Iowa City West’s Diego Robertty, Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Louden Bloxham reach Class 3A state wrestling finals

DES MOINES – Revenge is sweet.

When it renders a trip to the state finals, it tastes a little sweeter.

Iowa City West freshman phenom Diego Robertty scored a takedown and ride out in the final 37 seconds for an 11-9 decision over West Des Moines Dowling’s No. 2 Jack Wallukait in the 113-pound semifinals of the Class 3A state wrestling tournament Friday night at Casey’s Center. Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Louden Bloxham also advanced to Saturday’s championship bouts.

Robeertty is an age-level national champion but this opportunity is special.

“This is a new feeling because you see the fans, you see the atmosphere, you (hear) the noise, and it's just a different atmosphere,” Robertty said. “The popularity in this event, the opinions, I mean none of that really matters, but it definitely gives it way more relevance to this tournament.”

Wallukait handed Robertty his lone loss of the season. Robertty, who was seeded one spot back of Wallukait, avenged a 9-6 decision on Dec. 13 to face Waukee Northwest’s Carew Christensen.

“It's very important,” said Robertty, who pinned Christensen at State Duals, “because that helps me really build off my confidence for that last match when I'm on that big stage, Saturday night.”

The matches have been closer with each round. He had two tough out wins in the last two round, eclipsing a late one-point deficit. He demonstrated the clutch gene and credited it to his workouts.

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“I am used to that,” Robertty said. “The coaches in my wrestling room always push me to my limit. Then, after that, you got to get those three, that one that's takedown at the end of practice. I definitely went back to that and I grabbed that moment.”

Robertty, the son of two Venezuelan Olympic wrestlers, has immense talent. He has also made improvements, dominating most of his opponents before the quarterfinals.

“He's a work in progress, like everybody,” West Coach Nate Moore said. “He put together a really good season, and right now it's just going out and getting a W. That’s all that really matters at this point. Just finishing it off.”

The finish was good and the start was fast, setting the early pace with two takedowns in the first 40 seconds. He added a reversal as time ran out in the next period and the decisive score in the final minute.

“If you look at the whole match, I think he pretty much scored throughout the whole thing,” Moore said. “I think Diego wrestled hard the whole match. He went out and scored points, and that's what we told him to do.

“He’s young, and maybe button up a couple of little things, but for the most part, he went out and took care of business.”

Bloxham entered the tournament as the No. 6 seed but wasn’t going to settle for anything less than wrestling on Saturday. He has aspired to reach this point since he was a youth, lacing up his first pair of wrestling shoes.

“The emotions are really getting to me, right now,” Bloxham said. “I get to wrestle Saturday night. I can’t compare it to anything. This has been my dream for ever. It’s amazing. I’m loving it.”

Bloxham gutted out another close match for a 4-2 decision over Fort Dodge’s Jesse Egli. The match was scoreless after Bloxham tough after Bloxham tough rideout in the second. He notched a takedown for a four-point lead, giving up a meaningless penalty point and escapee in the final seconds.

“it comes from wanting to get the job done,” said Bloxham, who has an injured foot that will require surgery after the season. “I have an amazing coaching stuff that pushes me every day to the best of my ability. It makes me good.

“If I have to crawl, I'll crawl to get my goals. I'll do anything to get what I want.”

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Bloxham is Prairie’s first state finalist since Blake Gioimo in 2022. Interestingly, it’s first state final at any level for Bloxham. He picked a perfect time to add it to his wrestling resume.

“It’s always been my goal to win a state championship,” Bloxham said. “I've never made the finals before in any State tournament. The highest I've ever gone was third. I was in like eighth grade. It feels good to get this done my senior year, especially when I'm the most banged up in my life.”

West’s Alexander Pierce was attempting to become a four-time state finalist. He took a 47-0 record into his 126-pound semifinal against Lewis Central’s Weston Porter. The Titans junior spoiled Pierce’s finals hopes, rolling through a throw and coming out on top for a takedown and 4-1 decision in sudden victory.

“He's not the first person that it's happened to and I haven't really had a chance to talk to him yet, but the sun's going to rise tomorrow,” Moore said. “We'll see who Alex Pierce is tomorrow.”

Linn-Mar’s Barrett Mieras and Iowa City Liberty’s Landon Bell faced the top two seeds at 175. Carlisle’s top-seeded Jaxon Miller defeated Mieras, 13-7, in the semifinal. Bell lost to Ankeny Centennial’s No. 2 Maximus Dhabolt, 19-4.

Bell became a two-time state medalist for the Lightning. He was a standout football player for Liberty’s state runner-up football team and suffered an injury that plagued him throughout this season. It was his first loss in 11 matches.

“He’s as fine as a young man that I have ever met,” Liberty Coach Fred Lima said. “To watch how he got through practice every day and got the most out of himself, considering the adversity he had. I’m not making excuses. That was a tough wrestling match against a tough kid, but you go to war with a man like that (Bell). He’ll be back. He’ll get there.”

Western Dubuque’s Joe Hirsch also reached the semifinals, falling to Johnston’s No. 2 Parker Casey, 14-1. Hirsch is assured of a top-six finish.

Fort Dodge’s Dreshaun Ross will wrestle for a fourth state title. He posted a 21-6 technical fall over Pleasant Valley’s Cary Cox in the 285-pound semifinal.

Southeast Polk leads the team race with 184 points. Bettendorf is a distant second with 125 1/2, 5 1/2 ahead of third-place Indianola.

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