Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – A couple of veterans in the West High lineup earned victories following their senior night ceremonies on Thursday evening.

Thanks to a talented freshman class West High seniors Alexander Pierce and Campbell Janis have high expectations for the Trojans as their final prep seasons head down the home stretch.

Janis and Pierce earned wins on senior night and five Trojan freshmen posted bonus point victories as Class 3A fifth-ranked West High rolled to a 55-15 win over Cedar Rapids Kennedy in a Mississippi Valley Conference dual meet at West High.

“We can be as good as we want to be,” Pierce said. “I’ve never wrestled at state duals and I’m really excited about the possibility of that so if we keep on doing what we are we will be there for sure.”

Pierce and Janis provide along with upperclassmen like junior Charles Barnhouse, senior Jack Law and transfer senior heavyweight Kaden Stitt provide the leadership in the West High lineup.

A highly touted group of freshmen including ranked wrestlers Diego Robbertty, Hugo Hughes, Owin Koethe and Blest Woods have brough an influx of talent and an energy to the West High lineup.

“The freshmen bring a whole lot of energy and they push me to want to be the best version of myself,” Pierce said. “They bring the energy that our team needs.”

On Thursday it was a few of the freshmen that got West High off to a strong start.

Rubio (13-15), Robertty (23-1) and Hughes (22-10) opened the dual with three consecutive falls helping West High jump to an early 32-0 lead.

Rubio posted a first-period pin of Kallen Storey at 106 pounds, second-ranked Robertty needed 1:13 to pin Alex Martin at 113 and No. 12 Hughes pinned Max Panosh in 2:00 at 120.

In less than four minutes of mat time the Trojans led 18-0.

“The young guys we have are very talented,” Janis said. “I knew they were going to be good and they have shown that themselves for sure.”

Second-ranked Pierce pinned Elize Fedeli in 34 seconds in his senior night moment at 126 pounds.

Sophomore Owen Smock won an 11-5 decision over Grahm Burkert at 132 pounds and Barnhouse won a 17-2 technical fall at 138 pounds and the West High rout was on.

“It feels great,” Pierce said. “It’s been really special to have a really good team in my senior season and it means a lot.”

Two more freshmen posted impressive wins for West High on Thursday.

No. 10 Koethe (25-9) won a 15-0 technical fall over Sam Myers at 150 pounds and fifth-ranked Woods (21-5) pinned Kae Hoover in 1:18 at 157.

Janis overcame an early takedown to win a 7-3 decision over Walker Black at 165 pounds.

“It feels great ending my season at West High on a win,” Campbell said. “It felt good to get that win.”

Sophomore Ashten Holmes posted the sixth West High pin of the night at 215 pounds and sixth-ranked Stitt (26-5) capped the win with a 4-1 decision over seventh-ranked Anthony Keys at heavyweight.

“The hard work we put in during practice is showing in meets,” Janis said. “You can see that throughout the whole team.”

West High 55, Cedar Rapids Kennedy 15

106 – Nicholas Rubio (ICW) pinned Kallen Storey :35

113 – Diego Robertty (ICW) pinned Alex Martin 1:13

120 – Hugo Hughes (ICW) pinned Max Panosh 2:00

126 – Alexander Pierce (ICW) pinned Elize Fedeli :34

132 – Owen Smock (ICW) dec. Grahm Burkert 11-5

138 – Charles Barnhouse (ICW) tech. fall Finn Hallam 17-2

144 – Aidyn Roman (CRK) pinned Medhi Bangana 3:23

150 – Owin Koethe (ICW) tech. fall Sam Myers 15-0

157 – Blest Woods (ICW) pinned Kage Hoover 1:18

165 – Campbell Janis (ICW) dec. Waker Black (CRK) 7-3

175 – Jack Hayes (CRK) pinned Lincoln Bopp 1:18

190 – Timmy Zachar (CRK) dec. Jack Law 15-12

215 – Ashten Holmes (ICW) pinned Logan Clark 1:11

285 – Kaden Stitt (ICW) dec. Anthony Keys 4-1

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