Iowa’s best high school wrestlers: Meet the state’s top 145-pounders

There is quite a collection from the 145-pound brackets last year led by two defending state champions. 

Waverly-Shell Rock’s Bas Diaz claimed gold in Class 3A while Tucker Stangel from Osage put the finishing touches on a perfect campaign with a title in 2A. Two more who made the finals are also slated to be back, along with another pair that finished third. 

Here is a look at some of the top 145-pound wrestlers in the state of Iowa:

Bas Diaz, Waverly-Shell Rock, junior

After walking out of state as a freshman with a win and a bronze medal, Diaz did it again, this time as a state champion. He has gone 86-6 over the past two seasons.

Tucker Stangel, Osage, senior

Stangel has made it his mission to become elite, placing fourth as a freshman, third as a sophomore and winning it all last winter. Along the way, the Green Devil has amassed a career record of 124-9, with six of those losses coming as a ninth-grader.

Braden Blackorby, Johnston, senior

Much like Stangel, Blackorby has shown his growth on the mats, qualifying as a freshman with 13 wins. Two years ago, he placed fourth in 3A, going 31-5. Last season, he finished 33-3 and second in the state.

Kaiden Knaack, Don Bosco, senior

Another in a long line of standout Dons, Knaack was a runner-up in 1A a season ago, finishing 36-6 overall. He also has a sixth and an eighth with 99 wins to his credit.

Lucas Bruhl, Ankeny Centennial, senior

The son of a former Fort Dodge Senior High standout Brad Bruhl,  the younger Bruhl is carving his own path with the Jaguars. He was 44-3 a season ago, placing third in 3A after going 19-5 and taking sixth as a sophomore.

Keaton Moeller, Starmont, sophomore

Moeller returns in 1A looking to build off a fine freshman season in which he went 39-3 and placed third overall.

Tycho Carmichael, Bettendorf, junior

Carmichael continues to prove himself in the 3A ranks, placing fourth and fifth his first two seasons with 65 wins against just 11 losses.

Jaxon Miller, Carlisle, sophomore

Miller is another youngster looking to serve notice after taking fourth in 3A as a ninth-grader with a 40-7 record.

Jackson Jaspers, Mount Vernon, senior

Three trips to state have resulted in three medals for Jaspers, who has finished fifth, fourth and seventh. He owns 88 wins the last two years and 117 overall.

Caleb Olson, Union LaPorte City, senior

Look out in 2A this winter for Olson, as the senior was seventh last year after placing fifth the season before. He has gone 74-10 during that time,

Wesley Anderson, Waukee, junior

Anderson made a nice late-season run to punch his ticket to state, placing sixth in 3A for the Warriors with 23 wins.

Jordan Rial, Bondurant-Farrar, junior

Rial comes from a wrestling family, as his father, Pat, competed for Fort Dodge Senior High, the University of Northern Iowa and his uncle, Mark, for the U.S. Olympic team. Last year, Jordan was seventh in 3A, going 29-11, and is coming off leading the Bluejays to the state football semifinals.

Brent Dennhardt, Greene County, junior

Dennhardt was around greatness the past two seasons in the Greene County gym, and now looks to add his name to that list after placing eighth with a 40-8 record.

Justin Avila, Iowa City West, junior

Avila was fourth his freshman campaign at state, going 30-12 overall. Last year, he returned to state and was 39-9, but missed the podium.

Abe Bushong, Winterset, junior

Each of Bushong’s first two seasons on the mats have resulted in state appearances, winning 83 matches. The junior, though, is still searching for his first medal.

Keegan Kayser, Le Mars, senior

A qualifier last year, Kayser missed the podium despite going 31-17.

Nic VanArkel, West Des Moines Valley, senior

VanArkel was tested throughout the season competing for the Tigers, and that helped him get through districts and to state with 30 wins on his resume.

Jake Pontier, Indianola, junior

Another 3A qualifier set to return, Pontier went 35-15 wrestling as a sophomore last winter.

Brock Mulder, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, sophomore

-SQ 46-8

Hudson Scranton, Anamosa, sophomore

As just a freshman, Scranton was highly-regarded, qualifying for state while going 43-7 overall.

Cooper Ludwig, Carroll, senior

Ludwig didn’t taste defeat to often last winter, finishing 43-4 and reaching the state tournament for the Tigers.

Conor Cassady, Martensdale-St. Marys, senior

With almost 50 wins last year, Cassady knows what it takes. Now, he’ll try to earn a medal after reaching state but missing out.