Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

DES MOINES – Ben Kueter will be making his fourth state finals appearance on Saturday evening.

Gabe Arnold will make his Iowa state title match debut.

On Saturday evening the City High seniors and future Iowa teammates will look to put the finish touches on memorable high school careers and a season that ranks among the best in recent City High history.

Top-ranked Kueter and Arnold each secured spots in the Class 3A state finals with semifinal pins on Friday as City High went 3-1 in semifinal matches at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

“I am looking forward to it,” Kueter said. “I hope the day goes slow and I can just kind of enjoy it all and soak it in because after tomorrow it’s over.”

Kueter will be seeking history in his final state title match appearance as he attempts to become the sixth unbeaten, four-time state champion in state history.

The top-seed at 220-pounds, Kueter (38-0) pinned LeMars junior Ayden Hoag (43-2) in 1:53 in the semifinals for his third consecutive first-period pin.

“It’s going to be good, it’s a little bittersweet,” Kueter said. “I’ve been there three times but you still get nervous every time. Semis today I was pretty nervous, that’s part of it, you get nervous but once you get out there you are good to go.”

Kueter will be joined in the finals by top-ranked junior 126-pounder Cale Seaton and Arnold, the top seed at 182 pounds.

Arnold, who is making his Iowa state meet debut after transferring from Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania, powered his way to title match with a second-period pin of Chase Hutchinson of West Des Moines Valley.

“It’s been nothing short of amazing,” Arnold said of the state tournament experience. “It was everything everyone talked about. The hype, the fans, the atmosphere, everything. It’s everything everyone has been telling me about and it’s super cool just to be a part of this. I’m excited to be in the finals, I’m excited to put on another show and score some points and I’m ready to finish my high school career on a high note.”

The semifinal wins from Seaton, Arnold and Kueter propelled City High into the top five in the Class 3A team race.

City High is fifth with 101 points, just 11 back of defending champion Southeast Polk which sits third with 112 points entering Saturday.

“All the way up and down I think it’s been good,” City High coach Cory Connell said. “All the way up and down the lineup I am just so proud of these kids. Obviously I always want more but I’m so proud of all of these guys.”

Arnold and Kueter have both been dominant on their way to the Saturday’s championship round.

Kueter has recorded his three state-meet pins in a total of two minutes and 19 seconds of mat time.

“Having that guy in the room every day is surreal,” Arnold said of Kueter. “He’s a world champ and all this but more than anything he is just a big motivator, watching him go out there and get pins makes me want to get pins.”

Kueter will face second-seeded Joseph Lewis (44-3) of Dubuque Hempstead in the 220-pound title match.

“I am just looking to enjoy tomorrow,” Kueter said. “I am going to cheer on my teammates before I got out there and have fun with it.”

Arnold has been almost as impressive with two pins and a 21-6 tech fall in three state tournament matches.

He will face Linn-Mar senior and defending state champion Tate Naaktgeboren (33-3) for the fourth time this season in the championship match.

Arnold has won each of the previous three meetings with Naaktgeboren this season.

“This is what we both wanted, we don’t shy away from competition, we don’t run away from each other,” Arnold said. “Granted, yes,  I have beat him three times this year but Tate never thought once about going up a weight. I never once thought about going up to 95, or going down a weight, never. It never crossed my mind. We are ready for that competition, we are ready for each other tomorrow and I guarantee we are both going to put on a show.”

Class 3A State Meet

At Wells Fargo Arena Des Moines

Team scores (Top 20 area teams) – 1. Waverly-Shell Rock 152; 2. Linn-Mar 128; 3. Southeast Polk 112; 4. Bettendorf 111.5; 5. City High 101; 6. Fort Dodge 99.5; 7. Waukee Northwest 92; 8. Johnston 90.5; 9. Carlisle 82.5; 10. Ankeny 81.5; 11. Pleasant Valley 69; 12. Ankeny Centennial 66.5; 13. Norwalk 65; 14. Cedar Rapids Prairie 63; 15. Dubuque Hempstead 62.5; 16. North Scott 62; 17. Bondurant-Farrar 59.5; 18. Ames 57; 19. West Des Moines Valley 46.5; 20. Indianola 44; 23. West High 34.5; 32. Clear Creek Amana 20; 43. Liberty High 8

Semifinals (Area athletes only)

106 – Alexander Pierce (West High) dec. Cale Vandermark (Ankeny Centennial) 11-4

126 – Cale Seaton (City High) major dec. Ayden Golden (North Scott) 14-5

132 – Carter Freeman (Waukee Northwest) dec. Kael Kurtz (City High) 5-2

182 – Gabe Arnold (City High) pinned Chase Hutchinson (West Des Moines Valley) 3:23

220 – Ben Kueter (City High) pinned Ayden Hoag (LeMars) 1:53

Fourth Round Consolation  

113 – Aiden Serrano (Carlisle) dec. Cale Nash (Clear Creek Amana) 6-1

126 – John King (Waukee Northwest) pinned Nolan Howell (Clear Creek Amana) 4:41

138 – Isaac Bruhl (Ankeny Centennial) dec. Jake Mitchell (City High) 3-2

145 – Jordan Rial (Bondurant-Farrar) major dec. Justin Avila (West High) 11-2

152 – Kyler Scranton (West High) major dec. Jack Miller (Pleasant Valley) 11-2

195 – AJ Petersen (North Scott) pinned Vincenzo Lima (Liberty High) 4:28

Fifth Round consolation

152 – Logan Stotts (Waukee Northwest) dec. Kyler Scranton (West High) 10-3

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