Iowa high school boys’ wrestling 2022-23: Gazette area wrestlers to watch

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.

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.

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.

Don't miss weekly prep sports roundups

Prep Sports Newsletter Signup

Delivered to your inbox weekly

Rankings, highlights and commentary

Please wait...

Thank you for joining us.

You will begin to receive our weekly Prep Sports updates. Add nathan.ford@thegazette.com to your contacts.

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.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com