Iowa’s best high school wrestlers: Meet the state’s top 160-pounders

A handful of returning wrestlers who reached the podium a year ago are back among those who competed at 160 pounds, including Class 3A runner-up Damarion Ross of Fort Dodge. 

The older brother of defending state champion Dreshaun Ross, the elder Ross won 43 matches and earned his second state medal.

Urbandale’s Gabe Carver and Max Gast of Osage are two others with multiple medals seeking a third to round out their prep careers.

Here is a look at some of the top 160-pound wrestlers in the state of Iowa:

Damarion Ross, Fort Dodge, senior

Success in a Dodger singlet has become the norm for the Ross family, as Damarion added a second state medal by placing second in Class 3A last year. He is a three-time qualifier with a career record of 96-28 entering the season.

Gabe Carver, Urbandale, senior

Carver is one of the top returning place winners in 3A, as the senior placed fourth last year with a record of 38-5. That was two spots higher than his sophomore season when he finished sixth with 38 wins on his resume.

Max Gast, Osage, senior

Another returning place winner for the Green Devils, Gast secured fourth in 2A with a 44-9 mark. He was also seventh two years ago, finishing 42-10.

Cinsere Clark, West Des Moines Valley, senior

Clark and Ross had some nice battles a season ago, with the Tiger ending up fifth overall. He posted a 36-9 mark a year removed from being a state qualifier with 22 wins.

Colin Falck, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, senior

After missing out on state as a sophomore, Falck made the most of his chance last year, placing sixth in 3A while winning 39 matches. He also reached state as a freshman but was off the medal stand despite going 17-9.

John McGill, Colfax-Mingo, senior

McGill reached state as a freshman, going 38-9 but was unable to place. He didn’t qualify as a sophomore in 1A, but came back stronger, earning sixth with a 47-8 mark.

Andrew Kimball, Don Bosco, senior

Kimball is looking to add a fourth state appearance to his resume and a second medal after taking seventh in 1A. He owns 86 career wins coming into the season.

Sir Brandon Watts, Sioux City Heelan, senior

One of the best names in the sport, Watts helped power Heelan by reaching state a year ago with a 43-5 record. He was unable to earn a second medal, though, after taking seventh as a sophomore with a 39-8 mark.

Avery Vaske, Starmont, junior

Vaske made the most of his matches at state, placing eighth in 1A despite just 15 bouts on the year. He won 11 of those, including several key ones at Wells Fargo Arena.

Gavin Scheuermann, Greene County, senior

Three consecutive seasons have ended at state for Scheuerman, as he looks for his first medal. The Ram is 80-24 coming into the season.

Ben Hansen, Missouri Valley, senior

A two-time qualifier, Hansen is coming off his best season to date, as he went 45-13 for Missouri Valley. He has qualified for state as a junior and freshman.

Ari Ehlts, Ankeny Centennial, senior

It was a memorable junior campaign for Ehlts, as he finished 34-14 and reached the state tournament.

Alex Allen, Le Mars, senior

Allen picked up 36 wins on the mat last year as a junior, including enough in the postseason to qualify for state.

Grant Boddicker, Linn-Mar, senior

Boddicker looks to build off his first state appearance, as he reached Wells Fargo Arena after going 29-15.

AJ Pontier, Indianola, junior

Pontier had a very successful sophomore season, ending it at the state tournament and with a record of 34-16.

Logan Bruxvoort, Pella, junior

Bruxvoort pushed his way through to the state field last year, missing out on the medal stand despite going 23-6.

Jackson Winkey, Ames, junior

Winkey earned a spot in state and finished his 10th-grade season with a record of 38-13.

Chase Greiner, Washington, senior

It was a strong season for Greiner on the mats as a junior, as he reached state and won 42 matches.

Jackson Hird, Mount Vernon, senior

Another wrestler back after making his state debut, hird went 37-16 as a junior and should be a key figure in the race for a bid this winter.

Rhett Hedrick, Ballard, junior

The Bombers are always loaded on the wrestling mats, and Hedrick is another standout. He went 37-14 as a sophomore and reached state.

Daniel Gorskikh, Knoxville, senior

Not many were able to get the better of Gorskikh before state, as he finished the season with a record of 43-4.

Jake Moore, Sigourney-Keota, senior

Moore looks to build off his junior campaign that saw him qualify for state and win 30 matches.

Tanner Thurn, East Buchanan, senior

A standout on the football field, Thurn hopes to showcase his skills in wrestling after qualifying for state and going 28-6 last winter.