Iowa’s talent pool has been getting deeper in recent years, evidenced by the state’s freestyle title-winning performance last summer at Junior National Duals, Iowa’s first in 16 years. Many of the key contributors from that team are back again this year and they’ll be vying for more hardware next month at the state tournament in Des Moines. 

Here are 25 names you need to know for the stretch run of the Iowa high school season:

Trever Anderson (Ankeny) — senior, 120 pounds 

A three-time state medalist and two-time champ who’s headed to Northern Iowa. Anderson compiled a 107-5 career record during his first three seasons. 

Robert Avila (Iowa City West) — senior, 145 pounds 

Bidding for his fourth state title this season as a senior at Iowa City West after winning his first three in Class 1A for Lisbon. Avila is a Virginia recruit. 

Dru Ayala (Fort Dodge) — sophomore, 106 pounds 

Ayala’s older brother, Drake, cemented himself as one of Iowa’s best high school wrestlers ever last year by winning his third state title to go with a pair of Fargo championships, a Super 32 belt and a win at Who’s #1. Dru is looking to build his resume. The sophomore had a superb summer, posting an undefeated record for Iowa’s freestyle title team at the Junior National Duals and earning freestyle All-America honors in Fargo. 

Ryder Block (Waverly-Shell Rock) — junior, 138 pounds 

Won a state title as a freshman and reached the finals last year, where he lost to Drake Ayala in a rematch of a bout that Block won earlier in the season. Committed this fall to Iowa. 

Chet Buss (North Butler-Clarksville) — senior, 285 pounds 

Posted a combined 83-0 record during the past two seasons on his way to a pair of Class 1A heavyweight titles. Will continue his career at Northern Iowa. 

Carter Fousek (Crestwood) — senior, 138 pounds 

Wrestling-rich Cresco has yet another star in the making with Fousek, an Iowa State recruit who’s chasing his fourth state title in a community that produced greats in the sport such as Harold Nichols and Gary Kurdelmeier in addition to Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Borlaug. 

Evan Frost (Dowling Catholic) — senior, 132 pounds 

A three-time Louisiana state champ who moved to Iowa for his senior season, along with his twin brother, Jacob. Evan placed eighth two years ago at the Super 32. 

Jacob Frost (Dowling Catholic) — senior, 138 pounds 

Like his brother, Evan, Jacob is a three-time Louisiana state champ. Both are headed to Columbia next season. Jacob placed fourth two years ago at the Super 32. 

Nicholas Fox (Osage) — junior, 152 pounds 

Turned in a terrific summer campaign, earning All-America honors in both styles in Fargo in the 16U division. Fox is a two-time state finalist.  

Griffin Gammell (Waukee) — senior, 182 pounds 

The Virginia recruit is a two-time state medalist who placed third as a sophomore and second last year. Added to his resume this past summer when he wrestled on the Iowa freestyle team that won the title at Junior National Duals. 

Hunter Garvin (Iowa City West) — senior, 152 pounds 

A steady senior who’s adding to three previous banner seasons. Vaulted up the national rankings last year after knocking off several top opponents during his junior year. Committed this fall to Stanford. 

McCrae Hagarty (Waverly-Shell Rock) — junior, 195 pounds 

Went 38-0 last year as a sophomore on his way to the Class 3A title at 182 pounds. Placed third this past summer in Fargo in freestyle in the 16U division. 

Bradley Hill (Bettendorf) — senior, 195 pounds 

Compiled a 28-0 record last year on his way to the Class 3A title at 220 pounds. Followed that up by reaching the finals at the USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals and UWW Cadet World Team Trials. 

Joel Jesuroga (Southeast Polk) — senior, 145 pounds 

Followed up a fourth-place finish as a sophomore by winning a state title as a junior. Committed this fall to Iowa, where he will be joined by his brother, Nate. 

Nate Jesuroga (Southeast Polk) — junior, 126 pounds 

One of the top high school wrestlers in the country. Jesuroga brought home a bronze medal from the Cadet World Championships last summer in Budapest. Since then, he has posted a win at Who’s #1 and captured a Super 32 belt. 

Ben Kueter (Iowa City High) — junior, 220 pounds 

A multi-sport star who attracted several Power 5 football scholarship offers before he committed to Iowa to both play football and wrestle for the Hawkeyes. Kueter is an undefeated two-time state champ who’s bidding for his third title as a junior. 

Marcel Lopez (New London) — senior, 126 pounds 

Lopez is bidding for his fourth state title this season in Class 1A. He entered this season with a 152-4 career record after going 60-0 as a junior. He’s headed to SIU Edwardsville next season. 

Max Magayna (Waterloo Columbus) — sophomore, 160 pounds 

Piled up AAU state titles during his early years in the sport and followed that up last year by winning a state title in his first crack at the high school level when he went 42-0.  

Tate Naaktgeboren (Linn-Mar) — junior, 170 pounds 

The Linn-Mar program has consistently produced high-level performers during Doug Streicher’s lengthy tenure as head coach and Naaktgeboren fits near the top of the list with NCAA champs Jay Borschel and Matt McDonough, who combined for seven state titles with the Lions. Naaktgeboren, an Iowa State commit, reached the state finals as a freshman and won a title last season as a sophomore. 

Camron Phetxoumphone (Webster City) — senior, 120 pounds 

Bidding for his third state title after placing fifth as a freshman. Phetxoumphone went 42-0 as a sophomore and 35-1 as a junior. 

Gable Porter (Underwood) — junior, 126 pounds 

A two-time state finalist who won a state title in 2020, Porter has some national credentials as well. He was a Cadet World Team Trials finalist and a Fargo Junior finalist in Greco. 

Aiden Riggins (Waverly-Shell Rock) — senior, 160 pounds 

One of the nation’s top 160-pounders. An Iowa commit who reached the Cadet World Team and Fargo Junior finals in freestyle in 2020. Placed third, second and first in his three trips to the state tournament. 

Wyatt Voelker (West Delaware) — senior, 195 pounds 

A Northern Iowa recruit who earned All-America honors in all three styles last year. He was a Folkstyle Nationals finals, a Fargo Greco-Roman champ and placed eighth in Fargo in freestyle. Voelker went 42-0 last season as a junior and scored bonus points in 41 of those bouts. 

Jacob Walker (Waverly-Shell Rock) — junior, 285 pounds 

One of three Waverly-Shell Rock wrestlers who earned Fargo All-America honors last summer. Walker placed second in freestyle and eighth in Greco-Roman in Fargo. He was also a state runner-up to Kueter last year at 220.

C.J. Walrath (Burlington Notre Dame) — junior, 182 pounds 

Went from placing third at his district tournament as a freshman to placing third at the state meet last year as a sophomore when he went he went 49-1. Placed eighth this past fall at the Super 32.