Douglas Miles

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – Excitement abounds within the West High wresting team.

The Class 3A fifth-ranked Trojans return five state qualifiers, including two titlists, from a team that placed fourth at the state tournament last season.

However, West High has been unable to display its potential as its early meets were canceled and practices stalled when the Iowa City Community School District halted athletics as it instituted an online-only coursework format.

The Trojans finally got their chance to open the season on Saturday, and it was crosstown rival Iowa City High that was there to greet them.

“I just liked the fact that you could tell that they were hungry and they were ready to go,” third-year West High coach Nate Moore said after the Trojans downed City High, 45-36, in a Mississippi Valley Conference dual meet at City High. “They all wrestled hard. I am proud of them.”

The Trojans were forced to get creative with their preparation while barred from on-campus activities.

Wrestlers received recommendations from coaches via text message and e-mail, while small clusters would train at each other’s houses.

Veteran upperclassmen would lead group chats to keep everyone on schedule in regards to mile runs, weight lifting and ensuring their weight was on track.

“We’re motivated to achieve some really big goals this year,” said West High senior Graham Gambrall, an Oregon State signee who will wrestle at 152 pounds this season after winning a state title at 145 last year. “We’re motivated even when we couldn’t be on the mat. We’re still getting work in on our own and staying conditioned. We’re ready. This was our first opportunity to get on the mat and show it.”

Saturday’s meet began at 138 pounds and was deadlocked, 18-18, after six weights, highlighted by a pair of Trojan pins.

West High junior Hunter Garvin, ranked No. 1 by The Predicament at 145 pounds and the defending state champion at 132, posted the first pin of the dual for the Trojans in 39 seconds. Senior Ashton Barker, ranked third at 170 and a two-time third-place state finisher at that weight, needed just 23 seasons to subdue his opponent.

“Making sure I do every little thing right,” Barker said. “Going to sleep early, getting all my own work done when we don’t have two practices each day. Saturdays, Sundays, tonight I will probably go work out again. Just make sure I do everything right.”

City High recorded pins at 220 from top-ranked 195-pound sophomore Ben Keuter, who won a state title at 160 last season, plus No. 3-ranked Kael Kurtz at 106 and 10th-ranked Cale Seaton at 113.

A rousing pin by West High heavyweight Errol Alden – which received the loudest ovation from his team’s bench – ensured the Trojans’ deficit would not trickle into double digits with three weights to go.

“Our 285-pounder got that must-need pin and really hyped everyone up,” Garvin said. “Got everyone pumped up and ready to go. And then you saw as our next weights went, we sealed the deal to win.”

West High responded to the 36-27 deficit with pins in each of the final three matches.

Tenth-ranked Parker McBride won in 1:38 at 120, while seventh-ranked senior Grant O’Dell – a two-time state medalist at 106 – overwhelmed his 126-pound opponent in just 39 seconds.

Clear Creek Amana junior transfer Kael Scranton – ranked eighth at 132 pounds – capped the dual with the third pin in a row and sixth overall for West.

“When we got a little bit behind on the score, we just fought back and got the pins where we needed them,” O’Dell said. “We got key points in certain situations in the dual. … We would like to see it be a little bit closer, but you have got to do what you have got to do late in the dual.”

Ryan Ott (138) and Diego Salinas (152) also recorded pins for City High.

At City High

Class 3A No. 5 Iowa City West 45, Iowa City High 36

138 – Ryan Ott (ICH) pinned Abram Collaguazo (ICW) 2:41.

145 – Hunter Garvin (ICW) pinned Kale Clark (ICH) :39.

152 – Diego Salinas (ICH) pinned TJ Donovan (ICW) 1:55.

160 – Graham Gambrall (ICW) won by forfeit.

170 – Ashton Barker (ICW) pinned Sam Kueter (ICH) :23.

182 – Gable Mitchell (ICH) won by forfeit.

195 – Mason Applegate (ICW) dec. Nick Marker (ICH) 12-6.

220 – Ben Kueter (ICH) pinned Brett Pelfrey (ICW) 2:00

285 – Errol Alden (ICW) pinned Avery Goodrich (ICH) 3:47.

106 – Kael Kurtz (ICH) pinned Braden Doyle (ICW) 1:16.

113 – Cale Seaton (ICH) pinned Thomas Pierce (ICW0) 4:58.

120 – Parker McBride (ICW) pinned Isaiah Svoboda (ICH) 1:38.

126 – Grant O’Dell (ICW) pinned Jacob Kehres (ICH) :39.

132 – Kael Scranton (ICW) pinned Ariel Collins (ICH) 3:56.

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