Iowa City West’s Diego Robertty continues family tradition with dominant start to Class 3A state wrestling tournament

DES MOINES — Iowa City West’s Diego Robertty has wrestling in his blood.

The sport flows through Robertty’s arteries with every heartbeat and is ingrained in his DNA thanks to his parents, Marcia and Ricardo, who were both Olympic wrestler for Venezuela.

“I definitely loved the sport at the beginning but getting better was definitely a process,” Robertty said. “A lot of things happened and I started training, keeping my head down and watching the outcomes.”

The Trojans’ freshman 113-pounder continued his impressive season with a 43-second pin over Marshalltown’s Nicholas Million in the first round of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 3A state wrestling tournament Wednesday at Casey’s Center.

The goal was to get on and off the mat and conserve as much energy as possible, which has been a common occurrence in his 36 victories this season.

“Don’t waste any time,” Robertty said. “They (my coaches) keep telling me this tournament is a marathon and I’ve just got to keep a nice steady pace.”

Wrestling has a special place in his family. Marcia (Andrades) was a two-time Olympian, competing at the 2008 Games in Beijing, China, and in London in 2012. Ricardo, who helps coach at Big Game Wrestling Club in North Liberty, was a 2012 Olympian in freestyle and is a Pan Am Games bronze medalist. He has wrestled elite international wrestlers like Jordan Burroughs and Russia’s Denis Tsargush.

“We definitely bond over that,” Robertty said. “It’s definitely helped our relationship overall. My mom’s side and my dad’s side both have a lot of wrestlers. I have a lot of uncles that are wrestlers. They always watch my matches. I have a lot of fans and critics. It definitely helps.”

Robertty also praised his teammates. He is challenged by heavier wrestlers in practice. The goal is to make practice so difficult that competition is easier than the workouts. It has paid dividends.

“My friends tell me you earn the medal in the wrestling and then you just go get it in the tournament,” Robertty said. “Definitely keep that in mind.”

Focus and dedication will remain keys as he continues through the tournament and beyond. Robertty, who was a double All-American with a title in Greco-Roman and third-place finish in freestyle at Junior Nationals this summer in Fargo, N.D., has a specific objective here in Des Moines.

“Just to show everybody that I have the skills,” Robertty said. “I have experience and I train hard in the wrestling room.”

Robertty was joined in the quarterfinals by teammates Hugo Hughes (120) and Alexander Pierce at 126. Hughes, seeded 11th, opened with two pins, decking West Des Moines Valley’s Oliver Lange in 2:21 of the second round. Pierce posted a 19-4 technical fall over Norwalk’s Asaiah Martinez-Ruiz to advance. He still is capable of reaching his fourth state final and his second title, winning the 106 championship in 2023.

Like Robeertty, Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Thayer Hagstrom won by fall in his state debut. Hagstrom scored the opening takedown and pinned Iowa City High’s Jack Litton in 1:51.

“My goal was just to score points, but I just tried to go for the pin right away,” Hagstrom said. “It worked out fine.”

The large arena, bright lights and big crowd can overwhelm some wrestlers. Hagstrom was comfortable and soaked in the atmosphere. He plans to wrestle open and relaxed.

“There is a lot of people so it's definitely cooler than what you usually see,” Hagstrom said. “My goal is just let it fly. Nothing to lose, really. Just go out, have fun and dominate.”

Hagstrom entered as the No. 7 seed. He moved to 33-4 and has progressed along with the season.

“Definitely, a lot of work,” Hagstrom said. “My start wasn’t too bad, but I've improved a lot, so I just got to keep going. Leave it all at this tournament because this is what I've been working for all years.”

Kennedy’s Aidyn Roman (138) also advanced to the quarterfinals. Roman opened with a win and followed with a pin over Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln’s No. 8 Miles Vander Velde.

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Linn-Mar matched West with four quarterfinalists. Kylan Walsh, seeded 10th, moved a win away from the podium at 113. He pinned Fort Dodge’s Damien Yeoman in 3:52 in the round of 16.

The Lions’ No. 2 Noah Howk-Erwin (165) and fourth-seeded 175-pounder Barrett Mieras and Philip Jacobs (190) moved to the quarterfinals.

Linn-Mar ended the first day tied for fifth place with 42 1/2 points. In addition to the four in the quarterfinals, five Lions are in the consolation bracket. Linn-Mar tallied 14 1/2 bonus points, including 8 1/2 in consolation victories.

Cedar Rapids Prairie pushed three into the quarterfinals. Second-seeded Chase Watkins posted a decision at 120 and 126-pounder Aiden Kirk recorded two pins to advance. Louden Bloxham (190) gave the Hawks another, sticking LeMars’ Kougar Sargisson in 2:57 in the round of 16.

Iowa City Liberty duo Connor McGonegle (106) and Landon Bell (175) reached the quarterfinals. Bell remained unbeaten, improving to 9-0 with a 6-3 decision in tiebreaker-1. Bell escaped in the first 30-second tiebreaker but gave up a reversal in the next period, answering with a reversal and two nearfall in the final nine seconds for the victory.

McGonegle also needed some dramatics. He trailed 3-1 when he pinned Abe Lincoln’s Brayden Tranmer in 5:50.

Iowa City High’s No. 8 Zyaire Washpun (132), Western Dubuque’s No. 3 Joe Hirsch (157) and Clear Creek Amana’s sixth-seeded Nolan Dao also moved on to the quarterfinals.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson’s Zayd Igram (120) and Cedar Rapids Washington’s heavyweight Willie Davis remained alive in the consolation bracket.

Fort Dodge heavyweight and Oklahoma State signee Dreshaun Ross opened his bid for a fourth title in impressive fashion. He scored seven takedowns in just 56 seconds for a 21-6 technical fall over Bettendorf’s Armon Williams.

Southeast Polk finished atop the team standings with 68 points, 10 ahead of second-place North Scott. Indianola was third with 55, three ahead of fourth-place West Des Moines Dowling.

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