3 Gazette area stars from Day 1 of the 2024 Iowa high school boys’ state wrestling tournament

DES MOINES — Three stars from The Gazette area on the first day of the Iowa high school boys’ state wrestling tournament:

Kendall Kurtz, Iowa City High

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The Class 3A 14th-seeded 113-pounder pinned Carlisle’s No. 3 Aiden Serrano in 4:36. Kurtz built a 6-2 lead before the fall.

Kellen McKenna, Western Dubuque

McKenna, a freshman seeded ninth at 106 in Class 3A, won both of his matches by pin Thursday. He pinned Bettendorf’s Hudson Fleming and Spencer No. 8 Connor Stickrod in a combined time of 2:52.

Brenden Heying, Benton Community

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The junior 165-pounder posted the third-fastest technical fall in Class 2A Thursday. The No. 4 seed needed just 3:43 to beat Kyler Crow, of Mediapolis, 15-0.

Complete state wrestling coverage from Day 1

• Class 3A roundup and results

• Class 2A roundup and results

• Class 1A roundup and results

• State wrestling notebook

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com