The first weekend of the high school season saw four incoming Iowa recruits win at tough tournaments. At the Dan Gable Donnybrook, Ryder Block of Waverly- Shell Rock won a 1-0 decision over Chris Coates of Liberty, MO for the 138 lbs. title. This is the second year in a row that Block has won this competitive tournament.
Ben Kueter of City High dominated the field at 220. He also won his second Donnybrook title with an 18-2 tech fall over Joe Lewis of Hempstead.
Gabe Arnold made his debut competing in Iowa one to remember. In the semifinals Arnold, ranked #6 at 182 by MatScouts, defeated #5 Tate Naaktgeboren of Linn-Mar, 8-3. Arnold and Naaktgeboren, who committed to Iowa State, may meet in the dual meet on January 5, the MVC Conference Tournament on January 28, and at the State Tournament. I look for exciting wrestling in every match between these two.
In the finals Arnold defeated #3 nationally ranked Connor Mirasola of West Bend, WI, 4-3. That is a great tournament for Arnold to beat two wrestlers ranked ahead of him in the national rankings. The moves Arnold was hitting against nationally ranked wrestlers has Iowa Wrestling fans excited about the future. I already mentioned in this blog that I believe Arnold will contend for a varsity spot next year as a true freshman at Iowa. The sky in the limit for this future Hawkeye.
Kale Petersen of Greene County won the 132 lbs. title at the always tough Cliff Keen Invite at Independence. Petersen scored three tech falls and a 12-5 decision on his way to the finals where he defeated Anders Kittelson of Osage, TB-2, 5-2. I look forward to following Petersen this season.
Nate Jesuroga of Southeast Polk did not compete at the Blazer Invitational in Gardner, Kansas. Keyan Hernandez of Billings West (Montana) will begin his junior season this coming weekend.
I will get you ready for another big weekend of wrestling for our incoming recruits with a blog on Friday.
The future looks great for Iowa Wrestling.
Class of 2023
Nate Jesuroga – Southeast Polk
Saturday, Dec 3 – at Blazer Invitational (Gardner, KS)
Did not compete.
Kale Petersen – Greene County 132 lbs.
Fri/Sat, Dec 2-3 – at Cliff Keen Invite (Independence)
Round 1 – Kale Petersen (Greene County) 5-0 received a bye () (Bye)
Round 2 – Kale Petersen (Greene County) 5-0 won by tech fall over Dawson Becker (Alburnett) 5-2 (TF-1.5 3:33 (23-7))
Round 3 – Kale Petersen (Greene County) 5-0 won by tech fall over Vinny Spano (Tinley Park (Andrew)) 6-4 (TF-1.5 2:38 (26-8))
Quarterfinal – Kale Petersen (Greene County) 5-0 won by tech fall over Mason Lucas (Carlisle) 4-3 (TF-1.5 4:07 (22-6))
Semifinal – Kale Petersen (Greene County) 5-0 won by decision over Tyson Peach (Milton) 6-1 (Dec 12-5)
1st Place Match – Kale Petersen (Greene County) 5-0 won in tie breaker – 2 over Anders Kittelson (Osage) 5-1 (TB-2 5-2)
Ryder Block – Waverly-Shell Rock 138 lbs.
Fri/Sat, Dec 2-3 – at Dan Gable Donnybrook (Coralville)
Finals: Ryder Block (WSR) dec over Chris Coates (Liberty, MO) 1-0
Gabe Arnold – City High (Iowa City) 182 lbs.
Fri/Sat, Dec 2-3 – at Dan Gable Donnybrook (Coralville)
Semifinals: Gable Arnold (City High) dec over Tate Naaktgeboren (Linn-Mar) 8-3
Finals: Gable Arnold (City High) dec over Connor Mirasola (West Bend, WI)
Ben Kueter – City High (Iowa City) 220 lbs.
Fri/Sat, Dec 2-3 – at Dan Gable Donnybrook (Coralville)
Finals: Ben Kueter (City High) tech fall over Joe Lewis (Hempstead) 18-2
Class of 2024
Keyan Hernandez – Billings West (Montana)
Season begins next weekend.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
