Iowa high school wrestling state tournament top stars, best performances (2/18/2024)

Here are some of the top stars from the Iowa high school wrestling state tournament.

Photo by Ryan Timmerman

Liam Adlfinger, Wilton

After falling to Hayden Schwab of Don Bosco at state duals, Adlfinger got him on the big stage, scoring a thrilling 9-8 decision to win gold at 106 pounds in 1A for Wilton.

Blake Allen, Underwood

Allen added his name to the history books at Underwood, going 21-0 as a senior to score gold at 138 pounds in 1A.

Paul Ballard, Albia

The senior lost just once this season, as he was able to secure third for Albia in 2A at heavyweight with a mark of 41-1.

Matt Beem, Glenwood

Beem’s only loss came at state, as the Glenwood standout finished third at 132 pounds in 2A, going 39-1 overall.

MaKade Bloker, North Butler-Clarksville

In a very deep and talented 1A field at 190, it was Bloker who survived, going 40-0 and claiming a state crown.

Kade Blume, Roland-Story

Blume won his third title in three tries, adding to gold captured as a freshman and sophomore for Roland-Story.

Brayden Bohnsack, Union LaPorte City

The junior won his second state title with a 4-2 victory in the finals at 113 pounds in 2A. Bohnsack finished the year 42-4 overall.

Koy Davidson, Fort Dodge

Davidson not only won his first state title, but he denied Carter Freeman his fourth with an overtime victory. Davidson, a junior and three-time medalist, went 2-1 vs. Freeman this year.

Nico DeSalvo, Southeast Polk

The talented freshman capped a 38-1 season by capturing the 3A title at 106 pounds. In the finals, DeSlavo downed fellow ninth-grader Weston Porter of Lewis Central, 13-0.

Carson Doolittle, Webster City

Doolittle ended his run of three straight bronze finishes, stunning two-time champ Jace Hedeman and winning gold to cap an unbeaten senior season.

Blake Fox, Osage

The sophomore earned his second state title, going 50-1 for the Green Devils while helping them win another team crown in 2A.

Tyler Harper, Norwalk

There would be no silver for Harper this year, as the Norwalk standout capped a 40-0 season by dominating Alexander Pierce of Iowa City West in the finals at 113 pounds, winning it all in 3A.

Jacob Helgeson, Johnston

Helgeson will have the chance to become a three-time champion next year after ending his junior year 34-1 and atop the 3A 165-pound podium.

Daniel Herrera, Ames

A two-time unbeaten champion in California, the future Iowa State Cyclone earned two falls and two majors in claiming 3A gold at heavyweight while finishing 18-0.

Kyler Knaack, Don Bosco

For the second straight year, Knaack stood atop the podium, helping the Dons win their sixth consecutive traditional team title in the process.

Columbus Catholic’s Mason Knipp gets his hand raised after winning the Class 1A 285-pound state championship for his second consecutive state title during the Iowa high school state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Saturday. (Photo by Ryan Timmerman)

Mason Knipp, Waterloo Columbus

Heavyweight Knipp finished off all four of his foes with his power, going 38-0 to win gold in 1A.

Anders Kittleson, Osage

Perfection for Kittleson, as he scored his first state title while going 45-0 for the Green Devils.

Timothy Koester, Bettendorf

Koester secured his second state title in three years with a victory over future Oklahoma Sooner Koufax Christensen in the finals at 126 pounds in 3A. He finished the year 44-1 overall.

Gavin Landers, Denver

Landers is set for a potential historical run, finishing his freshman season 46-0 with the title at 113 pounds in 1A for Denver.

Maximus Magayna, Waterloo East

After seeing his dreams of being a four-time champion dashed in the semis, Magayna rebounded to take third at 175 pounds in 3A for Waterloo East. He won three titles competing in 1A for Waterloo Columbus.

Mac Muller, Osage

Another perfect Green Devil, Muller dominated the 2A heavyweight tournament, securing gold for Osage.

Kane Naaktgeboren, Linn-Mar

There would be no settling for anything less than gold this year for Naaktgeboren, as the Linn-Mar sensation went 37-0 and won his first state crown.

Carter Pearson, Southeast Polk

In one of the toughest weight classes at state, Pearson came out on top. The Southeast Polk junior went 39-0 to secure the 3A title at 120 pounds.

Klayten Perreault, Mount Vernon

Nothing like going out on top and perfect, which is exactly what Perreault did. The Mount Vernon senior finished 46-0, winning the 2A title at 106 pounds.

Weston Porter, Lewis Central

Just a single blemish stained a strong freshman season for Porter, as the Titan went 35-1 and placed second in 3A.

Corbin Reisz, Logan-Magnolia

With a perfect 47-0 record, Reisz scored state gold as a junior for Logan-Magnolia.

Jarrett Roos, Sheldon/South O’Brien

There would be no stopping Roos this winter, as the senior went 28-0 and won gold in 2A at 215 pounds.

Dreshaun Ross, Fort Dodge

Nobody could come close to the defending state champion sophomore, as Ross earned the first pin of the finals to win gold at 215 in 3A. He finished the year a perfect 47-0.

Hayden Schwab, Don Bosco

His only loss came in the finals of 1A at 106 pounds, as Schwab finished the year 37-1 as a freshman for the Dons.

Austin Scranton, Anamosa

Scranton served notice as a junior, going 49-0 to win the state title at 175 in 2A.

Cale Seaton, Iowa City High

With some strong wrestling, Seaton sealed the deal in the 3A 132-pound final, claiming gold and finishing his senior year 34-1.

Gage Spurgeon, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont

Spurgeon, a freshman, almost went unbeaten this year, finishing 38-1 with the title in 2A at 120 pounds.

Tucker Stangel, Osage

He could do no better, as Stangel defended his state title while going unbeaten this year at 157 pounds in 2A.

Colin Young, Dubuque Wahlert

After winning a medal competing in Illinois last year, Young capped off his senior year with a perfect 20-0 record and state title in Iowa.

Dawson Youngblut, Don Bosco

Youngblut earned his first state title and put himself on track for four, winning it all at 132 pounds in 1A for the Dons.

–Dana Becker I @SBLiveIA