All-Union wrestling selections

It was another big year for Union area wrestling that saw over 30 wrestlers make this years state tournament.

That means it’s another stacked All-Union wrestling list, full of some of the top competitors by class in the state.

Leading the way on this year’s list in New London. The Tigers continued to show why they’re one of Southeast Iowa’s best with four total selections on the list including captain and head coach.

Listed below are the full selections for the 2022-23 All Union wrestling teams.

Coach: Mark Chiri, New London

For New London’s Mark Chiri, it was yet another stellar wrestling season, which once again ended at the state tournament.

In his final season at the New London wrestling helm, Chiri took four wrestlers to state, finishing with one state runner-up.

Captain: Dom Lopez, senior, New London

New London’s Dom Lopez (160) was one of the most dominant wrestlers in the state, picking up win after win while tech falling most of his opponents.

After gracing a perfect record through the regular season and district round, Lopez found himself in position to win the state title.

After a tech fall victory and two major decisions, Lopez found himself in the state championship match.

After a hard-fought battle, Lopez came up just short by sudden victory, 6-4, to No. 1 Wyatt Reisz of Logan-Magnolia.

Lopez ended his season at 57-1 and became the state of Iowa’s all time leading wins holder in the process.

106: Reanah Utterback, sophomore, Sigourney-Keota

Sigourney-Keota’s Reanah Utterback made history in 2022-23.

The sophomore Cobra became just the second girl in Iowa High School wrestling history to make the podium, finishing eighth.

Utterback tallied a record of 37-11 and will be one of the top wrestlers to return in 2023-24.

113: Gage Samo, sophomore, WACO

WACO’s Gage Samo had quite the run this season.

Samo finished with an overall record of 18-4 and finished sixth at the state tournament.

After a loss in the 113 quarterfinals Samo bounced back with a pair of wins, propelling him to the consolation semifinals. Back-to-back tight losses gave him the sixth-place finish.

120: Aaron Boone, sophomore, Washington

Sophomore Aaron Boone elevated himself to the state tournament in 2022-23 after a third-place finish at districts kept him out of the tournament in 2021-22.

Boone found himself in a stacked bracket at the state tournament, holding a 10 seed, but would finish sixth on the podium.

After a loss put him in the consolation bracket, Boone won four straight matches before a loss in the fifth-place match. He finished 45-6 on the year.

126: Gage Burden, sophomore, New London

New London’s Gage Burden put together another great season for the Tigers in his second year.

Burden made it back to the state tournament. He fell in back-to-back matches to end his tournament run.

He finished with an overall record of 34-14. Burden will look to make a run once again as one of the Tigers’ top returners.

132: Carlos Valenzuela, senior, Highland

Carlos Valenzuela put together a fantastic year on the mat.

The senior Huskies made it all the way to 132 semifinals, before falling to No. 2 Tanner Arjes of North Butler-Clarksville.

In the consolation bracket, he came up short in back-to-back contests to finish sixth.

Valenzuela finished with an overall record of 49-4.

145: Cason Miller, sophomore, Fairfield

Fairfield’s Cason Miller made his second straight trip to the state tournament, after getting there as a freshman.

Miller fell by a narrow 10-9 decision in his opening match and then by 4-2 in his first consolation match to end the tournament.

On the year, Miller compiled a record of 37-9. He will be a top returner for the Trojans next season.

152: Reid Molyneux, junior, Sigourney-Keota

Molyneux had a great start to his state tournament.

The junior Cobra won his opening match by major decision, 13-5, but his next two matches were both tough ones as they ended his tournament.

Molyneux finished 28-6 in 2022-23.

160: Louden Huisenga, sophomore, WACO

Huisenga made the trip to the state tournament for the second consecutive year.

He had high hopes coming in, but in his first match he was injured on an illegal move. Huisenga advanced, but was forced to medically forfeit his quarterfinal and consolation bout.

He finished with a 44-8 overall record.

170: Jack Clarahan, senior, Sigourney-Keota

Sigourney-Keota’s Jack Clarahan had one heck of a run.

Clarahan dominated the competition, but just one loss kept him out of the semifinal/final round.

He won his first match, before suffering a loss in the quarterfinals by decision, 9-8.

Clarahan followed with four straight wins, which included a 14-4 major decision for third. He finished with a record of 45-3.

182: Blake Juhl, senior, Pekin

Blake Juhl finished out his season at state.

The Pekin Panther got a fall victory in his first match of the tournament, before closing out with a 1-2 record.

Juhl finished with an overall record of 37-5.

195: Trent Wilkerson, senior, New London

New London’s Trent Wilkerson put together a nice senior season.

The Tiger won his first match before falling to semifinalist Nathan Beitz of Maquoketa Valley.

Wilkerson bounced back with a pair of wins before a loss in the consolation round four ended his tournament.

Wilkerson finished 46-10 on the season.

220: Kai Malone, senior, Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union

Kai Malone put together a nice season.

The senior Wildcat won his first match before falling to eventual state champion Nick Reinicke of Dike-New Hartford.

Malone split in his final two matches ended his season at 23-10.

285: Russel Coil, junior, Columbus/WMU

One of the best runs of the tournament came from Russel Coil of Columbus.

Coil won three straight matches to put himself in the 285 semifinals. He loss narrowly by 3-2 decision. Coil lost back-to-back matches in the consolation bracket for a sixth-place finish.

Coil ended his season at 43-8.