Iowa high school wrestling Week 2 notebook (12/11/2023)

Fort Dodge’s Koy Davidson made an instant impact as a freshman, reaching the state wrestling finals. 

Davidson settled for a silver that year, as he looked to move up to the top of the podium last winter at state. That didn’t happen, as he finished in fourth.

This past weekend at the Council Bluffs Classic, Davidson served notice that he is the man to beat at 138 pounds, taking out not only second-ranked Jabari Hinson, but besting a pair of No. 1-ranked wrestlers.

In the semifinals, he downed Nebraska’s Brayden Canoyer, 5-4, before taking out Iowa’s top-ranked Carter Freeman of Waukee Northwest, 2-1. He had three falls in early action during the event.

That makes it 2-for-2 in terms of titles already this year for Davidson, as he also won gold at the Donnybrook. In October, he was sixth at the Brian Keck Memorial and also finished fourth at the Iowa/USA State Freestyle Championships in May.

Davidson’s teammate, Dreshaun Ross, remained unbeaten by claiming gold at 215 pounds. The defending state champion used a 3-1 sudden victory to best Totino-Grace’s Cy Kruse in the finals as he also had three falls during the event.

University of Iowa commit Dru Ayala placed second and Damarion Ross was third for the Dodgers, who finished second to Waukee Northwest in the team standings.

For the Wolves, Koufax Christensen won at 126 pounds with a fall in the finals while Freeman added his runner-up showing. Bryce Williams and Abe Parker were each fourth.

Lewis Central freshman Weston Porter, Iowa City West sophomore Alexander Perice, Glenwood senior Matt Beem and Danarii Mickel of Ames were all crowned champions.

Along with a two-day boys tournament, the event also featured girls action with Iowa athletes Katie Biscoglia and Naomi Templeman of Raccoon River Wrestling, Avaeh Smith from Lewis Central, and Skylar Slade and Bella Procelli from Southeast Polk all winning titles.

Washburn won the girls title with Raccoon River second and Missouri Valley third.

Southeast Polk flexes muscle at Baltzley Invitational

While many of the top teams in the state were doing battle in Council Bluffs, a handful of others headed to the Baltzley Invitational in Johnston.

There, Southeast Polk topped a field that included Indianola, the host Dragons, Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids Prairie, Waverly-Shell Rock, West Des Moines Valley and others.

The Rams walked away with six champions in Nico DeSalvo, Carter Pearson, Maximus Riggins, Logan Trenary, Brent Slade and Holden Hansen. Adding a runner-up finish was Wil Oberbroeckling with Jaxsen Vestal and Mat Prine each taking third.

Southeast Polk racked up 22 pins during the event with Vestal, Pearson and Cooper Martinson all earning three each.

Benton tops field at Keith Vry

Benton rolled to the team title at the Keith Vry Invitational, besting a field that included Crestwood, AP-GC and Don Bosco.

Elias Bieschke, Brady Patterson and Brenden Heying were crowned individual winners with Elijah Kupka and Blayke Heying placing second. Six others finished in the Top-5 at their respective weight classes.

Don Bosco freshman Hayden Schwab continued his sensational run, as the son of University of Northern Iowa head coach Doug Schwab pinned Owen Korsmo of Crestwood in the finals at 106 pounds. Schwab is unbeaten at 11-0 to start his career.