Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Wrestler season is here. Or at least almost here.

The first day of practice for wrestling teams was last week and the first date for competition is waiting just a week away.

Every wrestler that hits the mat this season has the goal of finishing the season at the state meet which is schedule for February 18-20 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Last season was a historic one in the Your Prep Sports area with six area wrestlers winning state gold.

This season the Your Prep Sports area will again be home to some of the top individual talent in the state.

Before things heat up this season here is a look at some of the area wrestlers to watch this winter.

Ben Kueter

Sophomore, City High

Kueter wasted little time proving himself as one of the premier wrestlers in the state going unbeaten on his way to the Class 3A 160-pound title last season as a freshman.

One of only four freshman state championship last season, Kueter capped a 24-0 debut campaign with a 4-3 win over Linn-Mar freshman Tate Naaktgeboren in state championship match.

Kueter had 16 pins and four tech falls among his 24 wins last season and enters his sophomore season ranked as the13^th best 195 pounder in the country by The Open Mat.

Hayden Taylor

Junior, Solon

Already regarded as one of the top wrestlers in the state Taylor will continue on his quest to become a four-time state champion.

Last season Taylor became the first two-time champion in Solon history by completing the second unbeaten season in program history with a Class 2A 145-pound title.

Taylor owns a career 103-2 record after going 52-0 last season with 28 pins.

Hunter Garvin

Junior, West High

A runner-up at 120-pounds as a freshman Garvin finished the job as a sophomore earning his first state title in dominating fashion.

Garvin had a tech fall and a fall while reaching the Class 3A finals where he earned an 8-1 decision over Aiden Riggins of Waverly-Shell Rock for the 132-pound title.

Garvin is 72-7 in his career after going 33-3 last season as a sophomore and has just four career losses to in-state foes.

Graham Gambrall

Senior, West High

After placing sixth and eighth in his first two seasons Gambrall made the jump into the state’s elite last season with an impressive run to the Class 3A 145-pound title.

Gambrall defeated the number one three and fourth ranked wrestlers on his way to his first state title downing Sam Kallem of Ankeny 10-5 in the state title match.

An Oregon State signee, Gambrall already has 120 career victories after posting a 36-5 mark last season.

Gage Marty

Junior, Solon

Another area wrestler that took his competition to another level last season, Marty secured the first state medal of his career with a seventh-place finish at 195 pounds.

In his first season of full-time varsity action Marty went 41-11, including a 3-2 performance at the Class 2A state meet that helped Solon to a fourth-place team finish.

The more he wrestled the better Marty got last season. Marty won 13 of his final 16 matches as a sophomore finishing runner-up at the WAMAC tournament and claiming sectional and district titles before securing the first state medal of his career.

Aidan Udell

Junior, Regina

Udell will try to pick up where he left off last season when he closed a strong sophomore season with sectional and district titles before going 1-2 in his first ever trip to the state meet.

After going 24-14 as a freshman Udell posted a 34-9 record last season, recording 22 pins and advancing to the Class 1A state meet at 160 pounds.

Kael Scranton

Junior, West High

After opening his prep career with back-to-back strong seasons that each featured a trip to the Class 3A state meet Scranton is seeking a breakthrough in his junior season.

Scranton won 75 matches and made back-to-back appearances at the state meet the past two seasons at Clear Creek Amana but managed just one win at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

After early exits from the state meet the past two years Scranton will be seeking an extended stay this season.

Ashton Barker

Senior, West High

Barker garnered the attention of college coaches with back-to-back third-place finishes the past two seasons eventually committing to Iowa State.

After posting a 52-11 record and a pair of bronze medals at 170 pounds the last two years Barker has his sights set on the top of the podium this season.

Barker was third at 170-pound as a sophomore at Liberty High and rattled off five consecutive consolation bracket wins after an opening round loss to cap a 31-6 season with a second 3A third-place finish a year ago.

Grant O’Dell

Junior, West High

Already a two-time state medalist O’Dell will look to continue his climb up the Class 3A medal stand this season.

O’Dell won 33 matches and finished eighth at the state meet as a freshman and improved on that performance last season, placing sixth at 106 pounds at the 3A state meet.

Last season O’Dell won Mississippi Valley Conference and district titles and finished with a 28-9 record after a 3-3 showing at the state meet.

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