Linn-Mar’s Kane Naaktgeboren records perfect season for first state wrestling title

DES MOINES — Undefeated and undisputed.

Unquestionably a perfect feat to conclude Kane Naaktgeboren’s high school career.

Linn-Mar’s senior four-time state medalist capped an unbeaten senior season, winning the 144-pound title at the Class 3A state wrestling tournament Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena. He is the 10th Lions wrestler to win a state championship.

“It’s been good,” Naaktgeboren said. “I set out every goal I wanted to accomplish.

“I’m pretty happy with myself. I left it all out there.”

Naaktgeboren posted a 37-0 season, beating West Des Moines Valley’s Jahkari Clark, 9-2, in the finals. He battled through the frustration of an opponent attempting to keep it close, tallying takedowns in each period and adding two penalty points on three stalling calls. It was the only time he didn’t earn bonus points against a wrestler from Iowa.

“I think I could have been a little more dominant,” Naaktgeboren said. “He had a good game plan for the match.”

His dominance this season, and his career, is undeniable. He recorded 33 pins this year with 29 as a junior and 38 as a sophomore. Naaktgeboren has 109 falls in about 130 career victories. He had two pins and a major decision to reach the finals.

“Pinning is hard and he makes it easy sometimes,” Linn-Mar Coach Doug Streicher said. “It’s just the fact that he has such a high standard for himself and, hopefully, we do as a program, too.

It has to be that way but it’s also a double-edged sword as far as putting pressure on yourself. Sometimes it shows.”

Climbing to the top of the podium helped ease the sting of last year when the Lions lost each championship match, including Naaktgeboren’s 138 final against Waverly-Shell Rock’s three-time titlist Ryder Block.

“I’m a lot happier,” Naaktgeboren said. “Last year we went 0-for-4 and we really haven’t stopped thinking about that night. It was good to get on top of the stand. Not just on top of the podium but on the mat, too.”

Naaktgeboren joined his brother, Tate, as the second brother combo to win titles for the Lions, matching the tandem of Matt and Jacob Wempen. Tate on back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022.

Kane claimed Linn-Mar’s 16th individual title and became the Lions’ seventh four-time medalist, placing third in 2022 and fifth as a freshman. He joins an impressive list with Jay Borschel, Matt McDonough, Alijah Jeffery, Ross Lembeck, Matt Wempen and his brother.

“You look at kids that work really hard and you hope they get rewarded with that title everyone is chasing,” Streicher said. “Some do. Some don’t. You’re glad to see it work out when it does for good kids, who work hard, do it right and good families. It’s very rewarding to see it culminate into a state title.”

Anamosa’s Austin Scranton closes title run

Anamosa’s Austin Scranton joined select company Saturday night in Des Moines. The junior 175-pounder became the school’s second state champion and the first since Moza Fay claimed the second of back-to-back titles in 2004.

Scranton broke open a tight match with four points in the final period to defeat Roland-Story’s Hesston Johnson, 6-4, in the finals.

“It’s amazing,” said Scranton, who is one of four Anamosa state qualifiers and two medalists that can return for next year. “Getting Anamosa some recognition because they deserve it. Our team’s getting better every day and we’ll be back next year to hopefully contend for another total for team placement, at least.”

Scranton never trailed, scoring a takedown in the first and third for the difference. He improved to 49-0, breaking his own record of 48 wins last season. Scranton has his sights set on matching Fay’s title production and plans to be busy in the offseason.

“I’ll hopefully hit a couple national tournaments this summer with my club team, (DC Elite), and then go to Florida to wrestle in another thing down there,” Scranton said. “Just compete over the summer. Maybe get into some freestyle, Greco(-Roman).”

How do The Gazette’s state wrestling predictions look?

Predictions are silly but they produce great fodder for conversation. That’s why we do it. For you, our readers, to talk about over morning coffee.

Predictions can show how much you don’t know. Here is how our 2024 state wrestling predictions fared.

The Gazette nailed the top three team finishers in each class in order. A 9-for-9 performance with Southeast Polk-Bettendorf-Fort Dodge in Class 3A, Osage-Mount Vernon-Union Community in 2A and Don Bosco-Alburnett-Wilton in 1A.

Individual champions were harder to nail down (just like every year). The Gazette correctly predicted nine champions in each class, going 27 for 42, which is 64.3 percent. Factoring in the unpredictability fact of state wrestling, we’re grading that a solid C.

The Gazette did have 36 of 42 of its predicted champions make the finals. One wrestler picked, however, didn’t reach the awards stand.

Below is a list of correct predicted champions:

CLASS 3A

106 pounds — Nico DeSalvo, Southeast Polk

132 — Cale Seaton, Iowa City High

144 — Kane Naaktgeboren, Linn-Mar

150 — Bas Diaz, Waverly-Shell Rock

157 — Kael Voinovich, Iowa City High

165 — Jacob Helgeson, Johnston

190 — Brent Slade, Southeast Polk

215 — Dreshaun Ross, Fort Dodge

285 — Daniel Herrera, Ames

CLASS 2A

106 — Klayten Perreault, Mount Vernon

113 — Brayden Bohnsack, Union Community

132 — Kade Blume, Roland-Story

138 — Blake Fox, Osage

144 — Anders Kittelson, Osage

150 — Caleb Olson, Union Community

157 — Tucker Stangel, Osage

215 — Braden McShane, New Hampton/Turkey Valley

285 — Mac Muller, Osage

CLASS 1A

120 — Rowdy Neighbor, Alburnett

126 — Jesse Lewis, West Sioux

138 — Blake Allen, Underwood

144 — Corbin Reisz, Logan-Magnolia

150 — Keaton Moeller, Starmont

157 — Kyler Knaack, Don Bosco

175 — Kaiden Knaack, Don Bosco

190 — MaKade Bloker, North Butler-Clarksville

285 — Mason Knipp, Waterloo Columbus

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com