Kael Kurtz records dominant win in Iowa City High’s wrestling dual victory over Western Dubuque

EPWORTH - Kael Kurtz shares a love for wrestling with his family.

His younger brother, Kendall, is his teammate. Their dad, Marcus, was a scholar All-American for Coe before serving as a Kohawk assistant coach for 17 years.

In their free time, they attend University of Iowa wrestling duals, owning season tickets. The sport is a source of bonding.

“It really brings us together,” Iowa City High’s senior 138-pounder said. “It’s a way for us to work hard and not think we’re working hard. Practices are fun for us.”

The impact is evident. Kurtz has parlayed it into a successful wrestling career, earning state medals in each of his first three seasons. He is ranked fourth and delivered a major decision in Class 3A No. 18 City High’s 52-24 victory over host Western Dubuque Thursday night in Mississippi Valley Conference dual.

Kurtz moved to 5-1 this season, returning from a quadriceps and tendon injury suffered during his runner-up performance at the Dan Gable Donnybrook on Dec. 2. That didn’t prevent him from dominating his way to a 14-1 major decision over Will Casey.

“My focus is getting healthy,” said Kurtz. “It’s been a little struggle for me, right now. This is my first match back after that injury, so I was battling that out there.”

Kurtz said he expects to be fine after the holiday break. Plenty of work awaits, training with top-ranked teammates Cale Seaton (132) and Kael Voinovich.

“Now, it’s just working Cale and Kael in the practice room,” Kurtz said. “It’s just getting my lungs burning and working hard for that state championship.”

Kendall is a junior at 113 and was a state qualifier last season. The older Kurtz noted he has a contrasting approach compared to his brother, but they have the same drive to be the best..

“We have different personalities but when it comes down to it we get along,” Kael Kurtz said. “We have each others’ backs.

“I’m a nonchalant kind of guy. I go with the flow. He’s go, go, go. He’s a feisty guy.”

Other interests exist. Kael said he and his bother both transition to baseball mode in spring and summer. Wrestling is never truly out of the picture.

“During the summer, we’ll go to a few (wrestling) practices,” said Kael, who plans to wrestle and play baseball in college. “It (wrestling) never really leaves, but we always switch up the seasons and work on other things, too.”

Last season ended with his second straight fourth-place state finish. He was seventh as a freshman. Kurtz proved he could compete with the best, reaching the state semifinal and falling to Waukee Northwest state champion Carter Freeman. He was within a point until the last seconds.

He was a takedown away from the finals.

“We’re right there,” City High Coach Cory Connell said. “We have to find those little things to get over that hump. Let’s go get his for his senior year.”

If anyone has the fortitude and work ethic to reach those lofty goals, it is Kurtz. Connell said he anticipates to see big gains from now until February.

“He’s a tough kid,” Connell said. “He works his tail off. He is going to get better and better throughout the season.”

The Kurtz brothers both posted dominant wins. Kendall Kurtz built a 14-4 lead before pinning Ethan Schlichtmann in 2:04.

Raph Etuma (190) opened the dual with a come-from-behind pin over David Theisen, trailing by five when he transformed a reversal into a fall.

“He’s a dangerous kid,” Connell said. “He found a way to win that match.”

Christopher Davis, Edger Mhoon-Lopez, Gabe Egeland and Voinovich had pins. Egeland’s first-period pin at 150 sealed the City High win with three matches left. The Little Hawks won 10 of 14 weights, including eight bonus-point wins.

“We always preach bonus points,” Connell said. “If you get a chance to put them away, then put them away. It came into play tonight.”

Western Dubuque won all four matches by pin. Garret Kluesner (215), Kellen McKenna (106), 144-pounder Joe Hirsch and Drew Burns at 175 recorded falls.

AT EPWORTH

Iowa City High 52, Western Dubuque 24

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

190 pounds - Raph Etuma (ICH) pinned David Theisen, 3:44 (2.1); 215 - Garret Kluesner (WD) pinned Juan Martinez, :51 (1,0); Hwt. - Trey Dervich (ICH) dec. Jack Lansing, 4-1 (2,0); 106 - Kellen McKenna (WD) pinned Teegan Jones, :11 (1,0); 113 - Kendall Kurtz (ICH) pinned Ethan Schlichtmann, 2:04 (5,0); 120 - Christopher Davis (ICH) pinned Gavin Frost, 4:59 (3,0); 126 - Edger Mhoon-Lopez (ICH) pinned Cooper Habel, 1:42 (0,1); 132 - Cale Seaton (ICH) won by forfeit; 138 - Kael Kurtz (ICH) major dec. Will Casey, 14-1 (2,0); 144 - Joe Hirsch (WD) pinned Jake Mitchell, 5:35 (2,2); 150 - Gabe Egeland (ICH) pinned Nick Hermsen, 1:42 (3,0); 157 - Kael Voinovich (ICH) pinned Chase Brunscheen, 1:30 (3,0); 165 - Obed Dominguez (ICH) dec. Decklin McCool, 9-3 (3,0); 175 - Drew Burds (WD) pinned Mason Tilley, 1:48 (1,0)

MATCH STATISTICS

Takedowns - ICH 23, WDub 8. Reversals - ICH 2, WDub 2. Escapes - ICH 4, WDub 14. Nearfall points - ICH 21, WDub 5. Penalty points (awarded) - ICH 0, WDub 0. Total match points - ICH 75, WDub 39.

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