Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – With a nationally ranked, two-time undefeated state champion on the roster it won’t come as surprise that the record book at City High will be due for some updates after this season.

What will come as a surprise to some is the wrestler doing to record rearranging at City High.

Iowa recruit Ben Kueter has continued his domination this season but it has been City High sophomore standout Cale Seaton that has etched his name into the record books this season.

Seaton (38-2) set a pair of single-season school records on Saturday at the Class 3A, District 4 meet while stretching his winning streak to 19 and securing a second consecutive trip to the Class 3A state wrestling meet that opens on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

“When you have a Ben Kueter on your team it creates a big shadow,” City High coach Cory Connell said. “People know about Ben and they should but Cale Seaton has gotten so much better from last year to this year and he got third at state last year so that’s saying something.”

Seaton set single-season school records for both takedowns and match points while going 3-0 at the district meet on Saturday.

The third-ranked Sophomore broke the City High takedown record of 248 set by Johnny Galloway Jr. in 2002 and the single-season mark for match points of 605 set by Kyle Anson in 2005.

“It’s unreal,” Connell said. “With those records you are putting yourself ahead Kyle Anson, Johnny Galloway Jr. you are putting yourself ahead of Jeff McGinness. You are putting yourself ahead of some bona fide studs. There are bona fide, national champs, world champs on that list and that’s something to be proud of. That’s impressive.”

Seaton has been impressive all season picking up where he left off after a 16-2 freshman campaign that concluded with a third-place finish at 113 pounds at the state meet.

This year Seaton has 21 pins and 11 tech falls among his 38 victories but it is his work on his feet that sets the sophomore apart.

That has been evidence in his assault on the takedown record which he eclipsed with 23 takedowns in three district wins.

“It’s a big thing because the guy that was holding it before me was Johnny Galloway who was a three-time state champ so that puts it in my mind that I am right there with those guys,” Seaton said. “That’s really neat.”

Offseason knee surgery didn’t slow Seaton who hasn’t lost since dropping a 3-2 decision to second-ranked Trever Anderson of Ankeny, this second loss this season to the defending 3A 120-pound champion.

“It’s just critiquing the little things,” Seaton said. “I’m not perfect and against the really good guys you have to have everything perfect so it’s just getting all those things right.”

Seaton will open state competition on Thursday against West High freshman Sterling Warren (18-20).

With a win Seaton would face the winner of eighth-ranked John King (24-10) of West Des Moines Dowling and No. 7 Nate Bierma (34-8) of West Des Moines Valley in the quarterfinals with a potential rematch with Anderson awaiting in the semifinals.

Seaton is excited for an opportunity to improve on his third-place finish from a year ago.

“Last year I was a little nervous and this year it’s more excitement,” Seaton said. “There are no nerves, I’m excited to compete and get those really good matches and win those.”

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