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

Published

1 week 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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The One Game That Will Define Iowa’s 2026 Season

Published

6 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

The One Game That Will Define Iowa’s 2026 Season

When it comes to the Iowa Hawkeyes 2026 football season, it doesn’t get much bigger than Ohio State coming to Kinnick Stadium.

No one knows at this stage where the Buckeyes will be come Oct. 3, but Iowa has a chance to make an early impression against a team that is no stranger to winning the big one.

Iowa’s B1G schedule couldn’t get off to a worse start as they head to Michigan and then welcome the Buckeyes to Kinnick.

Hopefully for Iowa’s sake, their first three games against Northern Illinois, Iowa State, and Northern Iowa are enough to get them prepared. If not, things could get ugly.

ESPN Believes Ohio State is Iowa’s Biggest Opponent in 2026

The helmet of Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith sits on the sideline prior to the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Michigan game will certainly be a test, but hosting the Buckeyes is a different animal. That gives the Hawkeyes an advantage like no other, and if there was ever a time to give OSU a run for their money, it’s in Iowa City on Oct. 3.

“The Hawkeyes haven’t faced Ohio State at Kinnick Stadium since 2017, when Nate Stanley threw five touchdowns as they stunned the Buckeyes 55-24. An early October win over Ohio State could propel Iowa into the Big Ten title and playoff conversations,” Jake Trotter wrote.

To put things into perspective, Indiana and Oregon were the other two teams that had the Buckeyes listed as their defining game in the 2026 season. Shockingly, Iowa was actually selected against a team, that being Minnesota. Seeing as that’s for the Floyd of Rosedale, it makes complete sense.

Iowa Can’t Let Regular Season Opportunities Go To Waste

Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski (10) throws a pass during warmups before a college football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions Oct. 18, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. | Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Last year was seemingly the Hawkeyes’ first time to actually make the College Football Playoffs. They came up short as their losses to No. 16 Iowa State, No. 11 Indiana, No. 9 Oregon and No. 17 USC all added up. Sure, those were by a combined 15 points, but that doesn’t matter, as it’s bad enough that a three-loss team made the playoffs.

Iowa ended with a bang as they took down No. 14 Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl, 34-27. Now, all eyes are on either Jeremy Hecklinski or Hank Brown. One of those men will have a chance to make their first B1G start at the Big House in Michigan.

It doesn’t get any tougher than that, as Iowa is immediately putting their new QB into deep water. They’ll have three games prior to that to get up to speed, but other than that, it’s go time as OSU awaits after their trip to Michigan.

Don’t forget to bookmark Iowa Hawkeyes on SI for the latest news. exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage and more!

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Iowa

Kee High School remembers legendary coach Gene Schultz

Published

19 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Kee High School remembers legendary coach Gene Schultz

MANCHESTER, Iowa — The state of Iowa lost a titan of the prep coaching world this week. Former Kee High School baseball coach Gene Schultz died on Monday at the age of 80.

Schultz spent 45 seasons as the baseball coach at Kee, helping turn the program into an Iowa dynasty. He won 9 State championships (not counting 2 fall titles, which the IHSAA doesn’t recognize in the record books), and took the Hawks to 19 State tournaments, which is also the most in Iowa history.

His 1,754 wins are not only the most in Iowa history, but the most of any high school baseball coach in the country.

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Iowa

Judge calls state response to comments about Charlie Kirk ‘deeply troubling’

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1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Judge calls state response to comments about Charlie Kirk ‘deeply troubling’

“A licensing authority’s enforcement apparatus should not be mobilized in response to political pressure to suppress disfavored commentary on a public figure’s death — and this record raises serious questions about whether that is precisely what occurred here,” a federal judge wrote.

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