Iowa & Nebraska: High school wrestling teams to watch

Ballard: Watch out below. The nationally ranked Bombers are the preseason pick to repeat as Class 2A team and dual team state champions. Five Ballard wrestlers were state-ranked by The Predicament to the start season. Returning individual state champions are junior Tanner Haitt (140), junior Tanner Weatherman – who moves up from 135 to 152 this season – and nationally ranked 171-pound senior Brock Weatherman (a Northern Iowa recruit).

Bettendorf: The Bulldogs might be the only team with a legitimate chance to challenge Iowa City West and Waverly-Shell Rock, two squads that have combined to win every 3A team and dual team championship the last four years. Led by coach Dan Knight, a former four-time individual champion at Clinton, Bettendorf’s roster boasts 10 wrestlers who were state qualifiers in either Iowa or Illinois last season. There are no defending champions on the team but Mount Zion (Ill.) transfer Bo Schlosser, a 135-pound junior, and 285-junior Brodie Berrie began the season ranked No. 1 by The Predicament at their weight classes.

Don Bosco: With two multi-year individual champions and six state-ranked grapplers returning, the four-time defending 1A champion Dons are the team to beat again this season. Cousins Cole Welter (135) and Clay Welter (152) both look to win state titles at their third different weight class.

Iowa City West: The nationally ranked Trojans have finished no worse than runner-up in both team and dual team competition the past four years. West started this season impressively when it beat top-ranked Waverly-Shell Rock, 34-31, in the championship dual of the Five Seasons tournament in Cedar Rapids. The Trojans had 10 wrestlers in The Predicament’s individual preseason rankings. They include Iowa recruit Nick Moore, a nationally ranked 160-pound senior who started the year with a 121-0 career record.

Waverly-Shell Rock: The nationally ranked two-time defending 3A team and dual team champion began the season with a whopping four wrestlers ranked No. 1 in their weight class by The Predicament. Three Go-Hawks were individual champions last year. They are two-time champion and nationally ranked senior Jake Ballweg – a future Iowa Hawkeye who moves up from 135 to 140, 145-pound junior Cody Caldwell and junior 215-pounder Cody Krumwiede.

Amherst: After three consecutive runner-up finishes, the Broncos might have what it takes to earn their first Class D team state championship since 2006. Nine of the team’s 14 starters were state qualifiers a year ago. The group includes senior Justin Taubenheim, who moves up to 119 pounds after winning individual gold at 112 last season.

Grand Island: Eight individual state medalists – including three champions – return for the Islanders, who set Class A state tournament records for points (252.5), medalists (12) and pins (25) last season. Seven individuals went 4-0 Saturday as the Islanders swept the field at the East-West Duals in Lincoln.

Mitchell: This team will be a strong challenger to defending champion Central City for the Class C title. Defending 189-pound champion Jordan Debus – a Chadron State recruit – and four other state medalists return to the mat for the Tigers.

Omaha North: The Vikings look to improve on last year’s seventh-place finish at the Class A meet. The team returns two individuals who are ranked nationally by Amateur Wrestling News. They are heavyweight Ron Coleman, who is bidding to become a four-time state champion, and RaVaughn Perkins, who seeks his second straight 145-pound individual crown after winning it all at 135 as a sophomore.

Skutt Catholic: The SkyHawks are a heavy favorite to win their 13th consecutive team championship in Class B. Three individual state champions return including 112-pounder Thomas Gilman, who won the title at 103 last season as a freshman. Other reigning titlists are senior 140-pounder Andy Hollins, and Christian Loges, who jumps from 130 to 145 pounds this season.