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FOUR-TIMERS: 32 wrestlers have won four Iowa high school boys wrestling championships

FOUR-TIMERS: 32 wrestlers have won four Iowa high school boys wrestling championships
EIGHT SPORTS POWERED BY CARL AUTO GROUP. OH, WHAT A NIGHT. SATURDAY NIGHT WERE THE NIGHT. DREAMS WERE REALIZED. WE CROWNED STATE CHAMPIONS IN BOYS WRESTLING. ONE OF THE BEST NIGHTS OF THE YEAR LIVED UP TO THE HYPE. THE EVENING BEGINS WITH THE ICONIC GRAND MARCH. ONE OF THE BEST TRADITIONS IN SPORTS. FROM THERE, THOUGH, IT’S TIME FOR BUSINESS TIME TO WRESTLE IN CLASS THREE, A 106 NICO DISALVO FROM SOUTHEAST POLK DOMINATED A TAKEDOWN RIGHT HERE. THE FRESHMAN GOES ON TO WIN IT 13 TO NOTHING. HE’S AIMING TO BE A FOUR TIMER. NOW I’M ONE FOURTH OF THE WAY TO FOUR TIMES. SO THAT’S THE EXPECTATION IN CLASS 3A1 13 NORWALK TYLER HARPER WAS SUPERB. A NEAR FALL HERE AGAINST ONE SEED ANTONIO PIERCE FROM IOWA CITY WEST. HE WOULD DOMINATE ALL HARPER. HE WINS 10 TO 4. HE WAS FULL OF CONFIDENCE I TELL MYSELF I’M THE BEST AT LEAST 15 TIMES BEFORE EVERY MATCH. A COUPLE OF CENTRAL IOWA WINNERS IN THE 120 POUND WEIGHT CLASS IN CLASS THREE A, IT’S CARTER PIERSON FROM SOUTHEAST POLK, CONTINUING THE RAMS GREAT WEEK, A LOW SCORING VICTORY ONE TO NOTHING EARNS PIERSON THE TITLE IN CLASS TWO. A GABE SPURGEON FROM EDDYVILLE-BLAKESBURG-FREMONT FINISHED HIS THE CINDERELLA RUN. THE EIGHTH SEEDED FRESHMAN GETS THE REVERSAL HERE. HE WINS SIX TO NOTHING. YEAH, I’M JUST GOING TO TAKE A COUPLE OF WEEKS OFF, MAYBE, AND THEN GET RIGHT BACK TO THE ROOM AND WORK ON IT FOR NEXT SEASON. WEBSTER CITY’S CARSON DOOLITTLE IN CLASS TWO, A 126 HAS LOST EACH OF THE LAST THREE YEARS IN THE STATE SEMIFINALS. THIS YEAR. HE GETS OVER THE HUMP. AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO IT THAN A SUDDEN VICTORY TAKEDOWN? THEN HE WINS 3 TO 1 THIS YEAR. MY LAST YEAR I KNEW I HAD TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT SO I CAME IN AND I WAS PREPARED TO WIN IT IN CLASS TWO, A 132 ROLLING STORIES CADE BLUM JUST DOMINATED A TAKEDOWN HERE IN THE FINAL PERIOD. WAS THE DAGGER. HE’S A STATE CHAMP AGAIN, WINNING 10 TO 3. THE STUNNER OF THE NIGHT. CLASS 3A1 38 WAUKEE NORTHWEST CARTER FREEMAN LOOKING TO BECOME A FOUR TIME CHAMPION, BUT FORT DODGE’S COY DAVIDSON STANDS IN THE WAY THIS THING WENT TO OVERTIME. AND IN IT, DAVIDSON THE TAKEDOWN EARNS HIM THE SUDDEN VICTORY AS HE STUNS THE WRESTLING WORLD. IT WAS ALL MY MIND. I KEPT. I KEPT A STRONG MIND. I BELIEVED IN MY OWN ABILITY AND I GOT THE JOB DONE. WE DIDN’T GET OUR NEXT WINNER UNTIL THE 165 POUND WEIGHT CLASS. IN CLASS THREE A, IT WAS JOHNSTON’S JACOB HELGESON TAKING ON URBANDALE GABE CARVER. IT WAS ALL HELGESON. HE’S THE ONE SEED FOR A REASON. GETS THE TAKEDOWN HERE. HIS FRIENDS IN THE STANDS ARE FIRED UP. HOW ABOUT A 12 TO 3 MAJOR DECISION VICTORY? WE FEEL LIKE I’M ON TOP OF THE WORLD. UH. IT’S AWESOME. NOTHING. NOTHING BEATS IT IN CLASS THREE. A 175 DEMARION ROSS OF FORT DODGE WAS TAKING ON CARLISLE ASA HEMPSTEAD. IT WAS A CLOSE MATCH, BUT THIS TAKEDOWN FROM ROSS RIGHT HERE IS WHAT WOULD DECIDE IT. HE WINS IT. 2 TO 1 IN CLASS THREE. A 190. BRANT SLADE FROM SOUTHEAST POLK HAD AN EPIC BATTLE WITH DINARI MICHAEL OF AMES. IT WAS TIED AT FOUR WITH JUST UNDER 20S TO GO THE TAKE DOWN HERE FROM SLADE IS WHAT SEALS IT. HE WINS SIX FIVE. IN CLASS THREE, A 215 RASHAWN ROSS OF FORT DODGE COMPLETES AN INCREDIBLE WEEK. HE PINS HIS OPPONENT IN JUST OVER A MINUTE AND A HALF. GET THIS. HE PINS HIS WAY THROUGH THE ENTIRE TOURNAMENT. THERE’S A LOT BETTER THAN THE FIRST TIME. THE FIRST TIME I FEEL LIKE I COULD HAVE WRESTLED BETTER, PUT A LITTLE MORE, AND I FELT I DID THAT TODAY IN CLASS ONE, A 215 ASHTON HONNOLD OF NOTTOWAY VALLEY. HOW COOL IS THIS? GETS THE WIN IN OVERTIME. THE SUDDEN VICTORY. AND THEN HE GOES FOR HIS COACH. THE TAKEDOWN THERE. OH THAT’S ANOTHER TWO POINTS. I WAS THINKING ABOUT DUNKING ON HIM BUT THEN I’M LIKE WRESTLING IS A BETTER SPORT FOR A REASON. LET’S WRAP UP WITH CLASS THREE A HEAVYWEIGHTS FROM AMES. IT’S DANIEL HERRERA WHO’S GOING TO WRESTLE AND PLAY FOOTBALL AT IOWA STATE. HE WAS A TWO TIME CHAMP IN CALIFORNIA. NOW HE’S A ONE TIME CHAMPION IN IOWA. HE WINS 18 TO 6. THE MAN THEY CALL PEANUT IS A CHAMPION. PEANUT COME ON NOW IN CLASS THREE A IT WAS SHEER DOMINATION FROM SOUTHEAST POLK. UH, THREE AND A HALF POINTS AWAY FROM TYING THE ALL TIME RECORD FOR TEAM SCORING. I MEAN, MY GOODNESS, WHAT A WEEK FOR THE RAMS IN CLASS TWO. A OSAGE REIGNS AGAIN. THEY, UH, BEAT OUT MOUNT VERNON AND UNION LAPORTE CITY. AND LASTLY IN CLASS ONE A LET’S SH
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FOUR-TIMERS: 32 wrestlers have won four Iowa high school boys wrestling championships
Thirty-two Iowa boys have beaten the odds to become four-time state wrestling champions. The first was Britt's Bob Steenlage, who won four between 1959-1962, and the most recent is Iowa City High's Ben Kueter, who won his between 2020-2023. Video above: Championship Saturday highlights from 2024 state wrestling tournament Naomi Simon of Decorah (170 pounds) became the state's first girls wrestler to win four championships in 2024. She finished her career with an unbeaten 130-0 record. Riverside's Molly Allen (125 pounds) won her fourth in 2025 with a dominant 17-2 tech fall victory over Ellexis Stephens of Harlan.Six of those 32 four-time champions finished their careers unbeaten. That list includes Emmetsburg's Jeff Kerber (126-0); Clinton's Dan Knight (128-0); Iowa City High's Jeff McGinness (172-0); Eric Juergens of Maquoketa (144-0), John Meeks of Des Moines Roosevelt (168-0); and Kueter (111-0).There are 107 three-time state champions, including Waterloo West's Dan Gable, who finished his career with an unbeaten 64-0 record.Get the latest sports headlines from vlogIowa’s 32 four-time state high school boys wrestling championsBob Steenlage, Britt, 1959-62Jeff Kerber, Emmetsburg, 1976-79Scott Morningstar, Lisbon, 1977-80Joe Gibbons, Waterloo Columbus and Ames, 1978-81Greg Randall, Mount Vernon, 1979-82Mark Schwab, Osage, 1982-85Dan Knight, Clinton, 1984-87Shane Light, Lisbon, 1987-90Jeff McGinness, Iowa City High, 1990-93Jason Keenan, Ogden, 1992-95Eric Juergens, Maquoketa, 1993-96Jesse Sundell, Ogden, 1998-01Mack Reiter, Don Bosco, 2000-03C.J. Ettelson, Hudson, 2000-03Dan LeClere, North Linn, 2002-05Jay Borschel, Linn-Mar, 2002-05T.J. Sebolt, Centerville, 2003-06Bart Reiter, Don Bosco, 2006-09Nick Moore, Iowa City West, 2007-10Cory Clark, Southeast Polk, 2009-12John Meeks, Des Moines Roosevelt, 2009-12Jake Marlin, Creston, 2010-13Brandon Sorensen, Denver-Tripoli, 2010-13Max Thomsen, Union, 2012-15Carter Happel, Lisbon, 2013-16Brody Teske, Fort Dodge, 2015-18Alex Thomsen, Underwood, 2015-18Cael Happel, Lisbon, 2017-20Matthew Lewis, Centerville, 2018-21Marcel Lopez, New London, 2019-22Carter Fousek, Crestwood, 2019-22Ben Kueter, Iowa City High, 2020-23Source: Iowa High School Athletic Association; information current following 2024 state wrestling tournament» Subscribe to vlog's YouTube page» Download the free vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play

Thirty-two Iowa boys have beaten the odds to become four-time state wrestling champions.

The first was Britt's Bob Steenlage, who won four between 1959-1962, and the most recent is Iowa City High's Ben Kueter, who won his between 2020-2023.

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Video above: Championship Saturday highlights from 2024 state wrestling tournament

Naomi Simon of Decorah (170 pounds) became the state's first girls wrestler to win four championships in 2024. She finished her career with an unbeaten 130-0 record. Riverside's Molly Allen (125 pounds) won her fourth in 2025 with a dominant 17-2 tech fall victory over Ellexis Stephens of Harlan.

Six of those 32 four-time champions finished their careers unbeaten. That list includes Emmetsburg's Jeff Kerber (126-0); Clinton's Dan Knight (128-0); Iowa City High's Jeff McGinness (172-0); Eric Juergens of Maquoketa (144-0), John Meeks of Des Moines Roosevelt (168-0); and Kueter (111-0).

There are 107 three-time state champions, including Waterloo West's Dan Gable, who finished his career with an unbeaten 64-0 record.

Get the latest sports headlines from vlog

Iowa’s 32 four-time state high school boys wrestling champions

  • Bob Steenlage, Britt, 1959-62
  • Jeff Kerber, Emmetsburg, 1976-79
  • Scott Morningstar, Lisbon, 1977-80
  • Joe Gibbons, Waterloo Columbus and Ames, 1978-81
  • Greg Randall, Mount Vernon, 1979-82
  • Mark Schwab, Osage, 1982-85
  • Dan Knight, Clinton, 1984-87
  • Shane Light, Lisbon, 1987-90
  • Jeff McGinness, Iowa City High, 1990-93
  • Jason Keenan, Ogden, 1992-95
  • Eric Juergens, Maquoketa, 1993-96
  • Jesse Sundell, Ogden, 1998-01
  • Mack Reiter, Don Bosco, 2000-03
  • C.J. Ettelson, Hudson, 2000-03
  • Dan LeClere, North Linn, 2002-05
  • Jay Borschel, Linn-Mar, 2002-05
  • T.J. Sebolt, Centerville, 2003-06
  • Bart Reiter, Don Bosco, 2006-09
  • Nick Moore, Iowa City West, 2007-10
  • Cory Clark, Southeast Polk, 2009-12
  • John Meeks, Des Moines Roosevelt, 2009-12
  • Jake Marlin, Creston, 2010-13
  • Brandon Sorensen, Denver-Tripoli, 2010-13
  • Max Thomsen, Union, 2012-15
  • Carter Happel, Lisbon, 2013-16
  • Brody Teske, Fort Dodge, 2015-18
  • Alex Thomsen, Underwood, 2015-18
  • Cael Happel, Lisbon, 2017-20
  • Matthew Lewis, Centerville, 2018-21
  • Marcel Lopez, New London, 2019-22
  • Carter Fousek, Crestwood, 2019-22
  • Ben Kueter, Iowa City High, 2020-23

Source: Iowa High School Athletic Association; information current following 2024 state wrestling tournament

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