Starting the 2024-25 season, the Little Hawk Boys Wrestling Team is currently 5-0 in duals against Waterloo West, Dubuque Wahlert, CR Washington, Dubuque Hempstead and CR Jefferson. The team also boasts multiple podium finishers at major tournaments like Dan Gable Donnybrook, Blaine Heick ‘26, Kendall Kurtz ‘25, Kane Willey ‘26, and Mason Tilley ‘25 all finished 6th. Hempstead, the teams most recent duel in which they won, had beaten them in three consecutive years.
With an almost entirely new varsity starting lineup entering this season, except for seniors Kendall Kurtz ‘25 and Mason Tilley ‘25, and juniors Raphael Etuma ‘26 and Chris Davis ‘26. Etuma is currently ranked 12th in the state in the 215 pound weight class. The squad had many spots to fill after losing two state champions last year, two podium finishers, and one other state qualifier. Juniors Blaine Heick and Jude Seebeck have stepped up to fill these spots, placing in multiple tournaments and invitationals that the team has competed in this year.
“I think it’s been keeping our morale up throughout the season. We can’t get down on ourselves after losses, and just need to keep working. My weight has also been a challenge, I need to keep it up. I’m wrestling 190 and I weigh about 178,” Blaine Heick ‘26 said.
In the upcoming few weeks, the team duals Cedar Falls on the 23rd. Then, the team’s annual home tournament the Clyde Bean City Duals on Saturday, January 25th. Following that, the troupe goes to Prairie to dual, then goes to the MVC tournament at Xavier High School.
The following week, the team will wrestle in a sub-state dual tournament to qualify for the state tournament for duals. Then, districts take place that weekend, to qualify individually for the state tournament in Des Moines. The state tournament is at the Wells Fargo Arena from February 19th to the 21st.
“I think our lower weights, we’ve had quite a few losses by them besides our 132 and 120. Our middle and heavier weights are pretty strong, so I think we can make a run. For me, I just need to keep my mind clear and my mental state strong so I don’t psych myself out,” Jude Seebeck ‘26 said.
