The first big weekend of high school wrestling is in the books. It was a good weekend for Iowa Wrestling recruits who competed at competitive tournaments.
The best performance has to go to Ben Kueter who won the 220 lbs. title at the Dan Gable Donnybrook. After two first period pins and two tech falls, Kueter faced off with Minnesota commit Gavin Nelson of Simley (MN) in the finals. Nelson placed fifth at the 2021 Cadet World Freestyle Championships (92kg/202 lbs.) and is ranked #3 at 195 by MatScouts. Kueter scored a takedown in overtime to win 3-1 (SV-1). Kueter is much bigger than last year and was just named as the Cedar Rapids Gazette Area Player of the Year in football.
Aiden Riggins and Ryder Block of Waverly-Shell Rock also won the Donnybrook and looked very good. Block is at 138 while being ranked #13 nationally at 132. Block defeated #25 (at 132) Chase DeBlaere (Simley) 3-2 in the finals. Brad Hill competed at 195 at the Donnybrook and placed 5th with a 4-1 record. Hill is ranked #9 in the country at 220 by MatScouts and won a state title at 220 last season.
Nate and Joel Jesuroga and Carter Martinson won titles at the Gardner Edgerton Invitational. Nate Jesuroga is ranked #1 nationally at 120 but competed at 126.
I will post results for Easton Fleshman as soon as I get them.
I will do my best to bring you results this season for all of our incoming recruits right here on my blog.
The future looks great for Iowa Wrestling.
Recruiting Class of 2022
Jace Rhodes – Mason City, Iowa (132 lbs.)
At Keith Young (Cedar Falls)
Champ. Round 1 – Jace Rhodes (Mason City) received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Jace Rhodes (Mason City) won by tech fall over Austin Kelso (Norwalk) (TF-1.5 4:13 (17-2))
Semifinal – Garrett Funk (Don Bosco) won by decision over Jace Rhodes (Mason City) (Dec 1-0)
3rd Place Match – Jace Rhodes (Mason City) won by major decision over Nathan Lopez (Charles City) (MD 14-4)
Joel Jesuroga – Southeast Polk HS, Iowa (145 lbs.)
At Gardner Edgerton Invitational (Gardner, KS)
Round 1 – Joel Jesuroga (Southeast Polk) won by tech fall over Greg Jacobs UNA (Allen) (TF-1.5 3:43 (18-3))
Round 2 – Joel Jesuroga (Southeast Polk) received a bye () (Bye)
Round 3 – Joel Jesuroga (Southeast Polk) won by fall over Therron Meade (Gardner Edgerton) (Fall 1:57)
Championship Bracket – Joel Jesuroga (Southeast Polk) won by decision over Jordan Cullors (Broken Arrow) (Dec 3-2)
1st Place Match – Joel Jesuroga (Southeast Polk) won by fall over Zachary Wessley (Goddard) (Fall 1:13)
Carter Martinson – Southeast Polk HS, Iowa (152 lbs.)
At Gardner Edgerton Invitational (Gardner, KS)
Round 1 – Carter Martinson (Southeast Polk) won by fall over Zaine Mayfield (Gardner Edgerton) (Fall 0:32)
Round 2 – Carter Martinson (Southeast Polk) won by fall over Ethan Garcia (Edmond Memorial) (Fall 0:30)
Round 3 – Carter Martinson (Southeast Polk) won by fall over Andrew Lollis (Broken Arrow) (Fall 1:45)
Championship Bracket – Carter Martinson (Southeast Polk) won in sudden victory – 1 over Jerrdon Fisher (Goddard) (SV-1 4-2)
1st Place Match – Carter Martinson (Southeast Polk) won by decision over Mario Danzi (Allen) (Dec 5-2)
Carson Martinson – Southeast Polk HS, Iowa (160 lbs.)
At Gardner Edgerton Invitational (Gardner, KS)
Round 1 – Carson Martinson (Southeast Polk) received a bye () (Bye)
Round 2 – Carson Martinson (Southeast Polk) won by fall over Broque Moore (Gardner Edgerton) (Fall 0:40)
Round 3 – Carson Martinson (Southeast Polk) won by fall over Colton Brusven (Tonganoxie) (Fall 0:56)
Championship Bracket – Jakob Nakamura (Allen) won by decision over Carson Martinson (Southeast Polk) (Dec 13-10)
3rd Place Match – Carson Martinson (Southeast Polk) won by fall over Garrett Stinchcomb (Broken Arrow) (Fall 0:48)
Drake Rhodes – Billings West HS, Montana
Season begins next week.
Aiden Riggins – Waverly-Shellrock HS, Iowa 160 lbs.
At Dan Gable Donnybrook (Coralville) Dec 3-4
Champ. Round 1 – Aiden Riggins (Waverly-Shell Rock) won by fall over Alex Limonciello (Huntley) (Fall 1:18)
Champ. Round 2 – Aiden Riggins (Waverly-Shell Rock) won by tech fall over Merrik Murray (Staley) (TF-1.5 4:21 (17-2))
Quarterfinal – Aiden Riggins (Waverly-Shell Rock) won by fall over Kenny Siwicki (Aurora (Marmion Academy)) (Fall 0:29)
Semifinal – Aiden Riggins (Waverly-Shell Rock) won by decision over Colin Kelly (Chicago (Mt. Carmel)) (Dec 8-4)
1st Place Match – Aiden Riggins (Waverly-Shell Rock) won by decision over David Brooks (Staley) (Dec 9-2)
Mickey Griffith – Des Moines Lincoln HS, Iowa (182 lbs.)
At Independence Invitational
Round 1 – Mickey Griffith (Des Moines Lincoln) received a bye () (Bye)
Round 2 – Mickey Griffith (Des Moines Lincoln) won by fall over Jose Rubio (Dubuque Senior) (Fall 0:55)
Round 3 – Mickey Griffith (Des Moines Lincoln) won by fall over Dade Altman (Solon) (Fall 2:36)
Quarterfinal – Mickey Griffith (Des Moines Lincoln) won by fall over Jakob McGowan (Fort Madison) (Fall 0:57)
Semifinal – Mickey Griffith (Des Moines Lincoln) won by fall over Max Kohl (Lisbon) (Fall 3:36)
1st Place Match – CJ Walrath (Notre Dame, Burlington) won by decision over Mickey Griffith (Des Moines Lincoln) (Dec 3-2)
Kolby Franklin – Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania
Did not compete.
Brad Hill – Bettendorf, Iowa (195 lbs.)
At Dan Gable Donnybrook
Champ. Round 1 – Bradley Hill (Bettendorf) won by fall over Aidan Roh (Hortonville) 2-3 (Fall 1:18)
Champ. Round 2 – Bradley Hill (Bettendorf) won by fall over Ben Wiley (Huntley) (Fall 0:44)
Quarterfinal – Wentric Williams III (Liberty) won by decision over Bradley Hill (Bettendorf) (Dec 6-1)
Cons. Round 3 – Bradley Hill (Bettendorf) won by fall over AJ Petersen (North Scott) (Fall 1:45)
5th Place Match – Bradley Hill (Bettendorf) won by fall over Cade Bennethum (Ankeny) (Fall 1:33)
Easton Fleshman – West Lyon HS, Iowa (Hwt)
At MOC-FV Tournament
I will post as soon as I get results.
Class of 2023
Nate Jesuroga – Southeast Polk HS, Iowa (126 lbs.)
At Gardner Edgerton Invitational (Gardner, KS)
Round 1 – Nathanael Jesuroga (Southeast Polk) won by fall over Brandt Phelan (Salina) (Fall 1:34)
Round 2 – Nathanael Jesuroga (Southeast Polk) won by fall over Jameal Agnew (Manhattan) (Fall 3:04)
Round 3 – Nathanael Jesuroga (Southeast Polk) won by fall over Frio Vontress (Dodge City) (Fall 0:51)
Championship Bracket – Nathanael Jesuroga (Southeast Polk) won by major decision over Cael Alderman (Olathe North) (MD 21-9)
1st Place Match – Nathanael Jesuroga (Southeast Polk) won by major decision over Parker Witcraft (Broken Arrow) (MD 18-7)
Ryder Block – Waverly-Shellrock HS, Iowa (138 lbs.)
At Dan Gable Donnybrook
Champ. Round 1 – Ryder Block (Waverly-Shell Rock) won by tech fall over Joseph Kennedy (Kasson-Mantorville) (TF-1.5 5:15 (23-8))
Champ. Round 2 – Ryder Block (Waverly-Shell Rock) won by decision over Logan Stotts (Waukee Northwest) (Dec 7-3)
Quarterfinal – Ryder Block (Waverly-Shell Rock) won by major decision over Owen O`Connor (Joliet (Catholic Academy)) (MD 15-7)
Semifinal – Ryder Block (Waverly-Shell Rock) won by decision over Easton Hilton (Liberty) (Dec 5-1)
1st Place Match – Ryder Block (Waverly-Shell Rock) won by decision over Chase DeBlaere (Simley) (Dec 3-2)
Ben Kueter – City High HS, Iowa (220 lbs.)
At Dan Gable Donnybrook
Champ. Round 1 – Ben Kueter (Iowa City, City High) won by fall over John McKeon (Chicago (Mt. Carmel)) (Fall 0:15)
Champ. Round 2 – Ben Kueter (Iowa City, City High) won by fall over Jack Dorfler (Ankeny) (Fall 2:44)
Quarterfinal – Ben Kueter (Iowa City, City High) won by tech fall over Owen Gerdes (Joliet (Catholic Academy)) (TF-1.5 5:42 (23-8))
Semifinal – Ben Kueter (Iowa City, City High) won by tech fall over Sean Scheck (Aurora (Marmion Academy)) (TF-1.5 1:58 (17-0))
1st Place Match – Ben Kueter (Iowa City, City High) won in sudden victory – 1 over Gavin Nelson (Simley) (SV-1 3-1)
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
