US Marine Corps Jr. Nationals is among the most prestigious freestyle wrestling tournaments in the country, and 2023 Greene County High School graduate Kale Petersen reached tonight’s championship match with a 9-6 semifinals victory this morning. Wrestling in the Jr. Freestyle division, the three-time Iowa high school state champion is just one victory away from a national championship.

Petersen edged Dalton Perry of Pennsylvania in the semifinals after trailing 6-4 with 45 seconds left in the match. Freestyle scoring is much different than folk style, which is used in high school matches and Petersen narrowed the deficit to 6-5 with a push out point, then took the lead with 20 seconds remaining on a takedown for a 7-6 lead. The final two points came on a takedown in the last two seconds to clinch the victory and the trip to the finals. There are no escape point in freestyle wrestling.

Petersen wrestles for Sebolt Wrestling Academy in Jefferson.