Iowa high school wrestling state duals 2022: Schedule, predictions, class-by-class breakdown

Iowa high school state wrestling 2022: Schedule, predictions, class-by-class breakdown

Iowa City High’s Ben Kueter, Linn-Mar’s Tate Naaktgeboren, Iowa City West duo Robert Avila Jr. and Hunter Garvin, West Delaware’s Wyatt Voelker among group of returning state champs

K.J. Pilcher

Feb. 15, 2022 10:39 pm, Updated: Feb. 16, 2022 11:33 am

Iowa City High's Ben Kueter celebrates his win over Waverly-Shell Rock's Jake Walker in their 195-pound Class 3A championship bout at the prep wrestling state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. Kueter won 5-0. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Here is a breakdown of all three classes of the Iowa High School Athletic Association traditional state wrestling tournament, beginning Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Includes full schedule and TV and ticket information.

Class 3A

Top qualifiers: 14 — Waverly-Shell Rock, 12 — Waukee Northwest, 11 — North Scott, Southeast Polk, 10 — Linn-Mar, 8 — Iowa City West, West Des Moines Dowling, 7 — Ankeny, Ankeny Centennial, Bettendorf, Indianola

Area qualifiers: 10 — Linn-Mar, 8 — Iowa City West, 5 — Iowa City High, 4 — Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Western Dubuque, 2 — Cedar Rapids Prairie, 1 — Cedar Rapids Washington, Cedar Rapids Xavier, Clear Creek Amana, Iowa City Liberty

2021 top three teams: 1. Waverly-Shell Rock 154.5, 2. Waukee 146, 3. Southeast Polk 143

Unbeaten qualifiers: Blake Gioimo (Cedar Rapids Prairie, 40-0, 113); Ryder Block (Waverly-Shell Rock, 34-0, 138); Hunter Garvin (Iowa City West, 44-0, 152); Aiden Riggins (Waverly-Shell Rock, 39-0, 160); Ben Kueter (Iowa City High, 33-0, 220); Carson Hagan (West Des Moines Dowling, 26-0, Hwt.)

Outlook: Waverly-Shell Rock has the talent and the numbers to repeat as traditional tournament champion and sweep team titles. The Go-Hawks became the first team in state history to qualify all 14 wrestlers. They have state title contenders in Ryder Block (138), Bas Diaz (145), Aiden Riggins (160), McCrae Hagarty at 195 and heavyweight Jake Walker. Southeast Polk seems to be the biggest contender with Nathanael Jesuroga (126) and Joel Jesuroga (145), leading the way for the Rams. The may need a few wrestlers to wrestle above expectations to catch the Go-Hawks, especially with three fewer qualifiers. Waukee Northwest has the numbers and top-seeded duo Carter Freeman (120) and 182-pounder Griffin Gammell and No. 2-seeded Koufax Christensen at 113 can get them big points.

Linn-Mar is the area’s best shot for a trophy. The Lions have five ranked wrestlers, with junior 170-pounder Tate Naaktgeboren vying for his second state title. Kane Naaktgeboren set the school’s single-season pin record and has been as dominant as anybody, earning the second seed at 132. Brayden Parke (126) gives Linn-Mar a trio with a chance to wrestle on Saturday night. A top-four finish is definitely a possibility.

Iowa City West has eight qualifiers, including three-time state champion Robert Avila Jr. (145) and two-time champion and three-time finalist Hunter Garvin (152). Grant O’Dell is looking for his fourth state medal as well. Get a couple more on the stand and the Trojans could work into the top five or six.

Team predictions: 1. Waverly-Shell Rock, 2. Southeast Polk Polk, 3. Waukee Northwest

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Individual champion predictions:

106 — Dru Ayala, Fort Dodge

113 — Blake Gioimo, Cedar Rapids Prairie

120 — Carter Freeman, Waukee Northwest

126 — Nathanael Jesuroga, Southeast Polk

132 — Kane Naaktgeboren, Linn-Mar

138 — Ryder Block, Waverly-Shell Rock

145 — Joel Jesuroga, Southeast Polk

152 — Hunter Garvin, Iowa City West

160 — Aidan Riggins, Waverly Shell Rock

170 — Tate Naaktgeboren, Linn-Mar

182 — Greyson Gardner, Western Dubuque

195 — Bradley Hill, Bettendorf

220 — Ben Kueter, Iowa City High

Hwt. — Jake Walker, Waverly-Shell Rock

Class 2A

Top qualifiers: 9 — Burlington Notre Dame, West Delaware, 8 — Sergeant Bluff-Luton, 7 — Albia, Osage, 6 — Atlantic-CAM, Davenport Assumption, Union Community, Vinton-Shellsburg, Winterset

Area qualifiers: 9 — West Delaware, 6 — Union Community, Vinton-Shellsburg, 5 — West Liberty, 4 — South Tama, 3 — Independence, Mount Vernon, North Fayette Valley, Solon, Williamsburg, 2 — Anamosa, Benton Community, Decorah, Monticello, 1 — Center Point-Urbana, Mid-Prairie, Waukon

Unbeaten qualifiers: Jace Hedeman (Union Community, 42-0, 106); Kade Blume (Roland-Story, 32-0, 113); Camron Phetxoumphone (Webster City, 38-0, 120); Lane Scorpil (Columbus Community, 42-0, 120); Kale Petersen (Greene County, 9-0, 120); Jaiden Moore (Benton Community, 37-0, 126); Anders Kittelson (Osage, 27-0, 132); Blaine Frazier (Burlington Notre Dame, 49-0, 132); Christian Eslick (Roland-Story, 44-0, 145); Gabe Sanders (Vinton-Shellsburg, 21-0, 152); C.J. Walrath (Burlington Notre Dame, 51-0, 182); Wyatt Voelker (West Delaware, 40-0, 195);

2021 top three teams: 1. West Delaware 150, 2. Osage 96, 3. Independence 81

Outlook: West Delaware remains the favorite but the gap may have closed. Burlington Notre Dame has garnered lots of attention, especially in the postseason, winning a sectional title at Solon and advancing nine wrestlers to the state tournament. The Hawks also have nine qualifiers and are led by defending state champion and top-ranked Wyatt Voelker at 195 and top-ranked Jadyn Peyton at 160. The Nikes actually have one more ranked wrestler than the Hawks and West Delaware did not qualify all of its seven ranked wrestlers. West Delaware still has the firepower but the margin for error has shrunk.

Osage has eight ranked wrestlers and seven qualifiers. The Green Devils could slide in if either of those teams slip. Vinton-Shellsburg has six qualifiers with some quality. Third-seeded Gabe Sanders (152) and Cooper Sanders at 145 have each been ranked No. 1 this season. Brady Ortner, a two-time state medalist, is seeded second at 170. The Vikings have the chance to record their best team finish in a long time. Union Community is in the same boat as the Vikings with a shot at the top five. The Knights are led by second-seeded duo freshman Jace Hedeman (106) and senior Stone Schmitz (160). Union’s Hunter Worthen is seeded fourth at 152.

Team predictions: 1. West Delaware, 2. Burlington Notre Dame, 3. Osage

Individual champion predictions:

106 — Jace Hedeman, Union Community

113 — Gavin Jensen, Williamsburg

120 — Camron Phetxoumphone, Webster City

126 — Jaiden Moore, Benton Community

132 — Blaine Frazier, Burlington Notre Dame

138 — Carter Fousek, Crestwood

145 — Isaiah Weber, Independence

152 — Gabe Sanders, Vinton-Shellsburg

160 — Allen Catour, Davenport Assumption

170 — Ethan DeLeon, Sioux City Heelan

182 — C.J. Walrath, Burlington Notre Dame

195 — Wyatt Voelker, West Delaware

220 — Clark Younggreen, Mount Vernon

Hwt. — Gage Marty, Solon

Class 1A

Top qualifiers: 13 — Don Bosco, 10 — Lisbon, 7 — Underwood, 6 — Emmetsburg, Logan-Magnolia, Nashua-Plainfield, 5 —Alburnett, Avoca AHSTW, Dyersville Beckman, MFL MarMac, West Sioux

Area qualifiers: 10 — Lisbon, 5 — Alburnett, Dyersville Beckman, MFL MarMac, 3 — North Tama, Iowa City Regina, Sigourney-Keota, 2 — Belle Plaine, Cascade, Highland, North Linn, South Winneshiek, West Branch, 1 — BGM, East Buchanan, Iowa Valley, Jesup, Maquoketa Valley, Midland, Starmont

Unbeaten qualifiers: Garret Rinken (Nashua-Plainfield, 51-0, 120); Marcel Lopez (New London, 51-0, 126); Gable Porter (Underwood, 42-0, 132); Clayton McDonough (Central Springs, 51-0, 138); Mikey Baker (West Sioux, 47-0, 145); Dominic Lopez (New London, 51-0, 152); Cullen Koedam (West Sioux, 46-0, 160); Carson Lynott (West Sioux, 11-0, 182); Jackson Dewald (Sloan Westwood, 23-0, 182); Cayden Miller (Midland, 44-0, 195); Matthew Wirtz (Emmetsburg, 37-0, 195); Matthew Francis (West Hancock, 52-0, 220); Chet Buss (North Butler, 44-0, Hwt.)

2021 top three teams: 1. Don Bosco 179.5, 2. Lisbon 148.5, 3. Logan-Magnolia 94

Outlook: Could this be the year someone not named Don Bosco or Lisbon breaks into the top two? Underwood has a chance to challenge the perennial powers in 1A. The Eagles have seven qualifiers and match Don Bosco with eight ranked wrestlers. The top-ranked Dons are still the frontrunners. They qualified all but one wrestler. Don Bosco has five seeded third or better, including top-seeded Caleb Coffin at 106, Cade Tenold (170) and 195-pounder Carson Tenold. The Dons also seem to peak at the right time, so a repeat is a strong possibility.

Lisbon could give the Dons a challenge. Second-seeded pair Brandon Paez and Cade Siebrecht (138) are returning state champions. Quincy Happel is seeded fourth, but ranked third and has wrestled close matches with three-time state champion and top-seeded Marcel Lopez of New London, so he is capable of reaching Saturday night. The Lions’ Lincoln Holub (152), Max Kohl at 170 and heavyweight Wyatt Smith could make a high-podium finish. Every point will be crucial for Lisbon.

Underwood and West Sioux are solid teams. Underwood has the most potential to crack into the top two. Gable Porter (132), Stevie Barnes at 138 and 145-pounder Hagen Heistand, who transferred from Logan-Magnolia, give them three title contenders.

Weights where Don Bosco, Lisbon and Underwood each have highly-ranked wrestlers could determine the placing order, depending on how those weights shake out on the awards stand.

Team prediction: 1. Don Bosco, 2. Underwood, 3. Lisbon

Individual champion predictions:

106 — Caleb Coffin, Don Bosco

113 — Eli Becerra, Missouri Valley

120 — Brandon Paez, Lisbon

126 — Marcel Lopez, New London

132 — Gable Porter, Underwood

138 — Stevie Barnes, Underwood

145 — Mikey Baker, West Sioux

152 — Wyatt Reisz, Logan-Magnolia

160 — Maximus Magayna, Waterloo Columbus

170 — Cade Tenold, Don Bosco