Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – Kael Kurtz closed his freshman season with a sparkling 15-2 record and state medal.

With a pair of losses by a combined three points in his state meet debut last February Kurtz was close to accomplishing a lot more in his debut campaign.

Kurtz locked up a second straight trip to state on Saturday and in the process proved he’s capable of doing a lot more than just being close to big things as a sophomore.

Seventh-ranked Kurtz posted his second win over a top-four opponent in the last two weeks earning a 5-4 overtime decision over third-ranked Jayce Luna of Bettendorf in the 126-pound title match at the Class 3A, District 4 meet at City High.

“Those close matches last year I just didn’t have the guts to go out and get those one or two points it takes to win those matches or the last second takedown,” Kurtz said. “This year I’ve worked a lot on my finishes and that’s helped a lot getting those last takedowns.”

Kurtz joined teammates Cale Seaton and Ben Kueter in claiming district titles on Saturday as City High qualified five wrestlers for the Class 3A state meet for the second consecutive season.

Sophomore Jake Mitchell and junior Ryan Ott advanced to the state meet that opens next Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines with district runner-up finishes on Saturday.

“I was really proud of Kurtz that was a good win for him and Cale Seaton and Kueter looked great,” City High coach Cory Connell said. “Ryan Ott had a good day getting second against a state champion and Jake Mitchell came back and got second and I’m really proud of him.”

For Kurtz, Saturday was yet another sign he is capable of more than just being close.

In his state meet debut Kurtz lost 9-8 in overtime to eventual runner-up Blake Gioimo of Cedar Rapids Prairie in the second round.

His final loss at the state meet last season was a 4-2 decision in the consolation round.

Two of the four losses for Kurtz this season by scores of 5-3 in sudden victory and 1-0.

During a current 12-match winning streak Kurtz (35-4) has turned those close losses into wins.

“At the beginning of this year he lost some of those,” Connell said. “Now he is winning those close matches and he isn’t just winning them he is finishing those close matches. He is finishing them strong.”

It was a strong finish that put Kurtz atop the 126-pound podium on Saturday.

Trailing 3-1 in the third period Kurtz scored the lone takedown of the match with five seconds left to force overtime.

“I heard my coaches saying 30 and when I saw there was 10 I knew I had to go,” Kurtz said. “I knew that 3-1 was not the way I wanted to lose that match. I just had the drive to finish that shot and be able to score.”

After a scoreless 60-second overtime Kurtz escaped just before the buzzer in the first 30-second extra period.

He then rode out Luna (35-4) for the win in the second 30-second session to secure the district title.

“When he went down (to start the third period) he got out in like five seconds so I had to try to stop his first move,” Kurtz said. “That took 10 seconds off the clock and I thought I could ride him out the rest of the way.”

The win from Kurtz was part of a strong finals session for City High.

Third-ranked Seaton (38-2) recorded nine takedowns and led 22-7 before pinning sixth-ranked Corbin Grace (39-5) of Ottumwa in the 120-pound final.

“Connell and I were talking before and he had watched him in the match before and he thought my double leg was going to work perfect,” Seaton said. “I tried it right away and it came pretty easy so I went to it right away and kept going.”

Seaton had a whopping 23 takedowns in three wins on Saturday, scoring 55 match points and setting new City High single-season school records in both categories.

“I’ve always been pretty good on my feet,” Seaton said. “I feel like I’ve always been able to score a lot of points.”

Seaton defeated Grace 7-3 at the district meet last season and 6-1 at the state tournament on his way to a third-place finish as a freshman.

On Saturday he needed just 3:15 to finish the deal against the Ottumwa senior.

“The kid he wrestled in the finals is a tough kid and he beat him 6-1 at state last year and he goes out there and tech pins him,” Connell said. “Cale has really improved from where he was at last season.”

It was a light day for top-ranked Kueter (33-0) on his way to the 220-pound title.

The two-time defending unbeaten state champion had a bye and second-period pin of Daniel Sokolik of Fort Madison before winning the 220-pound title via forfeit.

Ott (22-7) returned to the state meet with a runner-up finish at 145-pounds falling to defending state champion Dustin Bohren (33-5) of Bettendorf in the final.

Mitchell (30-12) lost to tenth-ranked Jack Miller of Pleasant Valley in the 138-pound semifinals but responded with back-to-back wins to earn a runner-up finish.

The sophomore defeated Bettendorf junior Jorden Roberts 7-4 in the 138-pound wrestle back match.

Class 3A, District 4 Meet

At City High

Team scores – 1. Bettendorf 228.5; 2. Pleasant Valley 184; 3. Fort Madison 167; 4. City High 160.5; 5. Ottumwa 142.5; 6. Liberty High 115.5; 7. Newton 68; 8. Burlington 46

Championship matches; state qualifiers

106 – 1. Timothy Koester (BET) pinned Ashton Grace (OTT) :22

113 – 1. Steele Diercks (BET) pinned Jasmine Luedtke (OTT) 1:15

120 – 1. Cale Seaton (ICH) pinned Corbin Grace (OTT) 3:15

126 – 1. Kael Kurtz (ICH) dec. Jayce Luna (BET) 4-3 TB-1

132 – 1. Tycho Carmichael (BET) pinned Nolan Riddle (FM) 2:22; 2. Holden Willett (PV)

138 – 1. Jack Miller (PV) pinned Jorden Roberts (BET) 3:07; 2. Jake Mitchell (ICH)

145 – 1. Dustin Bohren (BET) pinned Ryan Ott (ICH) 1:51

152 – 1. Brennan Amos (NEW) pinned Elijah Mendoza (BET) 3:05

160 – 1. Colin Sharp (NEW) dec. Teague Smith (FM) 5-2; 2. Elijah Terwilleger (ICL)

170 – 1. Caden McDermott (PV) dec. DeAvione Parker (BET) 5-3; 2. Jakob McGowan (FM)

182 – 1. Trevor Summers (OTT) dec. Rusty VanWetzinga (PV) 9-4

195 – 1. Bradley Hill (BET) won by medical forfeit Isaac Thacher (FM)

220 – 1. Ben Kueter (ICH) won by medical forfeit Diego Cortes (BET); 2. Daniel Sokolik (FM)

285 – 1. Luke Vonderhaar (PV) dec. Julius Harris (BUR) 4-3

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