Iowa City High’s Kendall Kurtz rides momentum toward Class 3A boys’ state wrestling tournament

CEDAR RAPIDS – Iowa City High Kendall Kurtz listens to a specific playlist before each match.

He relies on the music to block out the noise, get his mind focused and follow the beat to help loosen and warmup his body. The same style and order from start to finish before taking the mat.

“It’s mostly rap,” Kurtz said. “I like moving to the beat and feeling myself. That’s how I keep my feet moving.”

Whether it’s the tunes, the routine or his mentality, Kurtz has been on a tear the last month and continued the success into the postseason. Fourth-ranked Kurtz defeated Dubuque Hempstead’s No. 7 Mitchell Pins for his 19 th straight victory and the 120-pound title Saturday at the Class 3A district boys’ wrestling tournament at Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

“Just mentally, he is believing he’s a butt-kicker,” Connell said. “Instead of going out there and hoping to win, he’s going out there and expecting to win. Wrestling to win and score points in bushels

“He’s majoring and tech-falling people that have beat him. It is pretty unreal what he’s done this season.”

The decisive 12-3 major over Pins in the final was indicative of the progress. The win streak started nearly a month ago with a four-point decision in their dual, which was his first ever win against Pins. Kurtz scored two takedowns in the first two periods and added two turns to pull away in the third.

“I’m just wrestling through every position,” Kurtz said. “That’s how I beat him today. He got in deep a few times and I just keep wrestling.”

Kurtz (36-5) has been a point-scoring machine, posting 17 technical falls. He also has 27 bonus-point, notching his third major decision to go with seven falls.

Connell said Kurtz used to have a penchant for slow starts and furious comebacks. Now, he’s more consistent with early scores, in addition to wrestling well at the end.

“He's not starting behind,” Connell said. “He's starting he start the match strong, and then he's finishing the match strong. He's a great condition. He's a fighter. He knows how to battle. Nobody knows how to fight and battle more than him.”

Kurtz finished eighth at state last season. He stumbled after his first loss. Kurtz said he wants to have a stronger performance and stand on a higher step of the podium in Des Moines.

“I want to stay focused the whole time,” Kurtz said. “Get the next best thing whatever it is. I just want it.”

City High’s Donovan Gipson (138), Mason Tilley (175), Raphael Etuma at 215 and heavyweight Kane Willey also won titles. No. 8 Etuma scored seven points in the final period to edge Hempstead’s No. 7 Camden Smith, 7-5. Gipson used a third-period reversal to knock off North Scott’s No. 10 Will McDermott, 2-1.

“I’m very proud of him,” Connell said. “I mean he's a great kid. He's worked hard for it. The same thing for him. He's starting to believe in himself, coming into his own. He’s figuring himself out as a wrestler. He’s finding out he’s a pretty damn good wrestler.”

City High advanced nine to the state tournament, beginning Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena. Clear Creek Amana led all teams with 11 qualifiers for the second straight season. North Scott had 10 qualifiers.

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The Clippers were led by champions Cale Nash (132), Nolan Howell (144) and Trace Robertson at 150. All three had bonus-point wins in the finals. Nash, CCA’s all-time wins leader, recorded by major decision, Howell by technical fall and Robertson won by pin.

Jefferson managed one qualifier. Heavyweight Anthony Snodey placed second to advance.

CLASS 3A DISTRICT

At C.R. Jefferson

Teams (State qualifiers in parentheses) – 1. North Scott 220.5 (10), 2. Clear Creek Amana 209 (11), 3. Iowa City High 174.5 (9), 4. Dubuque Hempstead 143 (8), 5. Fort Madison 79.5 (1), 6. Burlington 43.5 (2), 7. C.R. Jefferson 39 (1), 8. Dubuque Senior (0), 9. Davenport West (0)

State qualifiers

106 pounds – 1. Abe Heysinger (DH), 2. Braxton Hutchinson (Bur), 3. Cole Kasparek (CCA); 113 – 1. James Fuller (FM), 2. Maxwell Davis (NS), 3. Ike Heysinger (DH); 120 – 1. Kendall Kurtz (ICH), 2. Mitchell Pins (DH), 3. Jose Mendiata (CCA); 126 – 1. Elijah Hyet (DH), 2. Chase Williams (ICH), 3. Malachi Clement (CCA); 132 – 1. Cale Nash (CCA), 2. Mitchell Murphy (DH), 3. Collin Kruse (NS); 138 – 1. Donovan Gipson (ICH), 2. Will McDermott (NS), 3. Jay Halverson (CCA); 144 – 1. Nolan Howell (CCA), 2. Kepler Carmichael (NS), 3. Garren Christiansen (DH); 150 – 1. Trace Robertson (CCA), 2. Evan Ralfs (NS), 3. Laith Alawneh (ICH); 157 – 1. Cole Green (NS), 2. Adrian Perez-Hall (Bur), 3. Ben Haughey (CCA); 165 – 1. Ben Lightle (NS), 2. Aidan Schrock (CCA), 3. Marshall Sheldon (ICH); 175 – 1. Mason Tilley (ICH), 2. Clayton Isham (CCA), 3. Peyce McCoy (DH); 190 – 1. Trey Feist (NS), 2. Dylan Schrock (CCA), 3. Blaine Heick (ICH); 215 – 1. Raphael Etuma (ICH), 2. Camden Smith (DH), 3. Jayce Tippet (NS); Hwt. – 1. Kane Willey (ICH), 2. Anthony Snodey (CRJ), 3. Bryce Stewart (NS)

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