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Iowa high school boys’ wrestling 2022-23: Gazette area wrestlers to watch
4 state champions among senior class this winter

Nov. 28, 2022 5:01 pm, Updated: Nov. 29, 2022 5:09 pm
Linn-Mar's Tate Naaktgeboren wrestles Valley West Des Moines' Caleb Corbin in their 160-pound Class 3A championship bout at the prep wrestling state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. Naaktgeboren won 3-1. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Here are 16 Gazette-area wrestlers to keep an eye on during the 2022-23 Iowa high school boys’ wrestling season.
Gabe Arnold, Iowa City High, sr. — Ranked 12th pound-for-pound and fourth at 182 pounds nationally by FloWrestling.com, two-time prep school national champion for Wyoming Seminarian in Kingston, Pa., in 2020 and 2021, 16u national freestyle champion, University of Iowa signee.
Ben Kueter, Iowa City High, sr. — Junior World freestyle champion, ranked No. 3 pound-for-pound high school wrestler in the country by FloWrestling, three-time state titlist, Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division Athlete of the Year, 72-0 career record, winning 220-pound 3A crown with 37-0 mark last season, University of Iowa signee.
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Tate Naaktgeboren, Linn-Mar, sr. — Two-time state champion and three-time finalist, claimed 3A 170 title with 43-2 record last season, owns 94-5 career record, first-team all-MVC Mississippi, first-team all-Metro, ranked fifth nationally at 182 pounds by FloWrestling, Iowa State signee.
Brandon Paez, Lisbon, sr. — Two-time 120-pound state champion and three-time finalist, captured 1A title with 41-1 record, Tri-Rivers Conference champion and two-time finalist, 126-9 career record, UNI commit.
Jace Hedeman, Union Community, soph. — Class 2A 106-pound state champion with 46-0 record, NICL tournament champion, 2022 freestyle state champion, ranked first at 113 by IAwrestle.com.
Blake Gioimo, Cedar Rapids Prairie, sr. — Two-time state runner-up and three-time state qualifier, second at 113 in 3A with 37-1 record, first-team all-MVC Mississippi, first-team all-Metro, Iowa State signee.
⧉ Related article: Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Blake Gioimo made strides in the offseason to land prize catch in February
Cooper Sanders, Vinton-Shellsburg, sr. — 2A state runner-up at 145, Wamac Conference tournament champion, posted 40-2 record last season.
Gavin Bridgewater, South Tama, jr. — 2A state runner-up at 220, amassing a 40-7 record, Wamac Conference tournament finalist.
Cale Seaton, Iowa City High, jr. — Two-time 3A state medalist, placing third at 120 and 113 his first two seasons, posted 42-3 record last season, first-team all-MVC Mississippi, 2022 freestyle and Greco-Roman state champion, 2021 folkstyle All-American.
Kane Naaktgeboren, Linn-Mar, jr. — Two-time 3A state medalist placing fifth in 2021 and third at 132 with 42-2 record last season, Greco-Roman Junior Nationals All-American, first-team all-MVC Mississippi.
Jackson Jaspers, Mount Vernon, jr. — Two-time 2A state medalist, placing seventh as a freshman and fourth last season with 45-10 mark.
Cody Fox, East Buchanan, jr. — Two-time 1A state medalist, finishing seventh as a freshman and fourth at heavyweight with 38-3 record, Tri-River Conference tournament finalist, ranked No. 1 by IAwrestle.com
Carson Less, West Delaware, sr. — Two-time 2A state medalist and three-time qualifier, placed fifth at 120 last season with 45-5 record, owns 105-26 career mark, 120-pound Wamac Conference champion.
Brayden Parke, Linn-Mar, sr. — Placed third at 126 in 3A state tournament last season with 38-5 record, first-team all-MVC Mississippi, all-Metro selection.
Justin Avila, Iowa City West, soph. — Placed fourth at 170 in 3A state tournament with 30-12 record, second-team all-MVC Valley, ranked second at 160 by IAwrestle.com
Carson Klostermann, Alburnett, sr. — Two-time 1A state qualifier, placed third at 145 last season, 2022 Tri-Rivers Conference champion.
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