The regular season for our incoming Iowa Wrestling recruits finished on a high note. All four of our recruits won a State title in Des Moines this weekend.
Kale Petersen had three straight major decisions to make the finals. In the Finals Petersen defeated Anders Kittelson of Osage 7-3 to win the 2A 132 lbs. title. This was Petersen’s third state title. Petersen closed out his senior season with a perfect 42-0 record.
Ryder Block looked great in winning the 3A 138 lbs. title. He had two pins and a tech fall before defeating Kane Naaktgeboren of Linn-Mar in the finals, 11-4. Block finished the season with a 45-0 record. For his career Block won three state titles and was a four-time finalist. Block was named as the Casey’s Class 3A Wrestling Championships MVP.
Gabe Arnold had two pins and a tech fall on his way to the 3A 182 lbs. finals. In the finals Arnold defeated Tate Naaktgeboren of Linn-Mar, TB-1 2-1. This marked the fourth time that Arnold defeated Iowa State recruit Naaktgeboren this season. In the MatScouts Rankings Arnold is #2 and Naaktgeboren is #4 in the country at 182 lbs. Arnold finished the season with a 41-0 record.
Ben Kueter closed out his amazing high school career in style. Kueter started the tournament with three first period pins in :14, :12, and 1:53. In the finals Kueter defeated Joseph Lewis of Dubuque Hempstead by a 19-4 tech fall in 4:49 to win the 3A 220 lbs. title.
Kueter became the 32nd four-time state champion in Iowa high school wrestling history and also just the seventh wrestler in state history to finish a four year career undefeated. Kueter finished up with a 111-0 career record with 74 pins.
Kueter was awarded as the 2023 State Wrestling Championships MVP Award. Kueter is listed as the overall #1 recruit in the country pound for pound by MatScouts.
Keyan Hernandez won his third AA Montana state title last weekend.
When you add in Cody Chittum that was the overall #1 recruit in the country in 2022 that will enroll with the Class of 2023 this August at Iowa there is a lot to be excited about.
I will continue to follow our incoming recruits throughout the freestyle season.
The future looks great for Iowa Wrestling.
Class of 2023
Kale Petersen – Greene County 2A 132 lbs.
Wed-Sat Feb 15-18 – at Iowa High School State Tournament (Des Moines)
Champ. Round 1 – Kale Petersen (Greene County) 42-0 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Kale Petersen (Greene County) 42-0 won by major decision over Kade Bauer (Sioux Center) 35-11 (MD 15-5)
Quarterfinal – Kale Petersen (Greene County) 42-0 won by major decision over Max Currier (Clear Lake) 33-5 (MD 8-0)
Semifinal – Kale Petersen (Greene County) 42-0 won by major decision over Nick Koch (North Fayette Valley) 36-5 (MD 13-4)
1st Place Match – Kale Petersen (Greene County) 42-0 won by decision over Anders Kittelson (Osage) 50-3 (Dec 7-3)
Ryder Block – Waverly-Shell Rock 3A 138 lbs.
Wed-Sat Feb 15-18 – at Iowa High School State Tournament (Des Moines)
Champ. Round 1 – Ryder Block (Waverly-Shell Rock) 45-0 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Ryder Block (Waverly-Shell Rock) 45-0 won by fall over Dawson Fish (Dubuque Hempstead) 30-15 (Fall 1:17)
Quarterfinal – Ryder Block (Waverly-Shell Rock) 45-0 won by tech fall over Isaac Bruhl (Ankeny Centennial) 25-8 (TF-1.5 4:40 (23-7))
Semifinal – Ryder Block (Waverly-Shell Rock) 45-0 won by fall over Nolan Fellers (Bondurant-Farrar) 36-3 (Fall 2:43)
1st Place Match – Ryder Block (Waverly-Shell Rock) 45-0 won by decision over Kane Naaktgeboren (Linn-Mar) 38-3 (Dec 11-4)
Gabe Arnold – City High (Iowa City) 3A 182 lbs.
Wed-Sat Feb 15-18 – at Iowa High School State Tournament (Des Moines)
Champ. Round 1 – Gabe Arnold (Iowa City, City High) 41-0 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Gabe Arnold (Iowa City, City High) 41-0 won by fall over Kaden Phan (Clear Creek-Amana) 33-14 (Fall 0:44)
Quarterfinal – Gabe Arnold (Iowa City, City High) 41-0 won by tech fall over Holden Hansen (Southeast Polk) 35-12 (TF-1.5 4:25 (21-6))
Semifinal – Gabe Arnold (Iowa City, City High) 41-0 won by fall over Chase Hutchinson (Valley, West Des Moines) 35-8 (Fall 3:23)
1st Place Match – Gabe Arnold (Iowa City, City High) 41-0 won in tie breaker – 1 over Tate Naaktgeboren (Linn-Mar) 33-4 (TB-1 2-1)
Ben Kueter – City High (Iowa City) 3A 220 lbs.
Wed-Sat Feb 15-18 – at Iowa High School State Tournament (Des Moines)
Champ. Round 1 – Ben Kueter (Iowa City, City High) 39-0 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Ben Kueter (Iowa City, City High) 39-0 won by fall over Griffin Schultz (Linn-Mar) 26-18 (Fall 0:14)
Quarterfinal – Ben Kueter (Iowa City, City High) 39-0 won by fall over Will Hinrichs (Ankeny) 37-10 (Fall 0:12)
Semifinal – Ben Kueter (Iowa City, City High) 39-0 won by fall over Ayden Hoag (LeMars) 45-2 (Fall 1:53)
1st Place Match – Ben Kueter (Iowa City, City High) 39-0 won by tech fall over Joseph Lewis (Dubuque Hempstead) 44-4 (TF-1.5 4:59 (19-4))
Class of 2024
Keyan Hernandez – Billings West (Montana) 120 lbs.
Season completed – State Champion.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
