SBLive Power 25 Iowa high school wrestling preseason rankings: Wrestlers, time to clear the mats

The first Iowa prep wrestling Top 25 rankings this season

By Dana Becker 

As we wind down the prep football season, that means wrestling is right around the corner. Plenty of interesting tournaments, duals and one-on-one matches will take place between opening night and the state tournament.

This year, plenty of new items will be centered around the sport including a change in qualifying for the state meet and more.

Here are the Top 25 teams in the SBLive Iowa power rankings, a list that puts schools from all three classifications into one.

1. Waverly-Shell Rock

Could this be the season Waverly-Shell Rock overtakes Southeast Polk and runs Class 3A? The Go-Hawks definitely have the firepower to do so coming off a state duals title and third place finish at traditional state. Waverly-Shell Rock is led by Iowa State commit McRae Hagarty, one of two returning champions, alongside Ryder Block. Jake Walker, Bas Diaz, Zane Behrends and Braxten Westendorf all placed at state a year ago and return.

2. Southeast Polk

For now, the path to being kings in Class 3A will go through Southeast Polk, as the Rams won another traditional title last winter and finished second at state duals. Led by Nathanel Jesuroga, a returning state champion among other accolades, the Rams’ lineup will include state placewinners Carter Pearson, Logan Trenary and Harrison Gibson.

3. Waukee Northwest

A newcomer on the Class 3A scene, the Wolves were traditional state runners-up and earned bronze at state duals. Koufax Christensen and Carter Freeman both won state titles for the Wolves as sophomores a season ago, while seniors Cael Winter and Dom Rubino were place winners.

4 Linn-Mar

A fourth-place finish at state duals was followed up by a seventh at traditional state for Linn-Mar in Class 3A a year ago. Five returning state placewinners are back for Linn-Mar, led by defending state champion Tate Naatgeboren. Brayden Parke and Kane Naaktgeboren were each third, while Malik DeBow and Grant Kress medaled.

5. Osage

Osage placed second at traditional state in Class 2A and was third at state duals, and the Green Devils return some key pieces from that lineup. Six state medalists are back led by champions Nicholas Fox and Barrett Muller. The seniors spearhead a lineup set to include Anders Kittelson, Chase Thomas, Cole Jeffries and Max Gast, all of whom picked up medals at state last year.

6. Notre Dame, Burlington

The reigning Class 2A traditional state champions are once again loaded for tournament-style point-scoring. Notre Dame, Burlington also finished seventh at state duals. CJ Walrath is a returning state champion for the Nikes, while Carter West reached the finals. Kaiden Dietzenbach, CJ Davis and Isaiah Fenton all medaled.

7. West Delaware

West Delaware won the state duals title in Class 2A last winter over Independence and was third at state duals. Five state placewinners will anchor the lineup for West Delaware in Carson Less, Brent Yonkovic, Logan Peyton, Cameron Geuther and Will Ward.

8. Don Bosco

When it comes to Class 1A, the Dons are elite. Don Bosco was the lone program to double-up, sweeping the state duals and state traditional crowns. Jared Thiry returns, seeking to add to his state title from a year ago as a junior. He is joined by sixth place finishers Kyler Knaack and Kaiden Knaack, along with state place winners Mack Ortner and Jacob Thiry.

9. Fort Dodge

Dru Ayala and Koy Davidson each reached the final round of state last year for the Dodgers in Class 3A, and both are back. Max Bishop, a senior, returns after placing fourth, and junior Damarion Ross looks to build on his seventh-place medal. Fort Dodge will also have Dreshaun Ross, a freshman, in the lineup after he won the 16U men’s freestyle national title over the summer.

10. Bettendorf

Last winter was a productive one for Bettendorf on the mats, as they were fifth at both state duals and traditional state in Class 3A. Timofy Koester captured a state title as a freshman last year and is joined by Tycho Carmichael, Jayce Luna and Steele Diercks, who all picked up medals.

11. Iowa City High

We all know about Ben Kueter after his spectacular summer that included winning a junior freestyle world championship. The University of Iowa football and wrestling commit had little trouble winning a state title and is joined on the Iowa City High roster by fellow state medalists Cale Seaton and Kael Kurtz, who are both juniors.

12. Sergeant Bluff-Luton

A pair of fourth-place finishes were the result of a strong season for Sergeant Bluff-Luton in Class 2A a year ago. Ty Koedam, Hunter Steffans, Bo Koedam and Ethan Skoglund were all state placewinners last winter.

13. Lisbon

Had it not been for Don Bosco, Class 1A would have been ruled by Lisbon, as the Lions were second to the Dons at both state duals and traditional state. Brandon Paez, a state champion last year, returns for his senior season alongside Tiernan Boots and Wyatt Smith.

14. Ankeny

A sixth-place state duals finish in Class 3A was among the highlights for Ankeny a season ago. JJ Maihan, Benjamin Hansen, Lucas Bruhl and Jace Anderson return after securing medals at state last year.

15. Indianola

Indianola qualified for state duals in Class 3A a year ago, placing seventh. Bowen Downey was third and is the lone returning medalist back for the Indians.

16. Johnston

Johnston will try to build on an eighth-place finish at state duals in Class 3A. Jacob Helgeson finished third as a freshman last winter, while Braden Blackorby, Sam Zindel and Caden Leonard were also medalists.

17. Independence

The Class 2A race was between West Delaware, Osage, Notre Dame, Burlington and Independence, and Indee earned silver at both state duals and traditional state to secure a big season.

18. Crestwood

Crestwood was fifth at both state events in Class 2A a season ago. Cole Butikofer is back as a state medalist.

19. Logan-Magnolia

Right behind Don Bosco and Lisbon in Class 1A is Logan-Magnolia, as they were third at both state duals and traditional state.

20. Nashua-Plainfield

Last winter, Nashua-Plainfield walked off the mats in Des Moines after taking sixth place in Class 1A at traditional state and a seventh at state duals.

21. Atlantic-CAM

Atlantic-CAM was sixth at state duals in Class 2A a year ago. Aiden Smith won 51 matches and medaled at state as a freshman last year.

22. West Sioux

A pair of Top-5 finishes at state duals and traditional state in Class 1A was in store for West Sioux a season ago. Mikey Baker returns as a state medalist.

23. Missouri Valley

All Missouri Valley did on the mats last year was leave Des Moines with fifth-place finishes at state duals and traditional state in Class 1A. Eli Becerra was the lone medalist for Missouri Valley, capturing a state title last year.

24. Webster City

Some key pieces have left the Lynx program due to graduation, but Chad Hisler and company still maintain many strong cogs to build on in Class 2A. Carson Doolittle and CJ Hisler were third, while Jaxon Cherry placed fourth. All three return for Webster City.

25. Emmetsburg

A traditional power, Emmetsburg returned to glory last year, placing sixth at state duals. Ryan Brennan and Jace Nelson-Brown are each back after claiming state medals.