Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – Last season Kendall Kurtz had the opportunity to present a banner commemorating win number 100 for his older brother and teammate Kael Kurtz.

At senior night at City High on Thursday it was the other way around.

City High senior Kendall Kurtz picked up career win number 100 as the Little Hawks remained unbeaten in Mississippi Valley Conference dual meets with a 47-25 win over Cedar Falls.

As Kurtz walked off the mat he was met by Kael, now a freshman at Coe College, with his own 100-win memento.

“Last year I gave him his banner and tonight it was the other way around,” Kendall Kurtz said. “That was a good feeling.”

Kurtz posted a first-period, 21-6 tech fall of Caiden Lounsberry at 120 pounds for career victory 100.

The milestone win for Kurtz was part of a senior night victory that helped the Little Hawks improve to 6-0 in MVC Valley Division duals.

City High will travel to Cedar Rapids Prairie (6-0 in MVC) next Thursday to determine the Valley Division champion.

“It’s pretty cool with it falling on senior night,” Kurtz said. “It’s a milestone but for it to be on senior night it feels even better.”

Led by the three seniors in its lineup City High was dominant on Thursday.

The Little Hawks earned bonus points in all nine wins including three tech falls and three wins by pin.

Senior Mason opened the dual with a 16-1 tech. fall over Cedar Falls’ Kael Moore at 175 pounds.

Senior Laith Alawneh tacked on a 13-2 major win over Ayden Williams at 150 pounds.

“All our seniors I was very proud of them,” City High coach Cory Connell said. “Laith only beat that kid by one point on Saturday and he almost tech him today and Mason, it is unbelievable how far he has come in the last couple of years. It was a good night.”

Thursday was extra special for Kurtz, a four-year starter, two-time state qualifier and state medalist last season at 113 pounds.

With his first-period tech fall on Thursday Kurtz improved to 22-5 on the season.

“He’s the wrestling the best he has ever wrestled,” Connell said of Kurtz. “He’s hands down better than he was last year. He’s looking very good right now and I’m very proud of him.”

City High took control of the match early.

After Tilley opened with a tech fall at 175 juniors Blaine Heick and Raphael Etuma followed with pins at 190 and 215 pounds.

Junior Kane Willey added a 11-2 win at 285 pounds.

“Everybody was aggressive, everybody was attacking,” Connell said. “Even the matches we lost we were being aggressive, we never gave up and they were fighting.”

Cedar Falls earned wins at 106 and 113 before Kurtz rolled to his 21-6 win at 120 pounds to turn the momentum back to the City High side.

Kurtz needed just 1:44 to roll up 21 points in his win.

“His offense, his defense on top on bottom everywhere he has improved and mentality I think is one of the biggest things,” Connell said. “In the past he was kind of inconsistent at the beginning of matches and he’d give up some scores then he’d come back strong at the end. Now he starts strong, he’s strong in the middle and he’s strong at the end.”

Chris Davis won by forfeit at 132, Donovan Gipson won a 21-5 tech fall at 138 and freshman Marshall Sheldon added a second-period pin at 165 pounds.

“It was a good atmosphere from the fans today,” Kurtz said. “They showed up tonight and it was pretty sweet.”

City High 47, Cedar Falls 25

106 – Chase Miller (CF) won by forfeit

113 – Nolan Schaul (CF) major dec. Breckin Morrison 15-3

120 – Kendall Kurtz (ICH) tech. fall Caiden Lounsberry 21-6

126 – Evan Simpson (CF) pinned Chase Williams 1:55

132 – Chris Davis (ICH) won by forfeit

138 – Donovan Gipson (ICH) tech. fall Eric Malaise 21-5

144 – Jeremiah Tamayo (CF) dec. Alex Holmes 13-6

150 – Laith Alawneh (ICH) major dec. Ayden Williams 13-2

157 – Ben Backes (CF) pinned Jude Seebeck 2:59

165 – Marshall Sheldon (ICH) pinned Levi Mayfield 3:47

175 – Mason Tilley (ICH) tech. fall Kael Moore 16-1

190 – Blaine Heick (ICH) pinned Maddox Wilkinson 1:09

215 – Raphael Etuma (ICH) pinned Andrew Harrington 3:38

285 – Kane Willey (ICH) major dec. Ian Reilly 11-2

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