Douglas Miles

Your Prep Sports

CORALVILLE – West High wrestling just might be ahead of schedule.

The Trojans competed at the State Duals for the first time since 2014 Saturday at Xtream Arena. With five impact freshmen in its lineup, it feels pretty certain that West High will not have to wait another 11 years for a return trip.

“They’re gritty,” West High coach Nate Moore said after the Trojans defeated Pleasant Valley, 46-24, in the Class 2A seventh-place match. “Their ears are open and their mouths are shut. They want to get better. That’s a good recipe for winning wrestling matches.”

West High (11-6) was sent to the 2A consolation bracket after dropping the quarterfinal dual to Waukee Northwest, 41-33.

The Trojans also lost their first consolation dual against Linn-Mar, 44-32, but finished the day the right way.

“For the most part, we fought,” Moore said. “When those matches get tight, you have got to finish them. That was the problem with the first two.”

Even in defeat, the West High freshmen performed well.

At 106 pounds, Nicholas Rubio (20-22) won two of three matches, while Owin Kothe (34-12) split his two matches, including a win by fall at 144 pounds against Pleasant Valley.

A trio of West freshmen – Diego Robertty, Hugo Hughes and Blest Woods – won all three of their matches.

Robertty (30-1) pinned three opponents, two at 113 pounds and one at 120.

Hughes (27-12) poured on the points in a pair of technical fall wins at 120 sandwiched around a pin at 126.

The latter technical fall was against a ranked opponent in Pleasant Valley’s Liam Fitzgibbon. Hughes has been sparring with senior teammate and four-time Mississippi Valley Conference champion Alexander Pierce.

“I’ve just got really better and improved throughout the year,” Hughes said. “A lot of mindset and technique. He’s a very good partner.”

Woods (27-8) won by fall and technical fall at 157, then scored a 9-0 major decision against Pleasant Valley.

“I’m proud of myself,” Woods said. “I think I could have wrestled better, but there is always room for improvement. This is the sport of wrestling. I am really proud of my team for stepping up.”

At the Jan. 31 MVC championships, the West High freshmen announced their arrival with a host of high placements.

Robertty won the title at 113, Hughes (120) and Woods (157) were runners-up and Koethe placed third at 144.

They will all try to earn a spot at the traditional state tournament when they compete at a 3A district meet Feb. 14 at Bettendorf.

“It’s going to take a lot of heart,” Woods said. “A lot, a lot of heart. … I don’t care about the rankings. Whoever steps across from me, I am there to prove a point. I am there to get it over with and move on to the front. I have a heart and I know what I want to achieve, even if it is just me getting better every single match. Then that is what I have got to do.”

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