Des Moines, IA- Day two of the 2026 Iowa High School Athletic Association’s (IHSAA) State Wrestling Tournament is in the books with Classes 1A and 2A narrowing the field with the quarterfinals and the third round of the consolation bracket set to start tomorrow, February 20th.
Here’s how our local athletes fared.
Class 1A
106-Pound Weight Class
Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union’s #8 Justin Knipfer put his extra round of rest to good use, as he pinned #9 Wyatt Hieber of MVACOU in the second period to advance to the quarterfinals. The Wildcat will take on #1 Ty Martin of Don Bosco.
113-Pound Weight Class
It was a day full of upsets for #19 Dakota Aney of Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union. He started the tournament with a victory by major decision over #14 Eli Rieb of Alta/Aurelia. Nevertheless, the Wildcat ran into #3 Brady Burton of Westwood, who sent him to the consolation bracket.
Aney handled business against #20 Kase Kraft of South Central Calhoun with a win by technical fall in the third period. Aney will face off against #11 Nathan Benedix of Woodbury Central, as he needs only three wins to secure 3rd place.
WACO’s #2 Ian Maize’s goal of a state championship is still attainable after the Warrior pinned #15 Jaxon Shew of North Butler-Clarksville in 54 seconds. Maize will compete against #7 Leyton Elmquist of Audubon in the quarterfinals.
120-Pound Weight Class
WACO’s #12 Rydge Sterna took down #21 Quinton Helstand of Woodbine by fall to start his day but fell to #5 Crosby Yoder of Logan-Magnolia by major decision in the second round. In the consolation bracket, Sterna pinned #11 Braeden Thomas of Central Decatur in the first period.
He will compete against #20 Mason Fogt of Hudson tomorrow with a chance at 3rd place.
132-Pound Weight Class
Unfortunately, #16 Bowen Thomson of Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union and WACO’s #21 Teage Pepper both went 0-2 in their paths at the state tournament. Thomson finished the season with 28-19 and Pepper collected a 33-7 record.
150-Pound Weight Class
#23 Harley Larrimore of WACO accrued a 24-14 record for the season after going 0-2 for the tournament.
157-Pound Weight Class
Wapello’s #6 Cohen Wolford wasted no time in his only match of the day, as he picked up a major decision victory over #11 Ty Christensen of Don Bosco to advance to the quarterfinals. Wolford will face off against #3 Caleb Swedin of GTRA.
175-Pound Weight Class
#22 Trevor Phillips of Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union began his day with a loss by major decision against #11 Landen Schuelle of South Winneshiek, transporting him to the consolation bracket. Phillips bounced back to defeated #12 Max Reed of North Mahaska by a 10-5 decision.
Phillips will square off against #14 William Lawson of Pocahontas Area in the second round of the consolation bracket.
Class 2A
113-Pound Weight Class
Before the tournament, Fairfield’s Cael McCabe was forced to forfeit his spot due to an injury.
#2 Kohen Dietzenbach of Burlington Notre Dame handled #18 John Amos of Clear Lake by major decision to move on to the quarterfinals. The Nike will continue his march to the championship against #7 Riker DeWitt of Williamsburg tomorrow.
120-Pound Weight Class
Burlington Notre Dame’s #5 Rowan Berdnt defeated #12 Brody Black of Glenwood by a 10-5 decision in the second round to advance to the quarterfinals against #4 Atlee Dewitt of Alburnett.
In Mt. Pleasant’s first trip to the state tournament since 2020, #14 Levi Evans started the day with a victory by fall over #19 Noah Garcia of West Liberty. Evans was unable to knock off #3 Simon Bettis of Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, losing by major decision.
In the consolation bracket, Evan took down #20 Teagan Alesch of Algona by technical fall to keep his journey alive at the state tournament. The Panther will wrestle #11 Jaron Jacobs of Greene County tomorrow.
Lastly, #15 James Fuller of Fort Madison went 0-2 for the day to finish the season with a 33-9 record.
126-Pound Weight Class
Burlington Notre Dame’s #5 Ryan Rose needed the whole match but managed to defeat #12 Wyatt Wilson of Monticello by a 6-1 decision. Rose will take on #4 Adrian Phetxoumphone of Clarion-Goldfield-Dows in the quarterfinals tomorrow.
132-Pound Weight Class
#5 Colt Boyles of Burlington Notre Dame snuffed out #12 Brody Strother of Hampton-Dumont-CAL with a major decision victory. The Nike will face off against #4 Linden Phetxoumphone of Clarion-Goldfield-Dows in the quarterfinals tomorrow.
138-Pound Weight Class
Washington’s #7 Caleb Greiner fell to #10 Calden Latch of Roland-Story, sending the Demon to the consolation bracket. He was able to bounce back with a victory by fall over #24 Kyler Tendal Sergeant Bluff-Luton. Greiner will square off against #17 Kyson Jalas of Spirit Lake Park.
150-Pound Weight Class
#4 Kael Cook of Burlington Notre Dame moved on the quarterfinals after a 6-1 decision victory over #20 Gage Miller of AP-GC. Cook will attempt to advance to the semifinals with his match against #5 Kameron Kremer of Independence tomorrow.
157-Pound Weight Class
Washington’s #22 Jace Kinzenbaw finished the season with a 15-7 record after going 0-2 for the day.
165-Pound Weight Class
#17 Jared Glendening of Burlington Notre Dame had #16 Ryland Morgan of Clarion-Goldfield-Dows on the ropes in the opening round but slipped up late in the second period, losing by fall. In the consolation bracket, Glendening defeated #18 Kael Hutchinson of Albia. The Nike will look to upset #10 Cooper Gates of West Branch.
175-Pound Weight Class
Fairfield’s #6 Dain Burkhart was pushed to the limit by #11 Easton Beyer of Clarion-Goldfield-Dows and still managed to escape with an 8-5 decision victory. Burkhart will wrestle #3 Ayden Antonelli of Anamosa in the quarterfinals tomorrow.
In his fourth year at the state tournament, #2 Kyler Crow of Mediapolis pinned #15 Marcus Bear of South Tama County in only 35 seconds. Crow will look to continue the domination tomorrow in the quarterfinals against #7 Blake Mather of West Delaware.
190-Pound Weight Class
#20 Jarod Anderson of Keokuk pulled off the upset against #13 Logan Gardner of Eddyville-Blaksburg-Fremont by a 10-6 decision. However, that momentum would not carry the Chief the rest of the day as he dropped his next two matches to end the season with a 25-13 record.
Washington’s #10 Blaine Rees took down #23 Gabriel Nebergall of West Liberty by fall in the first period. He would lose to #7 Brian Snyder of Centerville by technical fall in the second round. Rees would answer back with a victory by fall over #24 Holden Craft of Union. The Demon will take on #15 Lohen Tank of NH/TV tomorrow.
215-Pound Weight Class
#19 Ren Watson of Fort Madison upset #14 Maddon Evans of Hampton-Dumont-CAL with a victory by fall in the opening round. Watson was unable to replicate the magic against #3 Gavin Muller of Osage, transporting him to the consolation bracket. In a matchup against #20 Kazmir Senneff of Central DeWitt, Watson roared to five points in the first period and held on to advance to the next round of the consolation bracket.
Watson will square off against #11 Carter Eddy of Independence tomorrow.
Washington’s #22 Brayden Vermillion was eliminated from the tournament and finished the season with a 14-10 record.
285-Pound Weight Class
#21 Rudy Wolfe of Washington collected a record of 22-17 for the season after going 0-2 at the tournament.
#19 Baylor Ferreira of Fort Madison fell to #14 Gunner Martwick of Creston in the opening round but managed to bounce back against #13 Reagan Roberts of Knoxville with a pin in the third period. The Bloodhound will take on #12 Gable Eddy of Independence tomorrow.
More Information
KILJ will be providing updates throughout the day! KILJ would like to thank all of our tournament sponsors for allowing us to cover the 2026 Boys’ Wrestling State Tournament.