State wrestling: Teams, individuals seek to seize their opportunities in Des Moines

The state wrestling tournament always presents opportunity.

For individuals to win titles and earn a spot in the record books. For teams to come together and win the collective crown. For fans to watch some of the greatest moments in Iowa high school sports.

This year, however, there is an opportunity for new faces to rise up and stake their claim as Iowa’s best.

Last season’s loaded senior class, headlined by Fort Dodge’s Brody Teske and Underwood’s Alex Thomsen, is gone. And in its place is another strong group of seniors along with talented wrestlers of all age groups. When the traditional state tournament begins Thursday in Des Moines, only 13 wrestlers taking the mat will have previously won an individual state title.

The team races will feature thrilling action. Some of the nation’s best will compete in Iowa’s largest class. The small-school powers are back again and aiming to add to their trophy cases. Class 2A is wide-open.

A strong freshman class — there are 37 first-year prep wrestlers ranked by the Predicament, including 16 in the top five of their respective weight classes — is hungry to prove its might. Even more, 32 of the 42 top-ranked wrestlers are seeking their first state titles this week.

We know some of the names that will contend, such as Fort Dodge’s Drake Ayala and Woodward-Granger’s Cody Fisher. We'll learn of others as the week goes along, such as Ankeny’s Trever Anderson, Crestwood’s Carter Fousek and the Tenold twins, Cade and Carson, from Don Bosco. 

Those wrestlers and many more will take center stage this week. The first matches go at 9 a.m. on Thursday. The rest is up to them.

► BRACKETS: Follow the action with the Register's live online bracket

CLASS 3A

Team Favorite: Southeast Polk — 11 qualifiers

The Rams won traditional team titles in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017. But this Southeast Polk team, ranked No. 1 in 3A and No. 20 in the country by Intermat, may be among its best.

Put it this way: Southeast Polk wrestled a less-than-perfect tournament a few weeks ago at the Central Iowa Metropolitan League Invitational, which operated like a state tournament preview. Fort Dodge, Waukee and Ankeny Centennial were all in the mix. And Southeast Polk still won by 50 points.

Of the 11 qualifiers, nine Ram wrestlers are ranked at their respective weights, including three No. 1s — Lance Runyon (152), Cade DeVos (160) and Gabe Christenson (195). Two others who advanced are ranked in the top five. All 11 could finish on the podium.

Contenders: Waverly-Shell Rock, Ankeny Centennial, Waukee, Fort Dodge

The Go-Hawks, ranked 44th nationally, might be the Rams' biggest threat. They also qualified 11 wrestlers for the traditional tournament, and seven are ranked in the top three at their respective weights.

It will take something close to a perfect tournament — bonus points, finalists, high podium finishes — to run down Southeast Polk, but if any team is equipped to do it, it’s Waverly.

► RELATED: At Southeast Polk, wrestlers are taught their history so they can make more

Individuals

Drake Ayala, Fort Dodge — The sophomore is a returning state runner-up, but he brings a 37-0 record into this week. Of those wins, 36 have included bonus points, including 29 pins (17 of which have come in the first period). He’s the favorite at 113 pounds.

Cullan Schriever, Mason City — The junior is already a two-time state champion, and he committed to Iowa before the season began. He's the top seed at 120 pounds, but is battling through a broken ankle he suffered a month ago. 

Deville Dentis, Des Moines East — The senior pinned his way to the finals last year, becoming the first state finalist for East since 1995. Dentis is seeking to become the first Scarlet wrestler to win a state title since Ted Tuinstra won at heavyweight in 1962. He’s the top seed at 145.

First-round matches to watch

138 pounds: Ian Heise (Waverly-Shell Rock) vs. Graham Gambrall (Iowa City West)

An intriguing matchup here between Heise, who’s ranked No. 6 by the Predicament, and Gambrall, who’s No. 8. Heise is a senior and a win would help in the team race. Gambrall is a talented sophomore who earned a medal a year ago (sixth at 132).

220 pounds: Cam Jones (C.R. Kennedy) vs. Kalob Runyon (Southeast Polk)

A top-eight matchup in the first round? It’s like this tournament wasn’t seeded at all. Jones, ranked third, drew the No. 3 seed with a 28-4 record. Runyon, ranked seventh, was drawn in after finishing as a runner-up at districts. Runyon could add to the Rams’ team total with an upset.

220 pounds: Cameron Baker (C.B. Jefferson) vs. Tanner Schultz (Linn-Mar)

Another matchup between two of the weight’s best wrestlers in the first round. Baker, a talented football prospect, is No. 1 at his weight, 43-1 overall and a returning qualifier. Schultz is ranked No. 4 and making his state tournament debut at 25-5.

► MORE STATE WRESTLING COVERAGE

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• FRESHMAN PHENOM: IC West's Hunter Garvin seeks rare freshman glory
• RECRUITS WHO WRESTLE: Iowa's best football recruits at state wrestling
• WRESTLING MAILBAG: The Register's Cody Goodwin answers your questions

CLASS 2A

Team Favorite: PCM (Monroe) — eight qualifiers

The Mustangs are probably the leaders on paper to win a wide-open Class 2A. They have three title contenders in Colby Tool (145), Wes Cummings (160) and defending champion Lucas Roland (182). The other five should all add points in one form or another, too.

Contenders: West Delaware, Solon, Union (LaPorte City), Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Crestwood (Cresco)

Here’s the thing about this 2A race … there is no clear-cut favorite.

West Delaware brought eight, but none is ranked higher than fifth. Solon brought six, and three are among the top four at their weights. Union brought seven and has a couple of title contenders in Jack Thomsen (138) and Adam Ahrendsen (152). 

There’s also Sergeant Bluff-Luton and Crestwood, who each brought six. There are other teams to watch, too, such as New Hampton and Centerville. The unpredictability makes the Class 2A tournament a must-watch.

► HOW TO WATCH: Tickets, TV, and streaming options for the 2019 state tournament

Individuals

Andrew Flora, ADM (Adel) — The senior is a returning state champion with a perfect 35-0 record. He’s been 2A’s No. 1 126-pounder all season, but his bracket is full of stiff competition that will test his run to repeat.

Julien Broderson, Assumption — The Iowa State signee is seeking his third straight state title this week. Forget the state: Broderson is among the best in the country, as he’s ranked ninth nationally at 195 pounds. He’s 49-0 this season.

Spencer Trenary, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows — Trenary has long been one of the state’s best heavyweights, a three-time state medalist and multiple-time All-American. He’s 46-0 this season and the prohibitive favorite to cap his career with a state title.

First-round matches to watch

113 pounds — Brayden Graff (Sergeant Bluff-Luton) vs. Landon Fenton (PCM, Monroe)

Big matchup here for a couple of reasons. Graff is ranked No. 4 and Fenton No. 5, according to the Predicament. But there are team-race implications here, too, making this bout super important for both guys.

126 pounds — Kayden Kauzlarich (Centerville) vs. Eric Kinkaid (Camanche)

Kauzlarich is a returning state place-winner — he took third at 126 last season — and ranked fourth entering this week. Kinkaid is a talented freshman with 36 wins who’s ranked seventh.

170 pounds — Wyatt Voelker (West Delaware) vs. Dylan Koresh (Charles City)

Another ranked matchup between wrestlers with identical 32-9 records. Voelker is talented freshman who’s ranked eighth, but he was randomly drawn into the bracket after taking second at districts. Koresh is ranked seventh and a returning state medalist.

► FROM THE ARCHIVES: The Register's 50 greatest Iowa high school wrestlers

CLASS 1A

Team Favorite: Don Bosco (Gilbertville) — 10 qualifiers

The Dons have looked impressive this season, winning the Keith Young Invitational, reaching the finals at the Battle of Waterloo and at times dominating a talented Class 1A. Don Bosco is ranked 47th nationally by Intermat, and is the slight favorite to win its first traditional team title since 2012. Of the 10 qualifiers, four are ranked in the top four at their respective weights.

Contenders: Denver, Lisbon

Denver and Lisbon will each have a say. Denver also qualified 10 and has three top-ranked wrestlers. The Lions qualified eight and have three title favorites among loads of firepower. West Sioux also qualified eight, and Underwood brought nine. Those are the five teams to watch.

The team race should be viewed through the lens of Don Bosco, Denver and Lisbon. Those three have been mainstays at the top of Class 1A, and this year’s title may not get decided until Saturday night.

► RELATED: Denver's Cam Krueger, legally blind, finds peace, confidence on the mat

Individuals

Adam Allard, West Sioux — Allard hasn’t lost since early in his freshman campaign. He’s a two-time state champ and is aiming for a third this year. He’s only a junior and is 52-0 and No. 1 at 120 pounds.

Robert Avila Jr., Lisbon — Avila might be one of the state’s most exciting wrestlers, and he’s only a freshman. At 48-1, he’s the No. 3 seed at 126 and is one of Lisbon’s title contenders.

John Henrich, Akron-Westfield — A Nebraska signee, Henrich is working on a third straight undefeated season. He enters this week at 41-0 and is the favorite at 160. 

First-round matches to watch

113 pounds — Quincy Happel (Lisbon) vs. Colton Meeker (Wapello)

Another Happel is making his state tournament debut. Quincy, a freshman, is 40-7 and ranked ninth, but he drew the No. 8 seed. Meeker is a senior, 22-3 overall and ranked 10th. 

182 pounds — Thomas Even (Don Bosco) vs. Cole Clark (Lisbon)

This match could play a small factor in the team race. Even, ranked second, is a pinner. He’s 40-1 with 36 wins by pin. Clark is a sophomore who’s ranked 10th. 

285 pounds — Brock Farley (Denver) vs. Noah Pittman (Don Bosco)

Team-race implications in this one as well. Farley is 41-8 and ranked No. 1. Pittman is 31-31 and ranked seventh. Farley beat Pittman in the ultimate tiebreaker back in early December.

Cody Goodwin covers wrestling and high school sports for the Des Moines Register. Follow him on Twitter at @codygoodwin.