Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

City High

Coach: Cory Connell (11^th season)

Assistant coaches: Morgan DePrenger, Josh Marin, Chayse Schultz, Nic Jarvis

Last season: 9^th at 3A state meet with 64.5 points (5 state qualifiers)

Returning starters: Ben Kueter, Sr., 285; Gabe Arnold, Sr., 182; Cale Seaton, Jr., 126; Kael Kurtz, Jr., 132; Jake Mitchell, Jr., 138; Ryan Ott, Sr., 170; Nick Marker, Sr., 160; Kendall Kurtz, Soph., 106; Zach Fern, Sr., 145; Ari Collins, Sr., 152

Returning letterwinners: Gage Egeland, Soph., 152; Drew Nye, Soph., 195; Jesse Hendershot, Jr., 170; Sam Kueter, Jr., 195; Tono Cornell, Jr. 285; Trey Dervich, Jr., 220

Headliner: Senior Iowa recruit Ben Kueter is a three-time undefeated state champion after a 37-0 junior season that concluded with a 3A title at 220 pounds and won a junior world freestyle champion during the offseason.

Keep an eye on: Junior Cale Seaton owns a career 58-5 record and has finished third at the state tournament in each of his first two prep seasons. Seaton is coming off an impressive sophomore season in which he set City High single season school records for takedowns and match points.

Circle the date: February 4. The state dual tournament moves to Xtream Arena in Coralville and City High could be a major player in the 3A tournament.

Breakdown: Expectations at City High are as high as at any point in the tenure of head coach Cory Connell and with good reason as the Little Hawks return all five state qualifiers from last season.

Those five state qualifiers include a trio of multi-year state medalists in Kueter, Seaton and junior Kael Kurtz as well as senior Ryan Ott (24-9) and junior Jake Mitchell (28-14).

There is depth behind those five returning qualifiers with four other varsity starters returning including three that are seniors.

Seniors Nick Marker (18-12), Zach Fern (17-14) and Ari Collins (9-6) all posted winning records a year ago and sophomore Kendall Kurtz (18-24) is also back after a solid freshman season.

Toss in nationally ranked senior transfer Gabe Arnold at 182 pounds and the Little Hawks have both the depth and firepower to make some serious noise in Class 3A.

West High

Coach: Nate Moore (5^th season)

Assistant coaches: Kody Pudil, Byron Tate, Drew Proctor, Zach Covington

Last season: 4^th at Class 3A state meet with 93 points (8 state qualifiers)

Returning starters: Braden Doyle, Jr., 132; Sterling Warren, Soph., 145; Kyler Scranton, Jr., 152; Justin Avila, Soph., 160

Newcomers to watch: Alexander Pierce, Fr., 106; Campbell Janis, Fr., 120

Headliner: Sophomore Justin Avila capped a stellar freshman season that included a 30-12 record with an impressive state meet performance winning four consecutive matches on his way to a fourth-place finish at 170 pounds.

Keep an eye on: Scranton went 27-16 as a sophomore last season finishing third at the Mississippi Valley Conference meet and runner-up at the 3A district meet before going 1-2 in his state meet debut at 132 pounds.

Circle the date: February 11 at 3A district meet at North Scott. Few teams in the state have been better than the Trojans at finishing strong at the district meet, a feat West High will look to continue this season.

Breakdown: West High lost a pair of senior state semifinalists in Robert Avila and Hunter Garvin from last year’s squad that placed fourth at the Class 3A state meet but brings back a strong group of returners to build around that includes four state qualifiers from a year ago.

Sophomore Justin Avila and junior Kyler Scranton headline the list of returning state qualifiers that also includes sophomore Sterling Warren (18-22) and junior Braden Doyle (27-18).

Look for freshman Alexander Pierce and Campbell Janis to both make an immediate impact in the Trojan lineup this season.

Liberty High

Coach: Fred Lima (1^st season)

Assistant coaches: Chris Arnold, Marshall Koethe, Neil Happel, Brett Sharp

Last season:One Class 3A state qualifier

Returning starters: Christos Panos, Soph., 113; Mason Karam, Soph., 126; Austin Franklin, Sr., 152; Gavin Benton, Jr., 160; Vincenzo Lima, Jr., 195; Lyncoln Anderson, Jr., 285;

Returning letterwinners: Damien Garrett, Sr., 160-170; Eduardo Zepeda, Jr., 182; Anyhlan Peoples, Jr., 138-245; Tian Phan, Jr., 138

Newcomers to watch: Landen Bell, Fr., 145-152

Headliner: Junior Vincenzo Lima is chasing a return trip to the state meet after qualifying as a freshman before narrowly missing out last season. Lima is 37-14 over the past two seasons including a 23-8 mark last season that included third-place finishes at the MVC and 3A district meets.

Keep an eye on: Gavin Benton won’t be ready to start to the season due to an injury but the junior showed last year when he went 19-10 that he is capable of qualifying for the state tournament when healthy.

Circle the date: December 1 against Cedar Rapids Xavier. The Fred Lima era at Liberty High officially kicks off with a home MVC dual against Cedar Rapids Xavier.

Breakdown: First-year head coach Fred Lima takes over a Liberty High program with rising expectations as varsity experience in the room continues to increase.

The Lightning had a state qualifier last season and will look to build on that behind a solid group of upperclassmen led by Vincenzo Lima, Benton and senior Austin Franklin who went 15-15 last season.

Junior Lyncoln Anderson and sophomores Christos Panos (11-11) and Mason Karam (11-13) also return with varsity experience for the Lightning.

Clear Creek Amana

Coach: Kyle Forness (8^th season)

Assistant coaches: Tyler Endres, Fletcher Green

Last season: One Class 3A state qualifier

Returning starters: Cale Nash, Soph., 113-120; Caden Baxter, Sr., 160; Beck Arant, Sr., 145; Max Carlson, Sr., 138; Ethan Williams, Jr. 170-182; Kaden Phan, Soph., 182-195; Nolan Howell, Soph., 126-132; Ryker Jones, Jr., 160-170

Newcomers to watch: Jose Mendieta, Fr., 113-120; Vinny Keller, Soph., 285; Carson Bromwell, Fr., 195-220; Jay Halverson, Soph., 132-138; Brody Fairholm, Soph., 195-220; Kade Kleinmeyer, Soph., 106-113; Ben Haughey, Soph., 170-182

Headliner: Sophomore Cale Nash is coming off an impressive debut season in which he went 36-11, won a WAMAC Conference title and advance to the Class 3A state tournament at 106 pounds.

Keep an eye on:Senior Caden Baxter dealt with injuries last season but won 30 matches and finished third at the district meet in 2021 and should be a major factor in the middle of the Clipper lineup.

Circle the date: January 28 at WAMAC Conference meet at Independence. The Clippers were 11^th at the WAMAC meet last season but could be one of the biggest risers in the conference this season with a strong effort.

Breakdown: Clear Creek Amana enters the season with more depth and experience returning and with higher expectations going forward than in any previous season in recent history.

Nash and Baxter are just a few of the Clippers returning with varsity experience and past success to build upon.

Senior Beck Arant won 25 matches last season as did sophomore Nolan Howell (25-16) who was a win away from a state tournament trip last season.

Senior Max Carlson (23-25), junior Ethan Williams (20-26), junior Ryker Jones (5-5) and sophomore Kaden Phan (3-15) all return after spending last season in the varsity lineup.

Solon

Coach: Aaron Hadenfeldt (3^rd season)

Assistant coaches: JJ Cooper, Ryan Schott, TJ Bevans, Jacob Feuerbach, Ryan Osgood

Last season: 31^st at Class 2A state meet with 21 points (3 state qualifiers)

Returning starters: Joe Ebert, Sr., 285; David Karam, Sr., 152-160; Fischer Harrison, Sr., 170; Braydon Hoffman, Sr., 220; Lawsin Sinnwell, Jr., 132-138; Kyler Jessup, Jr., 120-126; Tyson Wheeler, Jr., 113; Evan Burg, Soph., 113; Charlie Karam, Soph., 126-132; Jordan Schmidt, Soph., 126-132

Newcomers to watch: Kyler Jensen, Fr., 182; Conlan Poynton, Fr., 152-160; Teague Williams, Fr., 145-152

Headliner: Sophomore Jordan Schmidt was a state qualifier as a freshman last season and is looking for a big step forward this winter after finishing 37-20 during his debut season.

Keep an eye on: Junior Lawsin Sinnwell is coming of a strong sophomore season in which he finished 25-15, was runner-up at the 2A sectional meet and fourth at the district meet.

Circle the date: January 14 Ed Hadenfeldt Invitational. The Spartans welcome an always strong field to their own Ed Hadenfeldt Invitational which serves as a jumpstart to the postseason that begins later in the month.

Breakdown: Solon returns a solid group of varsity contributors from last season led by Schmidt and Sinnwell who are each candidates for breakthrough seasons.

Seniors Joe Ebert (15-14), David Karam (25-27), Fisher Harrison (7-13) and Braydon Hoffman (19-18) all return with full varsity seasons under their belts.

Juniors Junior Kyler Jessup (23-29) and Tyson Wheeler (8-22) are also back with varsity experience along with sophomores Charlie Karam (21-25) and Evan Burg (15-27).

Regina

Coach: Zach Ries (5^th season)

Assistant coaches: Dustin Elsbury

Last season: 38^th at Class 1A state meet with 13 points (3 state qualifiers)

Returning starters: Ronan Poynton, Sr., 220; Christopher Waikel, Sr., 182; Holden Berg, Jr., 106; Spencer Winders, Soph., 126; Will Aitchison, Soph., 132; Elijah Fiegel, Sr., 195; Alex Jensen, Jr., 113; Leren Fernandez, Soph., 160; Ian Udell, Jr., 195; Tristan Flores, Soph., 170; Matthew Takacs, Jr., 170

Newcomers to watch: Cash Hatfield, Fr., 120; James Whistler, Fr., 138; Romiz Monaco, Soph., 132

Headliner: Senior Ronan Poynton is a two-time state qualifier and has racked up a 54-12 record over the past two seasons after going 35-7 last season when he claimed sectional and district titles.

Keep an eye on: Senior Christopher Waikel made a big jump last season as a junior going 30-12 and winning a sectional title before finishing one win away from a spot at the state meet with a third-place finish at the district meet.

Circle the date: January 28 at River Valley Conference meet at West Branch. The Regals were eighth at the RVC meet last season but will be looking to improve on that performance this season.

Breakdown: An increase in numbers along with a strong group of returning upperclassmen have the Regals looking for big things this season.

Regina has its most complete team in five seasons under head coach Zach Ries and should be able to compete in the team race on a weekly basis.

Seniors Poynton and Waikel give the Regals a solid base to build upon while juniors Alex Jensen (22-24), Ian Udell (19-16) and Holden Berg (15-34) all return with a great deal of varsity experience.

Sophomores Spencer Winders (12-23), Will Aitchison (23-11) and Leren Fernandez (14-21) all return after earning varsity experience last season.

Ries expects freshman Cash Hatfield and James Whistler and sophomore transfer Romiz Monaco to all help round out a deeper Regina lineup.

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