed fourth at 144 in 1A with 50-5 mark, was fifth at 132 as a freshman, Tri-Rivers Conference champion and three-time finalist, owns 130-27 career record.

Ayden Bergman, jr., Jesup, Two-time state medalist, placing third at 106 in 1A with 48-4 record, finished seventh at 113 at 2023 state meet, NICL tournament titlist, posted 87-16 career mark.

Cale Nash, sr., Clear Creek Amana, Three-time 3A state qualifier, finished seventh at 120 with 48-6 record, two-time Wamac Conference champion and three-time finalist, 123-25 career record.

Jordan Schmidt, sr., Solon, Two-time 2A state medalist and three-time qualifier, placed fifth at 138, going 48-8, finishes seventh at 132 in 2023, enters season with 120-39 career record.

TEAMS TO WATCH

CLASS 3A

Clear Creek Amana: The Clippers produced a banner season for the program, qualifying 11 wrestlers for state, finishing runner-up at the Wamac Conference tournament and a regional dual appearance. CCA returns seven with state experience, including medalists Cale Nash and Nolan Howell, and has some young talent. They will have a balanced lineup, even with some early-season injuries. The Clippers have the potential to improve on the strong accomplishments from last season.

Iowa City West: The Trojans return five qualifiers and the most points (44) than any area Class 3A team. West has hammers in Alexander Pierce and Justin Avila. Matthew Tran showed moments of being a top performer. Add in Cole Krutzfeldt, who was a Montana state champion, with all-conference competitors Campbell Janis, Charlie Barnhouse and Sterling Warren. The Trojans have a good nucleus to be a solid dual team and the point scoring ability to do well in tournaments.

Linn-Mar: A new era has begun for the program. Linn-Mar has been one of the most consistent programs in the area under former coach Doug Streicher. Longtime Lions assistants Ryan Gotto and Beau Westpfahl hold the reins of a team that graduated half last season’s lineup. Plenty of talent is back, including state qualifiers Malik DeBow, Aidan Ehlinger, Barrett Mieras and Philip Jacobs. Hudson Turner and Noah Howk-Erwin are among six other letterwinners. Linn-Mar has some wrestlers ready to break through and solidify a strong lineup.

CLASS 2A

Anamosa: The Blue Raiders posted a 10 th-place finish at the 2A traditional state tournament. They have four state qualifiers, who account for 55 state points coming back. State champion Austin Scranton and third-place Hudson Scranton lead Anamosa. Miken Wheeler and Ayden Antonelli give them a strong quartet capable of scoring a lot of points in tournament competition. The Blue Raiders need more balance and competitive wrestlers at each weight. The elements to produce a good finish are there.

Mount Vernon: The Mustangs were state runners-up at the 2A traditional state tournament and fourth at the State Duals. Six state qualifiers, including medalists Jase Jaspers, Mikey Ryan and Ethan Wood return. Three are back with more than 40 wins, two more reached at least 33 wins and seven total surpassed 20 wins. The Mustangs have it all talent, experience, depth and balance. If they continue to develop less experienced starters, they have a shot of a title sweep in February.

Union Community: The Knights are loaded with top-end talent that finished third at the 2A state meet. Jace Hedeman and Brayden Bohnsack are both two-time state champions. Sophomore Coy Mehlert placed fifth at state and as a Fargo All-American, while Kaydin Jones returns as a state medalist. They account for 70 state points. They return 10 letterwinners and will fill the lineup out with athletes newer to the sport. Union will be tough in tournaments immediately and could grow into a good dual team.

West Delaware: The Hawks took a step back after a successful stretch but still placed 17 th at the traditional state tournament and made another State Duals appearance. West Delaware brings back six state qualifiers, including third-place Brent Yonkovic and senior Jax Miller. Jake Voss has replaced his dad, Jeff, as head coach, so it will be interesting to compare the results. The Hawks’ tradition will allow them to reload, build around the returners and compete with the area’s best in 2A.

CLASS 1A

Alburnett: The Pirates were second at the 1A state traditional tournament and the State Duals, finishing behind perennial power Don Bosco. Alburnett is stacked with almost all of its lineup back from last season. The Pirates return 10 qualifiers, seven state medalists and a whopping 137 points. The Pirates have one of the toughest teams, regardless of class. They could be even better by filling some upper weight holes and infusing some younger or inexperienced wrestlers into the lineup.

Jesup: The J-Hawks are a wrestling school now. They earned that moniker with its best season ever in 2023-24. Jesup placed fourth at the traditional state tournament and fifth at State Duals, losing to Don Bosco in the opening round and winning the next two. The J-Hawks also topped Union for the North Iowa Cedar League team title. Two-time state medalists Ayden Bergman and Cooper Hinz highlights five state qualifiers that return. Jesup has some holes to fill but has the potential for another good run.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com