Iowa high school boys’ state wrestling 2023: Class-by-class breakdown, predictions

A class-by-class synopsis of the 2023 Iowa high school boys’ state wrestling tournament, which runs Wednesday through Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Class 3A synopsis

TOP QUALIFIERS

14 — Bettendorf

13 — Southeast Polk

12 — Ankeny Centennial, Johnston, Waverly-Shell Rock

11 — North Scott

10 — Carlisle, Cedar Rapids Prairie, Dallas Center-Grimes, Fort Dodge, Linn-Mar, Pleasant Valley, Waukee Northwest

GAZETTE AREA QUALIFIERS

10 — Cedar Rapids Prairie, Linn-Mar

9 — Iowa City High

8 — Clear Creek Amana

6 — Western Dubuque

4 — Iowa City Liberty, Iowa City West

3 — Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Cedar Rapids Washington, Cedar Rapids Xavier, Marion

1 — Cedar Rapids Jefferson

2022 TOP 3 TEAMS

1. Southeast Polk 160

2. Waukee Northwest 157

3. Waverly-Shell Rock 147

UNBEATEN QUALIFIERS

138 — Ryder Block (Waverly-Shell Rock, 41-0)

152 — Jacob Helgeson (Johnston, 39-0)

160 — Owen Helgeson (Johnston, 9-0), Danny Diaz (Waverly-Shell Rock, 20-0)

182 — Gabe Arnold (Iowa City High, 37-0)

220 — Ben Kueter (Iowa City High, 35-0), Jaxson Hildebrand (Denison-Schleswig, 41-0)

Hwt. — Maddux Borcherding-Johnson (Norwalk, 29-0), Carson Hagan (West Des Moines Dowling, 19-0)

OUTLOOK

Southeast Polk and Waverly-Shell Rock have combined to win the last four team titles and eight of the last 10. The rivalry between the two powerhouses should continue with both among the leaders in qualifiers. The Rams managed to break the Go-Hawks’ streak of three straight crowns last year. SEP has 10 seeded eighth or better, while WSR has seven. The Go-Hawks boast top-seeded Ryder Block (138), Bas Diaz (145) and McCrae Hagarty at 195. Danny Diaz (160) and heavyweight Jake Walker are seeded third, giving WSR a group of big point scorers. Bettendorf (2014) and Fort Dodge (2018) were the only other title teams during the last decade. The Bulldogs have the most qualifiers and a couple capable of wrestling Saturday night. They have the ability to win a trophy.

Iowa City High is compelling. The Little Hawks are sending nine experienced wrestlers down with most capable of reaching the podium. City High has top-seeded 126-pounder Cale Seaton, who returned from a late-season knee injury, Gabe Arnold (182) and Ben Kueter at 220. Kueter, who is going for his fourth title, will likely post bonus points through the bracket. They could be a top-four team. Linn-Mar has the balance to climb into the top five as well. The Lions have depth and wrestlers capable of wrestling on Saturday night, including state champion and second-seeded 182-pounder Tate Naaktgeboren, Kane Naaktgeboren at 138, Brayden Parke (132) and 152-pounder Grant Kress.

TEAM PREDICTIONS

1. Waverly-Shell Rock

2. Southeast Polk

3. Bettendorf

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPION PREDICTIONS

106 — Alexander Pierce, Iowa City West

113 — Jake Knight, Bettendorf

120 — Koufax Christensen, Waukee Northwest

126 — Cale Seaton, Iowa City High

132 — Carter Freeman, Waukee Northwest

138 — Ryder Block, Waverly-Shell Rock

145 — Bas Diaz, Waverly-Shell Rock

152 — Jace Anderson, Ankeny

160 — Josiah Schaetzle, Dubuque Hempstead

170 — Jacob Fistler, Dallas Center-Grimes

182 — Gabe Arnold, Iowa City High

195 — McCrae Hagarty, Waverly-Shell Rock

220 — Ben Kueter, Iowa City High

Hwt. — Maddux Borcherding-Johnson, Norwalk

Class 2A synopsis

TOP QUALIFIERS

10 — Osage, West Delaware

9 — Mount Vernon, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Winterset

8 — Creston, Glenwood

7 — Algona, Atlantic, Ballard, Clarion CGD, Crestwood, Williamsburg

GAZETTE AREA QUALIFIERS

10 — West Delaware

9 — Mount Vernon

7 — Williamsburg

5 — Anamosa, Independence, South Tama

4 — Solon, Vinton-Shellsburg, Washington (Iowa)

3 — Decorah, North Fayette Valley, Union Community, Waukon, West Liberty

2 — Benton Community, Monticello, Tipton

1 — Maquoketa, Mid-Prairie

UNBEATEN QUALIFIERS

113 — Jace Hedeman (Union Community, 44-0)

132 — Kale Petersen (Greene County, 38-0)

138 — McKinley Robbins (Greene County, 44-0)

145 — Tucker Stangel (Osage, 36-0), Kale Hansen (Monticello, 50-0)

152 — Isaiah Fenton (West Burlington/Notre Dame, 35-0)

160 — Jack Wajda (Spirit Lake Park, 12-0)

170 — Kellen Moore (Forest City, 41-0), Ethan DeLeon (Sioux City Heelan, 41-0)

182 — C.J. Walrath (West Burlington/Notre Dame, 52-0), Jarrett Roos (Sheldon/South O’Brien, 40-0)

195 — K.J. Fry (Clarke/Murray, 38-0, 195)

220 — Nick Reinicke (Dike-New Hartford, 41-0)

2022 TOP 3 TEAMS

1. West Burlington/Notre Dame 109

2. Osage 108 1/2

3. West Delaware 80 1/2

OUTLOOK

Class 2A has produced some of the closest team races in recent years, including a half-point win by West Burlington/Notre Dame over Osage last season. The Green Devils have been one of the top teams in the state regardless of class and style. They won the state duals title and didn’t shy away from declaring their goal of a championship sweep. Osage and West Delaware each have 10 qualifiers, while WBND only has six. The team race will once again come down to quantity versus quality. This time, Osage’s quality and quantity will be enough for it to host the title trophy. The Green Devils have seven wrestlers seeded fifth or better, including top-seeded Tucker Stangel (145) and Nicholas Fox at 170. The Nikes have four wrestlers seeded in the top two of their respective weight classes, including No. 1s Kaiden Dietzenbach (126) and C.J. Walrath (182). All but one WBND wrestler are seeded fifth or better.

West Delaware, Mount Vernon, Webster City and Sergeant Bluff-Luton could fill in from third to sixth in the standings. West Delaware has more balance and depth with the potential to place a lot on the podium. The Hawks’ top-seeded heavyweight Cam Geuther and sixth-seeded seniors Carson Less (120) and Will Ward at 195 lead the way. Keep an eye on Mount Vernon. The Mustangs have nine in the field and seeds aren’t indicative of the talent. Clark Younggreen, a top seed last year, has returned from a knee injury and is No. 5 at 220. He could make a deep run, which would boost the Mustangs.

TEAM PREDICTIONS

1. Osage

2. West Burlington/Notre Dame

3. West Delaware

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPION PREDICTIONS

106 — Carter West, West Burlington/Notre Dame

113 — Jace Hedeman, Union Community

120 — Carson Doolittle, Webster City

126 — Kaiden Dietzenbach, West Burlington/Notre Dame

132 — Kale Petersen, Greene County

138 — McKinley Robbins, Greene County

145 — Tucker Stangel, Osage

152 — Cooper Sanders, Vinton-Shellsburg

160 — Sir Brandon Watts, Sioux City Heelan

170 — Nick Fox, Osage

182 — C.J. Walrath, West Burlington/Notre Dame

195 — Gabriel Christensen, Ballard

220 — Jaxon Cherry, Webster City

Hwt. — Cam Geuther, West Delaware

Class 1A synopsis

TOP QUALIFIERS

13 — Nashua-Plainfield

11 — Don Bosco

10 — Wilton

9 — Alburnett, Lisbon

8 — Logan-Magnolia

7 — Emmetsburg, Wapsie Valley

6 — Belle Plaine, Hinton, Lake Mills, Sigourney-Keota, Treynor, Truro Interstate 35, Underwood, West Branch, West Hancock

GAZETTE AREA QUALIFIERS

9 — Alburnett, Lisbon

6 — Sigourney-Keota, West Branch

5 — Belle Plaine, Jesup

4 — Iowa City Regina, MFL MarMac, South Winneshiek

3 — Edgewood-Colesburg, Highland, Maquoketa Valley, North Tama, Starmont

2 — Dyersville Beckman, East Buchanan, Iowa Valley

1 — BGM, Clayton Ridge, Elkader Central, Midland, Montezuma, North Linn

UNBEATEN QUALIFIERS

120 — Brandon Paez (Lisbon, 49-0)

126 — Garrett Rinken (Nashua-Plainfield, 47-0)

152 — Kellen Smith (West Hancock, 44-0)

160 — Wyatt Reisz (Logan-Magnolia, 48-0), Dominic Lopez (New London, 54-0)

195 — Jackson Dewald (Sloan Westwood, 43-0)

Hwt. — Wyatt Smith (Lisbon, 47-0)

2022 TOP 3 TEAMS

1. Don Bosco 161 1/2

2. Lisbon 123

3. Logan-Magnolia 92

OUTLOOK

The team race could be interesting among the top four teams. Don Bosco is still the top choice to win its fifth straight traditional tournament team title. Like WSR and Osage, the Dons are looking for a state championship sweep. Don Bosco has top-seeded Jared Thiry at 220 and Kaiden Knaack (145) is the only other Don seeded in the top two. Eight Dons are projected to reach the awards stand, which will likely be enough to overcome Wilton’s and Alburnett’s balance and Lisbon’s power that could produce at least two champions. Wilton has tremendous depth with very competitive wrestlers. If the Beavers can push a couple to the finals, they could challenge the Dons. Nashua-Plainfield does have the most qualifiers and title contenders in top-seeded Jayden and Garrett Rinken at 106 and 126, respectively. The Huskies have the potential but may not get enough support from the rest of the qualifiers to crack the top four.

Top-seeded Brandon Paez (120) and heavyweight Wyatt Smith will fuel Lisbon, but its team placement will depend on how the rest finish. Wes Sadler is fourth at 106, Tiernan Boots is fifth at 138. The other Lions will have to wrestle well above their seeds, which they can. Alburnett matched Lisbon in qualifiers. The Pirates don’t have the same title favorites, but have the ability for a handful of medalists. Carson Klostermann is seeded second at 152, but don’t overlook the possibility of fourth-seeded Rowdy Neighbor (113) and No. 6 Brody Neighbor (138) making deep runs.

TEAM PREDICTIONS

1. Don Bosco

2. WIlton

3. Lisbon

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPION PREDICTIONS

106 — Jayden Rinken, Nashua-Plainfield

113 — Eli Becerra, Missouri Valley

120 — Brandon Paez, Lisbon

126 — Garrett Rinken, Nashua-Plainfield

132 — Gable Porter, Underwood

138 — Cael Bridgewater, North Linn

145 — Mikey Baker, West Sioux

152 — Carson Klostermann, Alburnett

160 — Dominic Lopez, New London

170 — Maximus Magayna, Waterloo Columbus

182 — Kaden Shirk, Wilton

195 — Jackson DeWald, Sloan Westwood

220 — Jared Thiry, Don Bosco

Hwt. — Wyatt Smith, Lisbon

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com