Rapid reactions from Iowa high school state wrestling Class 3A quarterfinals

Published

2 months ago

February 20, 2026

Rapid reactions from Iowa high school state wrestling Class 3A quarterfinals

Things got a bit more real inside Casey’s Center the night of Feb. 19 during the 2026 Iowa high school state wrestling tournament.

Class 3A’s semifinals are now set after a thrilling round of quarterfinal bouts. Just four kids per weight, 56 total, remain alive for a state title in the state of Iowa’s largest class.

Let’s dive into some of the biggest results from the night in our rapid reactions, as well as looking at the best semifinal matchups and team scores.

Southeast Polk extends lead, sends six to semifinals

Southeast Polk wrestling’s Amir Newman-Winfrey reaches state semifinal

VIDEO: Southeast Polk’s Amir Newman-Winfrey reaches state semifinals as freshman

The Rams are rolling in Des Moines once again, out to 117.5 team points and first-place in Class 3A. They are 29 points ahead of second-place Dowling Catholic, while also having the most semifinalists with six.
For the Rams, Amir Newman-Winfrey (106), Mat Prine (120), Eddie Woody (126), Nico DeSalvo (138), Wil Oberbroeckling (144) and Justis Jesuroga (150) all reached the semifinals. Another four are still alive in consolations, putting them firmly in first place as they look for a third-consecutive team state title.
Newman-Winfrey, a freshman, picked up a win by fall to become a state medalist for the first time. Just as he has bigger goals than finishing just inside the top six, the Rams have big goals too that he helped contribute to with a pin. Namely, Southeast Polk has eyes on shattering its own points record, which they sit 142 points away from after two days of action. Newman-Winfrey said, “I got to help my team out, we got to win another team title. Actually, not even just win a team title, we got to break that (points) record again.”

Iowa State commits Cale Vandermark, Max Dhabolt reach semifinal for Ankeny Centennial

Ankeny Centennial’s Cale Vandermark reaches state semifinal

Ankeny Centennial’s Cale Vandermark reaches state semifinal as senior

The Jaguars had an admirable day as well, sending three to the semifinals with Vandermark (126), Dhabolt (175) and Brandon Bogseth (215). Vandermark and Dhabolt are both Iowa State commits and lifelong friends, seeking state title glory.
Dhabolt won his first state title last season as a sophomore, but has only been able to wrestle 16 matches this year. He’ll have to overcome limited match time and likely have to defeat state champion Jaxon Miller of Carlisle in the finals on Saturday if he hopes to get back to the top.
Vandermark, a senior, has been to the semifinals four times now, but has never been able to win a title. He’s got a tough one next against Southeast Polk’s Eddie Woody, but he believes this is his time. Vandermark said, “I’ve always been a little bit closer, a little bit closer, just inching towards winning this thing. I know that’s what I’m going to do this year.”

Dowling Catholic, Indianola, Waukee Northwest and Urbandale sit in top 10

The Maroons are performing at an admirable level behind the Rams. They have four semifinalists —Cruz Gannon (106), Jack Wallukait (113), Kyler Simons (138) and Brady Hagan (285). Gannon and Wallukait both have legitimate state title aspirations and could give the Maroons their first state title winner since Evan Frost in 2022.
Indianola is in third, with Elijah Bleweitt (150) and Mac Crosson (165) each seeking state championships. Within striking distance of second place, Indianola can still affirm itself as one of the most complete teams in the state with its finish after taking second at the state duals championships.
Waukee Northwest’s young squad has three semifinalists — Carew Christensen (113), Hayden Hutt (144) and Henry Mohr (285). Hutt fell short of making the podium as a freshman, but said his hard work in the offseason helped him reach a top six or better finish this year. Still, he has aspirations of winning a title.
Urbandale is ninth with Caleb Arroyo into the semifinals at 132 pounds. A two-time state medalist, this is his first time reaching the final four of his weight class.

Iowa state wrestling tournament Class 3A semifinal matchups

Eli McKown’s takeaways from Class 3A quarterfinals at Iowa state wrestling

WATCH: Eli McKown’s rapid reaction to the quarterfinals in Class 3A at the Iowa state wrestling tournament

106 – Southeast Polk freshman Amir Newman-Winfrey vs. Fort Dodge freshman Knox Ayala and Dowling Catholic sophomore Cruz Gannon vs. Dubuque Hempstead sophomore Abe Heysinger
113 – Waukee Northwest junior Carew Christensen vs. Waukee junior Drake Pelton and Dowling Catholic junior Jack Wallukait vs. Iowa City West freshman Diego Robertty
120 – Southeast Polk junior Mat Prine vs. Waverly-Shell Rock sophomore Kipton Lewis and Ankeny senior Benjamin Walsh vs. Lewis Central junior Zander Manz
126 – Southeast Polk sophomore Eddie Woody vs. Ankeny Centennial senior Cale Vandermark and Lewis Central junior Weston Porter vs. Iowa City West senior Alexander Pierce
132 – Bettendorf senior Jake Knight vs. Boone senior Ajay Braddock and Urbandale junior Caleb Arroyo vs. Dallas Center-Grimes junior Avery Van Zelderen
138 – Bettendorf senior Cody Trevino vs. Bondurant-Farrar senior Jeran Gilge and Southeast Polk junior Nico DeSalvo vs. Dowling Catholic junior Kyler Simons
144 – Southeast Polk senior Wil Oberbroeckling vs. Ames freshman Jaimon Mogard and Marshalltown senior Nicholas Wise vs. Waukee Northwest sophomore Hayden Hutt
150 – Southeast Polk senior Justis Jesuroga vs. Clinton senior Danny Peters and Indianola junior Elijah Blewitt vs. Waverly-Shell Rock sophomore Easton Jorgenson
157 – Bondurant-Farrar senior Nolan Fellers vs. Oskaloosa sophomore Colton Shaffer and Johnston junior Parker Casey vs. Western Dubuque senior Joe Hirsch
165 – Indianola junior Mac Crosson vs. North Scott senior Cole Green and Fort Dodge senior Rylee Brown vs. Ankeny sophomore Calvin Rathjen
175 – Carlisle senior Jaxon Miller vs. LInn-Mar junior Barrett Mieras and Ankeny Centenniall junior Max Dhabolt vs. Iowa City Liberty senior Landon Bell
190 – Bettendorf junior Brayden Koester vs. Norwalk junior Victor Esparza and Fort Dodge senior Jesse Egli vs. Cedar Rapids Prairie senior Louden Bloxham
215 – Bettendorf senior Lincoln Jipp vs. Lewis Central senior Paxton Blanchard and Ankeny Centennial senior Brandon Bogseth vs. Dubuque Hempstead senior Camden Smith
285 – Fort Dodge’s Dreshaun Ross vs. Pleasant Valley junior Cary Cox and Dowling Catholic junior Brady Hagan vs. Waukee Northwest senior Henry Mohr

Iowa state wrestling tournament Class 3A team scores after quarterfinals

1st – Southeast Polk – 117.5 points
2nd – Dowling Catholic – 88.5
3rd – Indianola – 87.5
4th – Bettendorf – 77
5th – North Scott – 75

Full team scores and updated brackets can be found on Flowrestling.com.

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.

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Iowa State football lands 2027 3-star linebacker commit Keaton Wollan

Published

2 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Press Room

Iowa State football lands 2027 3-star linebacker commit Keaton Wollan

After securing multiple commitments on the offensive side of the ball, Iowa State football has landed its first defensive commitment in the 2027 recruiting class.

Keaton Wollan, a three-star linebacker out of Amery, Wisconsin, committed to the Cyclones on April 21. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound linebacker announced his decision on social media.

He chose Iowa State over other offers from Texas Tech and North Dakota State. He previously visited Ames in March, but he also took recent visits to Minnesota and Wisconsin.

As a junior at Amery High School, Wollan was a two-way standout and earned all-state honors for the 2025 season. Defensively, he racked up a team-high 125 total tackles, including nine for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also had four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, three interceptions and one defensive touchdown.

Offensively, he had a team-high 932 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 160 carries. He also caught 15 passes for 179 yards, and he was an impact player in the return game, logging more than 500 kick and punt return yards.

According to 247 Sports Composite rankings, Wollan is the No. 93 linebacker prospect in the country and the No. 11 overall recruit in his class from the state of Wisconsin.

Wollan is the sixth player to commit in the Cyclones’ 2027 recruiting class.

Iowa State football 2027 recruiting commitments

As of April 21

Gavin Ericson-Staton, OL | Lombard, Illinois/Montini Catholic
Isaiah Hansen, RB | Newton, Iowa/Newton HS
Koen Hinzman, OL | Hudson, Michigan/Hudson Area HS
Will Slagle, OL | Grinnell, Iowa/Grinnell HS
Bryson Thompson, WR | San Antonio, Texas/Claudia Taylor Johnson HS
Keaton Wollan, LB | Amery, Wisconsin/Amery HS

Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.

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Iowa

Iowa DOT plans overnight I‑80 closure at northeast mixmaster

Published

14 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Press Room

Iowa DOT plans overnight I‑80 closure at northeast mixmaster

Prepare for more overnight closures at the northeast mixmaster as the Iowa Department of Transportation closes the ramp connecting westbound Interstate 80 and northbound Interstate 35.

Here’s what to know.

When will the Iowa DOT close the westbound I‑80 to northbound I‑35 ramp?

The westbound I-80 to northbound I-35 ramp will be closed to traffic from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. the next morning from April 21-24.

What’s the detour when the Iowa DOT closes the westbound I‑80 to the northbound I‑35 ramp?

During the closures, drivers wanting to go from westbound I‑80 to northbound I‑35 will follow a signed detour.

Instead of taking the closed ramp, motorists will stay on westbound I‑80, bypassing the northeast mixmaster connection. They’ll then exit at U.S. Highway 69, turn around, and head back east on I‑80, where they can connect to northbound I‑35 using the open portion of the northeast mixmaster.

Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.

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Iowa women’s basketball transfer portal visitor commits to Big Ten foe

Published

1 day ago

April 21, 2026

Press Room

Iowa women’s basketball transfer portal visitor commits to Big Ten foe

An Iowa women’s basketball transfer portal visitor committed to one of the Hawkeyes’ conference foes instead. Former Iowa State guard Kenzie Hare took a visit to Iowa during her transfer portal recruitment, but the 5-foot-9 guard committed to Indiana on Sunday night.

Hare had several visits throughout her transfer portal recruiting process, including trips to Michigan and Illinois State, but the Des Moines Register’s Chad Leistikow reported that Hare also visited Iowa.

On3’s Talia Goodman reported Hare’s commitment to the Hoosiers.

Hare has one year of eligibility remaining. This past season with the Cyclones, in 32 games played and 31 starts, Hare averaged 6.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game on 40.5% field goal shooting and 40% from 3-point range. A hip injury limited Hare to just 10 games during her first year with the Cyclones in the 2024-25 season.

The soon-to-be redshirt senior transferred to Iowa State before the 2024-25 campaign after spending two seasons at Marquette from 2022-24. Hare averaged a career-best 14 points per game on 45.5% field goal shooting and 42.5% 3-point shooting during the 2023-24 season with the Golden Eagles.

Had Iowa been able to lure the Naperville, Ill., native to Iowa City, Hare would have been another valuable addition to the Hawkeyes’ backcourt depth. But, Iowa has landed other backcourt reinforcements throughout this transfer portal cycle.

The Hawkeyes inked both Dani Carnegie and Amari Whiting.

Carnegie was a first-team All-SEC selection this past season at Georgia, averaging 17.8 points per game on 42.7% field goal shooting, 35.4% from 3-point range and 83.3% from the free-throw line. Whiting averaged 9.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game on 42.5% field goal shooting, 32.1% 3-point accuracy, and 71.6% free-throw shooting.

As Hare joins a promising core of players in Bloomington, the Hawkeyes will once again face the former Cyclone at least once this upcoming season as part of their Big Ten regular-season slate.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews

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