Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

DES MOINES – Every trip to the state tournament for Hunter Garvin has included an appearance in the state title match.

The West High junior made it three-for-three in that category on Friday by continuing his dominating 2021 state tournament with a semifinal win.

On Saturday evening the focus for Garvin is adding to his gold medal count.

Garvin continued to ride roughshod through the 138-pound bracket on Friday with a pair of pins including a second-period fall over third-ranked Carter Martinson of Southeast Polk in the Class 3A semifinals.

A state runner-up as a freshman, Garvin won the 132-pound title last season.

He will attempt to make it two straight state titles on Saturday when he takes on seventh-ranked Dylan Whitt (14-2) of Cedar Falls in the Class 3A championship match at Wells Fargo Arena.

Whitt advanced with a 7-5 win over second-ranked and previously undefeated Cole Ferguson of Waukee.

Garvin has been nothing short of dominant in three state tournament wins.

Despite not having a match go the full six minutes he has rolled up 11 takedowns including three in the semifinals before pinning Martinson with 17 seconds left in the second period.

Garvin won his opening match via 20-3 tech fall and added a third-period pin of Ankeny sophomore Jace Anderson in the quarterfinals on Friday morning.

West High went 1-3 in semifinal matches on Friday with Garvin the lone winner.

Third-ranked Grant O’Dell (14-1) dropped a 6-2 decision to No. 8 Thurman Christensen (20-4) of Waukee in the 126-pound semifinals while Ashton Barker and Graham Gambrall each lost tight matches to top-ranked foes.

Number one ranked Aiden Riggins used an escape with 1:10 left to slip past Gambrall (10-3) in the 152-pound semifinals.

Gambrall tied the match at 3-3 with a takedown with 1:15 left but Riggins (33-0) took the lead back with an escape five seconds later and fought off several late shots by Gambrall.

Barker battled top-ranked and defending state champion Mickey Griffith (25-1) of Des Moines Lincoln to the wire in a 170-pound semifinal in an 8-4 loss.

Third-ranked Barker (14-1) pulled even at 3-3 with a reversal 14 seconds into the final period but Griffith scored five points in the final 90 seconds on a reversal and three-point near fall.

Barker will face No. 4 Ivan Thomas (35-1) of Cedar Rapids Xavier in a consolation semifinal as he attempts to finish third for the third consecutive season.

O’Dell will take on No. 7 Cael Cox (26-6) of Ankeny in a consolation semifinal at 126 pounds and Gambrall will meet fifth-ranked Abraham Dirkx (40-6) of Carroll in a consolation semi at 152.

Class 3A State Wrestling Tournament

At Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines

Team scores (Top 10; area teams) – 1. Waverly-Shell Rock 134.5; 2. Waukee 126; 3. Southeast Polk 99; 4. Bettendorf 81.5; 5. Ankeny 77.5; 6. Fort Dodge 74.5; 7. Linn-Mar 67; 8. West High 61; 9. North Scott 50; 10. Johnston 48

Semifinals

126 – Thurman Christensen (Waukee) dec. Grant O’Dell (West High) 6-2

138 – Hunter Garvin (West High) pinned Carter Martinson (Southeast Polk) 3:43

152 – Aiden Riggins (West High) dec. Graham Gambrall (West High) 4-3

170 – Mikey Griffith (Des Moines Lincoln) dec. Ashton Barker (West High) 8-4

195 – Ben Kueter (City High) major dec. Tanner Spyksma (Waukee) 17-4

Third Round Consolation

106 – Khyler Carstarphen (West Des Moines Dowling) dec. Kael Kurtz (City High) 4-2

113 – Cale Seaton (City High) dec. Corbin Grace (Ottumwa) 6-1

Saturday’s Championship Matches

138 – No. 1 Hunter Garvin (15-0) Jr., West High vs. No. 7 Dylan Whitt (14-2) Jr., Cedar Falls

195 – No. 1 Ben Kueter (10-0) Soph., City High vs. No. 3 Jake Walker (23-4) Soph., Waverly-Shell Rock

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