Freshman Kale Petersen, a 2023 Greene County High School graduate, finished in fourth place at 133 lbs. at the Soldier Salute Wrestling Tournament held on Friday and Saturday at X-treme Arena in Coralville. Petersen is an Iowa Hawkeye, but wrestled unattached as he made his collegiate wrestling debut.

Friday saw the three-time Iowa high school State Champion win 12-5 over #20 Angelo Rini of Columbia, then win 2-1 vs. 2023 NCAA Tournament qualifier Nico Palmer of North Carolina.

Iowa wrestlers made up three of the four semifinalists on Saturday morning and Petersen faced teammate Brody Teske of Ft. Dodge with the veterans, ranked #11 in the country, topping the rooking by a 15-0 technical fall in 6:03. Garrett Tokken of Navy was next for Petersen in the consolation semifinals and Petersen turned a 3-1 deficit into a win by fall in the second period. He lost the third place match 2-1 to another Iowa teammate, Cullen Shriever of Mason City.