Iowa high school boys’ wrestling 2023-24: Gazette area individuals to watch

Here are 18 Gazette-area individuals to keep an eye on during the 2023-24 Iowa high school boys’ wrestling season.

Justin Avila, Iowa City West, jr., Two-time state qualifier, placed fourth at 170 in 3A state tournament in 2022, second-team all-MVC.

Nathan Beitz, Maquoketa Valley, jr., Placed third at 195 at 2023 1A state tournament with a 38-4 record, Tri-Rivers Conference tournament champion.

Brayden Bohnsack, Union Community, jr., 2A 106-pound state champion with 46-5 record last season, two-time state medalist, placing eighth at 113 in 2022, NICL champion.

Gavin Bridgewater, South Tama, sr., Two-time state medalist, placing third at 195 with 39-2 record last season after a 2A state runner-up finish at 220 in 2022, Wamac Conference champion and two-time conference finalist.

Colin Falck, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, sr., Placed sixth at 160 of the 3A state tournament with 39 wins, MVC Super Meet and district runner-up, first-team all-Metro last season, second-team all-MVC as a sophomore.

Cody Fox, East Buchanan, sr., Three-time state medalist, Placed sixth at heavyweight with a 35-4 mark in 1A state meet, finished fourth in 2022 and seventh as a freshman, two-time Tri-Rivers Conference tournament finalist, signed to play football at University of Iowa.

Jace Hedeman, Union Community, jr., Two-time 2A state champion, won 113-pound title with 48-0 record last season, claimed 106 title as a freshman, NICL tournament champion, owns 94-0 career mark.

Collin Holm, South Winneshiek, sr., 1A state finalist at 138 with a 40-2 record last season, 2022 Upper Iowa Conference champion.

Jackson Jaspers, Mount Vernon, sr., Three-time state medalist, Placed fifth at 145 in 2A last season with 43-5 record, Finished fourth at 138 as a sophomore and seventh at 132 in 2021, Wamac Conference champion, owns 117-25 career record.

Jase Jaspers, Mount Vernon, soph., 2A state runner-up at 126 pounds with a 41-5 record last season, Wamac Conference titlist.

Grant Kress, Linn-Mar, sr., Two-time state medalist, 2023 3A state finalist at 152 with a 36-4 mark, placed seventh at 145 as a sophomore, first-team all-Metro, first-team all-MVC.

Kael Kurtz, Iowa City High, sr., Three-time state medalist, placed fourth at 132 last season, going 38-7, fourth at 126 as a sophomore, finished seventh at 106 as a freshman, first-team all-MVC.

Keaton Moeller, Starmont, soph., Placed third at 145 in 1A state tournament with 39-3 record as a freshman, Tri-Rivers Conference champion, recorded 20 pins, a technical fall and five major decisions.

Kane Naaktgeboren, Linn-Mar, sr., Three-time state medalist, 3A 138 state runner-up with 37-3 record last season, third at 132 in 2022 and fifth at 120 as a freshman, Junior Greco-Roman All-American, first-team all-MVC, first-team all-Metro, signed to wrestler at Iowa State.

Rowdy Neighbor, Alburnett, jr., Two-time state medalist, 1A state runner-up at 113 with a 47-3 as a sophomore, placed eighth at state in 2022, Tri-Rivers Conference champion.

Alexander Pierce, Iowa City West, soph., 3A 106 state champion with a 42-2 record last season, first-team all-MVC, finished last season ranked No. 15 nationally by Wrestling USA.

Cale Seaton, Iowa City High, sr., 3A state champion at 126, three-time state medalist, placed third at 120 as a sophomore and 113 as a freshman, first-team all-MVC, Cadet folkstyle All-American.

Brent Yonkovic, West Delaware, jr., Two-time state qualifier, placed fifth as a freshman, two-time Wamac Conference champion.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com