Prep Boys’ Wrestling: Classes 1A and 2A Yield Eleven Quarterfinalists at the 2026 IHSAA State Tournament

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, February 19th, 2026 at 11:21 pm CDT

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.

As one of the few wrestlers to win the district championship but not get a first-round bye, #11 Jared Glendening of Burlington Notre Dame did not let that deter him as he defeated #22 Townes Wilson of Perry by technical fall in the opening round.

In a thrilling match against #6 Lane Travis of Creston, which saw Travis awarded two points for stalling in the third period to send the match into overtime, Glendening was able to nab the sudden victory with seven seconds remaining in the period to advance to the quarterfinals. He will wrestle #3 Liam Adflinger of Wilton today.

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.

Local Sunday School Class Raises $1,150 for The Fellowship Cup Food Pantry

By Kadie Johannson · Thursday, February 19th, 2026 at 4:32 pm CDT

A local church class is making a meaningful impact in the Mount Pleasant community.

The Three-0 ~ Five-0 Class at the First United Methodist Church recently hosted a soup luncheon fundraiser to support area families in need. The event raised $1,150, which will go directly toward supporting the food pantry at The Fellowship Cup.

Ken Brown, director of The Fellowship Cup, accepted the donation on behalf of the organization. Presenting the check was class representative Jason Smith.

The funds will help stock pantry shelves and provide food assistance to individuals and families throughout the community. Organizers say they appreciate the generous support from those who attended the luncheon and contributed to the cause.

Sam Riepe Announces Candidacy for Henry County Supervisor

By Kadie Johannson · Thursday, February 19th, 2026 at 3:52 pm CDT

In a press release sent to KILJ News today, February 19, 2026, Mount Pleasant resident Sam Riepe announced his intention to run for the open seat on the Henry County Board of Supervisors.

Here is Mr. Riepe’s letter:

“This is to advise that I am a candidate for the Henry County Board of Supervisors. The election is November 3, 2026. I am a registered Democrat.

I am 55 years old and a resident of Mt Pleasant. I greatly value our communities and wish to contribute to the well-being of Henry County through public service.

I believe I have life experiences that will contribute to the work of the Board and the County. I have been a small business owner for the past ten years, and served on many local boards and organizations, including Main Street Mt Pleasant, Iowa WINs, All God’s Creatures and its predecessor The Vintage Raven Kitten Haven, which was founded by my wife Jen.

Henry County is my home and as a small business owner I appreciate the important role of local government in our daily lives. Communication, cooperation and trust among our government agencies is vital.

Teamwork with community partners such as the Chamber Alliance, Planning Commission, social services and city and township leadership builds a healthy work and home environment for our citizens.

I firmly believe the best decisions by public officials are made with frank, transparent exchange among those having an interest in issues regarding our county.

In the coming months, I hope to hear from as many citizens as possible. Thank you for your attention. I can be reached via text or phone at 512.983.7770.”

The deadline to file your intention to run for office in the November 2026 General Election is Friday, March 20 at 5 p.m. On the ballot for county openings in Henry County:

  • County Attorney
  • County Treasurer
  • County Recorder
  • Board of Supervisors – 1 seat

Henry County Supervisors Delay Action on County Attorney Vacancy

By Shelbi Swinscoe · Thursday, February 19th, 2026 at 1:50 pm CDT

The Henry County Board of Supervisors met Thursday morning but were unable to take official action after discovering the meeting agenda had not been properly posted on the courthouse bulletin board, preventing decisions from being made.

During the discussion, supervisors shared their perspectives on how to fill the vacant Henry County Attorney position. Supervisors Chad White and Marc Lindeen expressed support for calling a special election rather than making an appointment. Both stated they have spoken with residents on both sides of the issue, including supporters of Becky Wilson and Abbie Liechty, and believe that regardless of an appointment, efforts to petition for a special election would likely follow.

Supervisor Steve Detrick voiced a differing view, stating he favors making an appointment and leaving it up to those who oppose the decision to pursue the petition process required to trigger a special election.

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to reconvene Friday, February 20, at 10:30 a.m., when they are expected to decide whether to appoint a county attorney or move forward with calling a special election. Click here for the agenda.

2026 Women in Agriculture Conference “Beyond the Fields” Set for March 21st

By Kadie Johannson · Thursday, February 19th, 2026 at 7:58 am CDT

Women involved in agriculture across southeast Iowa are invited to gather next month for a day of learning, networking, and inspiration in Washington.

“Beyond the Fields” is the theme of the 2026 Women in Agriculture Conference, set for March 21, 2026 at the Jim and Evelyn Eash Banquet Room at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Washington.

The event is hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Washington County, along with the Washington County Women in Agriculture Advisory Board.

Organizers say this year’s conference is designed to equip attendees with practical tools, fresh perspectives, and inspiring stories from women shaping agriculture today.

Rebecca Vittetoe, ISU Extension field agronomist and advisory board member, says organizers are looking forward to the eighth annual conference and have assembled a strong lineup of speakers to help participants truly think “beyond the fields.”

Sessions will cover a wide range of topics, including beginning farm programs with representatives from the Farm Service Agency and the Iowa Finance Authority; estate and succession planning with Kristine Tidgren of the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation at Iowa State University; building a farm-based brand with Ashley Recknor of Purple Ribbon Beef; communication styles through the Real Colors® framework; and a personal look at farm life from Joan Maxwell of Cinnamon Ridge Farms.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., with the program running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The conference is open to all. Cost is $25, or $15 for students, and includes a light breakfast and lunch. The early registration deadline is March 14th. After that date, fees increase to $35, or $25 for students, with late and walk-in registrations accepted as space allows.

To register or learn more, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Washington County office at 319-653-4811 or register online. Early registration is encouraged.

The conference is made possible through support from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the Azariah and Martha Foster Heritage Endowment, Hills Bank, and other local sponsors.

Secretary Naig Invites Applications for Century and Heritage Farm Recognition as Part of Iowa’s America250 Celebrations

By Kadie Johannson · Thursday, February 19th, 2026 at 7:33 am CDT

Iowa farm families with deep roots are invited to be part of a special America250 celebration this year.

Mike Naig is encouraging eligible landowners to apply for Century or Heritage Farm recognition through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

The program, created in partnership with the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, honors families who have owned their farms for 100 years as Century Farms and 150 years as Heritage Farms.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Century Farm Program and the 20th anniversary of the Heritage Farm Program. Since the programs began, more than 21,000 Century Farms and 2,000 Heritage Farms across Iowa have been recognized.

Families honored in 2026 will receive a certificate featuring a special America250 seal and will be recognized during a ceremony August 20th in the Livestock Pavilion at the Iowa State Fair.

To qualify for 2026 recognition, completed applications must be postmarked or received by June 1st. Applications are available on the Department’s website or by contacting the Century and Heritage Farm Program coordinator at the Department’s office in Des Moines.

MPCSD Meets with AFSCME Local 3865 to Discuss 26-27 Master Contract Proposals Today, 2/19/26

By Kadie Johannson · Thursday, February 19th, 2026 at 7:26 am CDT

The Mount Pleasant Community School District will hold a public meeting this afternoon to begin contract discussions with AFSCME Local 3865.

The meeting is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at the district’s Central Office, located at 1010 East Washington Street in Mount Pleasant.

District officials and union representatives will exchange initial proposals for the 2026–2027 Master Contract between the district and AFSCME Local 3865.

Stolen Firearm Recovered in Milton During Arrest

By Kadie Johannson · Thursday, February 19th, 2026 at 7:18 am CDT

According to a press release from the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched around 1:00 p.m. on February 13, 2026 to a report of a burglary at a residence in the 100 block of East Oak Street in Milton.

Investigators say a locked door had been forced open and a firearm was taken from the home.

Later that same day, at approximately 5:00 p.m., deputies took Jagger W. Crees, 18, into custody at a residence in the 200 block of North Iowa Street. During the arrest, authorities recovered the stolen firearm.

Crees has been charged with Burglary in the Second Degree and Making a False Report to Law Enforcement.

As a reminder, a criminal charge is merely an accusation and that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.