Iowa high school wrestling: Introducing the Register's 2021 All-Iowa Wrestling Teams
Cody GoodwinEverybody who played a role in ensuring the 2020-21 high school wrestling season happened as safely as possible — wrestlers and coaches first, but also administrators, parents and every community, too — deserves some kudos.
Some kids only wrestled a handful of matches, while others ran back the same schedule they did a year ago. Some of the big-time tournaments we're used to watching didn't happen this year out of precaution. Some duals didn't, either.
Some teams kept a regular schedule during the year. Others paused, either because of positive COVID-19 tests within their program or school, or because the positivity rates in their community were high enough that they opted for fully virtual learning.
The bottom line was this: the season started and finished on time, and the kids got an opportunity to compete, the coaches got the opportunity to lead them, and the communities had something around which to rally during what's been a trying year.
The best of the best were rewarded for their focus, determination and talents during last month's state championships at Wells Fargo Arena. We're here to honor them again, with the unveiling of the 2021 All-Iowa Wrestling Teams.
More All-Iowa Wrestling
- Meet the 2021 All-Iowa Girls' Wrestling Team
- Don Bosco's Tom Hogan named the 2021 All-Iowa Boys Wrestling Coach of the Year
- Spencer's Dave Storm named 2021 All-Iowa Girls' Wrestling Coach of the Year
This year's teams will look different from years past, with 24 Elite Team picks, which means, at a few weights, there were multiple Elite selections. Wrestlers from Class 3A, 2A and 1A were represented, as well as all four grade levels: five seniors, 10 juniors, eight sophomores, and one freshman.
The Elite Team members are invited to the virtual Des Moines Register’s All-Iowa Sports Awards in Des Moines this June, featuring multiple celebrity guest presenters.
We also listed 14 first-team selections for each class and 15 honorable mention choices.
Selections were made based on in-season results, Register staff observations, and consultations with high school, college and recruiting contacts. Multiple wrestlers at the same weight are listed alphabetically by last name. Records are from Trackwrestling.
All-Iowa Elite Wrestlers
106 pounds: Carter Freeman, fr., Waukee
Class 3A state champ. Went 31-0 with 30 bonus-point wins, including 17 pins and six technical falls. Outscored opponents 46-15 at the state tournament.
106 pounds: Kale Petersen, soph., West Fork
Class 1A state champ. Went 27-1, and only loss came to the 113-pound state champ. Averaged 16.5 points per match at the state tournament.
113 pounds: Nate Jesuroga, soph., Southeast Polk
Class 3A state champ. Went 29-0 with 25 bonus-point wins. Beat three 3A 120-pound state medalists. Outscored his four opponents 55-20 at the state tournament.
113 pounds: Garret Rinken, soph., Nashua-Plainfield
Class 1A state champ. Went 47-0 with 42 bonus-point wins, including 27 pins. Allowed just two total points in four matches at the state tournament.
120 pounds: Marcel Lopez, jr., New London
Class 1A state champ, and now a three-time state champ. Went 60-0 this season, and is now 152-4 for his career. Finished the year with 28 technical falls and 14 pins.
120 pounds: McKinley Robbins, soph., Greene County
Class 2A state champ, and now a two-time state finalist. Went 34-0 with 21 pins. Won his final three state tournament matches by a combined five points.
► RELATED: McKinley Robbins honors his late brother through his wrestling
126 pounds: Carter Fousek, jr., Crestwood
Class 2A state champ, and now a three-time state champ. Went 33-0 this season, and is now 114-7 for his career. Finished the year with 30 bonus-point wins, including 20 pins.
132 pounds: Drake Ayala, sr., Fort Dodge
Class 3A state champ and finished his career as a three-time state champ and four-time state finalist. Went 32-1 this year and 171-3 for his career. Outscored his opponents at the last three state tournaments by a combined 165-51. Averaged 17.8 points per match at the 2021 state tournament. Iowa signee.
► MORE: Drake Ayala cements his spot as one of the best in Iowa history
132 pounds: Ryder Block, soph., Waverly-Shell Rock
Class 3A state runner-up and now a two-time state finalist with a 68-1 career record. Went 25-1 this season with 10 pins and seven technical falls.
132 pounds: Aidan Noonan, sr., Cascade
Class 1A state champ, and finished his career as a three-time state champ. Went 46-0 with 31 pins this season. Finished his career with a 184-9 overall record and a 131-match winning streak. Wyoming signee.
► MORE: Aidan Noonan, a giant-killer last year, caps career as a giant himself
138 pounds: Hunter Garvin, jr., Iowa City West
Class 3A state champ, and now a two-time state champ. Went 16-0 with 13 pins and three technical falls. Outscored his four opponents 54-6 at the state tournament.
145 pounds: Robert Avila Jr., jr., Lisbon
Class 1A state champ and now a three-time state champ. Went 38-0 this year and is now 141-1 for his career. Will take a 134-match winning streak into his senior season.
► MORE: Meet Robert and Jannell Avila, Lisbon's next successful wrestling family
145 pounds: Joel Jesuroga, jr., Southeast Polk
Class 3A state champ. Went 29-1 this season with 17 bonus-point wins, his only loss coming to the 152-pound state champ. Allowed just four points in four matches at the state tournament.
152 pounds: Aiden Riggins, jr., Waverly-Shell Rock
Class 3A state champ and now a two-time state finalist. Went 36-0 with 17 technical falls and 10 pins. Outscored his four opponents 38-9 at the state tournament.
160 pounds: Tate Naaktgeboren, soph., Linn-Mar
Class 3A state champ and now a two-time state finalist. Went 15-0 this year with eight pins and three technical falls. Allowed just one takedown all season.
160 pounds: Hayden Taylor, jr., Solon
Class 2A state champ and now a three-time state champ. Went 39-0 this season, is now 145-2 for his career, and will carry a 111-match win streak into his senior season. Put up 20 points in two separate matches at the state tournament.
170 pounds: Carson Babcock, sr., New Hampton
Class 2A state champ. Went 46-0 with 38 bonus-point wins, including 27 pins. Allowed nine total points in 10 postseason matches (at sectionals, districts, regional duals, state).
170 pounds: Caleb Helgeson, sr., Johnston
Class 3A state champ. Finished 24-1 with 22 bonus-point wins, including 14 pins and six technical falls. Recorded three pins and allowed three total points in four state tournament matches. Iowa State signee.
182 pounds: McCrae Hagarty, soph., Waverly-Shell Rock
Class 3A state champ. Finished 39-0 with 34 bonus-point wins, including 22 pins, and 21 of came in the first period. Record six pins in 10 postseason victories.
195 pounds: Ben Kueter, soph., Iowa City High
Class 3A state champ, and now a two-time state champ. Went 11-0 with eight pins this season. Averaged 14.5 points per match across those 11 matches.
195 pounds: Wyatt Voelker, jr., West Delaware
Class 2A state champ. Went 42-0 with 40 bonus-point wins, including 27 pins. Outscored his four opponents at the state tournament 63-23, during which he scored 28 takedowns and allowed zero.
► MORE: Wyatt Voelker becomes breakout star en route to 2A state title
220 pounds: Bradley Hill, jr., Bettendorf
Class 3A state champ. Went 30-0 this season with 26 bonus-point wins. Bumped up from 195 in January and completed title run with three pins at state tournament.
285 pounds: Chet Buss, jr., North Butler-Clarksville
Class 1A state champ and now a two-time state champ. Went 37-0 this season with 27 pins. Improved career record to 127-2 with 96 wins by fall. Will take an 84-match winning streak into senior season. Northern Iowa commit.
285 pounds: Griffin Liddle, sr., Bettendorf
Class 3A state champ and finished his career as a two-time state champ and three-time state finalist. Went 29-1 with 18 pins this season and finished high school wrestling career with a 131-24 overall record. Iowa football signee.
► MORE: Why wrestling means so much to Iowa football recruit Griffin Liddle
First-Team All-Iowa Selections
Class 3A
106: Carter Freeman, fr., Waukee
113: Nate Jesuroga, soph., Southeast Polk
120: Trever Anderson, jr., Ankeny
126: Dustin Bohren, jr., Bettendorf
132: Drake Ayala, sr., Fort Dodge
138: Hunter Garvin, jr., Iowa City West
145: Joel Jesuroga, jr., Southeast Polk
152: Aiden Riggins, jr., Waverly-Shell Rock
160: Tate Naaktgeboren, soph., Linn-Mar
170: Caleb Helgeson, sr., Johnston
182: McCrae Hagarty, soph., Waverly-Shell Rock
195: Ben Kueter, soph., Iowa City High
220: Bradley Hill, jr., Bettendorf
285: Griffin Liddle, sr., Bettendorf
Class 2A
106: Kade Blume, fr., Roland-Story
113: Camron Phetxoumphone, jr., Webster City
120: McKinley Robbins, soph., Greene County
126: Carter Fousek, jr., Crestwood
132: Brandon O’Brien, sr., Independence
138: Isaiah Weber, jr., Independence
145: Matthew Lewis, sr., Centerville
152: Jack Gaukel, sr., Sergeant Bluff-Luton
160: Hayden Taylor, jr., Solon
170: Carson Babcock, sr., New Hampton
182: Spencer Mooberry, sr., Osage
195: Wyatt Voelker, jr., West Delaware
220: Kobe Simon, sr., West Liberty
285: Carson Petlon, sr., West Delaware
Class 1A
106: Kale Petersen, soph., West Fork
113: Garret Rinken, soph., Nashua-Plainfield
120: Marcel Lopez, jr., New London
126: Cade Siebrecht, jr., Lisbon
132: Aidan Noonan, sr., Cascade
138: Wyatt Reisz, soph., Logan-Magnolia
145: Robert Avila Jr., jr., Lisbon
152: Max Magayna, fr., Columbus Catholic
160: Tate Entriken, jr., Hudson
170: Cade Tenold, jr., Don Bosco
182: Carson Tenold, jr., Don Bosco
195: Tristan Mulder, sr., Western Christian
220: Cole Clark, sr., Lisbon
285: Chet Buss, jr., North Butler-Clarksville
Honorable Mention
- Adam Ahrendsen, sr., Union
- Eli Becerra, fr., Missouri Valley
- Caleb Corbin, sr., W.D.M. Valley
- Jackson Dewald, soph., Westwood
- Braden Graff, soph., West Sioux
- Gabe Greenlee, sr., Ames
- Mickey Griffith, jr., Des Moines Lincoln
- Hagan Heistand, jr., Logan-Magnolia
- Anders Kittelson, fr., Crestwood
- Bryce Parke, sr., Linn-Mar
- Gable Porter, soph., Underwood
- Caleb Rathjen, sr., Ankeny
- Briar Reisz, sr., Logan-Magnolia
- Deven Strief, sr., North Scott
- Dylan Winkel, sr., Central Lyon
Cody Goodwin covers wrestling and high school sports for the Des Moines Register. Follow him on Twitter at @codygoodwin.