Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – When it comes to a rivalry like the one between cross-town foes City High and West High it doesn’t matter if you are a veteran to the rivalry like City High coach Cory Connell, a newcomer like City High standout Gabe Arnold or a multi-year participant like Little Hawk senior Ryan Ott.

Everyone involved seems to grasp the magnitude of the annual cross-town meeting almost immediately.

“I definitely learned quickly what these rivalries mean,” Arnold said. “I found out during the Liberty dual that we do not take kindly to cross-town rivals so we had to handle business.”

City High took care of business on Thursday winning 10 of 14 matches including six by fall in a 55-22 win over West High in the annual cross-town showdown between the two teams at City High.

“Some of my best memories as a wrestler were the City West meets,” Connell said. “It’s the biggest rivalry, you always circle this date, you always want to be able to put your best guys out for this date and you know we are always going to give our best and they are always going to give their best and it’s fun.”

City High got pins from Cale Seaton at 126 pounds, Jake Mitchell at 138, Ryan Ott at 170, Raphael Etuma at 182, Arnold at 195 and Trey Dervrich at 285 while winning its second consecutive dual over West High.

The win came after a 44-33 win for City High last season at West High.

“It’s just different when you are facing West,” Ott said. “Every dual meet, especially home dual meets are fun but West High is a different level of excitement. Getting to go out there against West High I look forward to it every time.”

City High controlled the meet from the opening whistle as second-ranked Seaton (23-1) opened the dual with a second-period pin of Donovan Gipson at 126 pounds.

Fourth-ranked Kurtz (22-3) followed with a 13-4 major decision over Braden Doyle at 132 and Mitchell added a first-period pin of Mason Goodale at 138 to give City High a quick 16-0 lead.

The match of the night came at 145 pounds where City High senior Zach Fern scored a takedown and two nearfall points in the final seconds to edge Sterling Warren 10-8.

West High got back-to-back pins from seventh-ranked Kyler Scranton (17-7) and third-ranked Justin Avila (23-4) at 152 and 160 pounds but City High won the five matches all by pin or forfeit.

Ott started that stretch with a first-period pin of Lucas Elizalde at 170 pounds in his first action of the season.

“I kind of forgot the emotions that go along with getting ready,” Ott said. “I was getting ready to go and I was feeling emotions I hadn’t felt in a long time.”

A two-time state qualifier, Ott’s return strengthened the City High lineup on Thursday and his pin sparked a late run for the Little Hawks.

“Getting Ott back in there was great to see,” Connell said. “It was great to see him go out there and take care of business.”

Etuma pinned Zion Shaw in 1:28 at 182 pounds and top-ranked Arnold improved to 22-0 on the season with a second-period pin of Serafim Surguladze in his first appearance in the cross-town showdown with West High.

“Being on this team and competing alongside this guys every week I’ve seen the progression, I’ve seen the growth not only on the mat but mentally, these guys are fighting more and that’s what this sport comes down to it’s just one big fight,” Arnold said. “These guys are showing that every single week and they are getting better in every single department.”

Ben Kueter (22-0) won by forfeit at 220 and Trey Dervrich pinned Ashton Honore at 285 pounds.

West High got a win from second-ranked freshman standout Alexander Pierce (22-2) who earned a 21-8 major decision over Kendall Kurtz at 106 pounds.

West High freshman Campbell Janis pinned Edgar Mhoon-Lopez in 1:18 at 120 pounds.

City High 55, West High 22

106 – Alexander Pierce (ICW) major dec. Kendall Kurtz 21-8

113 – Chris Davis (ICH) won by forfeit

120 – Campbell Janis (ICW) pinned Edgar Mhoon-Lopez 1:18

126 – Cale Seaton (ICH) pinned Donovan Gipson 2:52

132 – Kael Kurtz (ICH) major dec. Braden Doyle 13-5

138 – Jake Mitchell (ICH) pinned Mason Goodale 1:33

145 – Zach Fern (ICH) dec. Sterling Warren 10-8

152 – Kyler Scranton (ICW) pinned Gabe Egeland 1:51

160 – Justin Avila (ICW) pinned Nick Marker 5:36

170 – Ryan Ott (ICH) pinned Lucas Elizalde 1:16

182 – Raphael Etuma (ICH) pinned Zion Shaw (ICW) 1:28

195 – Gabe Arnold (ICH) pinned Serafim Surguladze

220 – Ben Kueter (ICH) won by forfeit

285 – Trey Dervrich (ICH) pinned Ashton Honore 1:53

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.