Greene County High School 2023 senior wrestler Kale Petersen has been on the shelf most of the summer due to a shoulder injury. That hasn’t stopped him from being ranked number 7 among the Fab 50 of Iowa’s wrestling seniors. Petersen is a two-time Iowa State Champion, having won in Class 1A at 106 lbs. at West Fork (Sheffield) in 2020, then taking the 120 lbs. title in 2A last February for Greene County.

He talked with Raccoon Valley Radio about Iowa’s wrestling class of ’23, which some believe will be among the strongest overall the state has ever produced, and that’s saying something in a hotbed for the sport like Iowa is. “We have a bunch of kids from all over the state and I believe this class of 2023 is one of the best in the state of Iowa. You got Nate Jeseroga (Southeast Polk) who’s ranked number one in the country, Ryder Block (Waverly-Shell Rock) who’s ranked number one or number two, plus Ben Kueter (Iowa City High) who is ranked number one and I believe he’s ranked number two pound-for-pound in the whole country. We have a bunch of guys ranked pound-for-pound and our class has a lot of top recruits.”

Petersen and fellow Ram senior McKinley Robbins, also a past Iowa State Champion, are both being recruited by Division I wrestling programs and both wrestle year ’round for Sebolt Wresting Academy in Jefferson.