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

• 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.”

More: Iowa high school state wrestling tournament live results, updates

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

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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.”

More: Rapid reactions from Iowa high school state wrestling Class 2A & 1A

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.

More: Indianola Crosson brothers enjoy first Iowa state wrestling tournament together

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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We are officially underway from downtown Des Moines for the 2026 Iowa state high school wrestling tournament.

Wrestlers and coaches have a slightly different schedule than in years past, with only Class 3A competing in the evening on the opening day of the tournament. After the first session on Wednesday evening, quarterfinal matches have been set in Class 3A. The start of competition in Class 2A and 1A begins on Thursday, Feb. 19.

Here are some rapid reactions and analysis from the start of the IHSAA wrestling tournament.

More: Iowa high school state wrestling tournament live results, updates

Southeast Polk starts hot at Iowa state wrestling tournament

• The Rams are out in front after the first session, to no surprise, sending 11 wrestlers to the quarterfinals and having 13 of their 14 state qualifiers still competing. They’re already out to 68 team points, 10 more than second-place North Scott.
• Leading the way was Amir Newman-Winfrey (106 pounds), Mat Prine (120), Eddie Woody (126), Nash Hanson (132), Nico DeSalvo (138), Wil Oberbroeckling (144), Justis Jesurgoa (150), Dokken Biladeau (165) and Cael Roberts (285). That group of nine reached the quarterfinals while adding bonus points for the team. Those nine wrestlers are responsible for 52.5 team points alone, which would be good enough for fourth place as a team.
• On the team’s mentality entering the tournament, looking for a third state tournament crown, Oberbroeckling said this: “We’re pretty confident. We weren’t so sure at the start, but these guys caught along pretty quick (on) what it is supposed to look like out there.”

Des Moines-area’s top wrestlers thrive in opening rounds

• As always in the state’s largest class, Des Moines-metro schools came to compete. Of the top 10 schools in the team standings, six of them are from the Des Moines area, including Southeast Polk (first), Indianola (third), Dowling Catholic (fourth), Urbandale (seventh), Waukee Northwest (eighth) and Ankeny (tenth).
• Dowling Catholic has seven wrestlers in the quarterfinals, including Cruz Gannon (106), Jack Wallukait (113), Kayden Eller (120), Kyler Simons (138), Airic Conn (144), Jayden Zachary (150) and Brady Hagan (285). Gannon, Wallukait, Eller and Hagan all earned wins by fall and are expected to be the top-point getters for the Maroons.
• The always pesky Indianola program had a nice showing as well. Five of its wrestlers are in the quarterfinals, including the Crosson brothers, Cain (113) and Mac (165), who both carry legitimate state title aspirations at their weight.
• Waukee Northwest also had a particularly nice showing, sending six of its nine state qualifiers to the quarterfinals. While they sit in eighth, only Southeast Polk and Dowling Catholic have more in the quarterfinals. Of those six, just one is a senior, heavyweight Henry Mohr. The Wolves may not be team state title contenders this time around, but this young program has a lot to be excited about this week and beyond, with wrestlers like Carew Christensen (113) and Hayden Hutt (144) who continue to show potential.

More: Indianola Crosson brothers enjoy first Iowa state wrestling tournament together

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Fort Dodge’s Dreshaun Ross has a dominant start to his fourth state title run

• Ross left nothing to chance in his first match to reach the quarterfinals. He defeated Bettendorf’s Armon Williams in just 56 seconds with a 21-6 technical fall.
• Normally, a 56-second technical fall involves a lot of near-fall swipes, but Ross posted seven takedowns in less than a minute. He mixed equal parts speed in counterattacks and strength with big blast-double takedowns to roll to the quarterfinals.
• Ross is now 32-0 in his senior season as he seeks his fourth state title. Iowa wrestling fans should enjoy his talent now because if he keeps up that type of pace in all his matches, he’ll only have a couple of minutes left of his high school wrestling career.

More: Fort Dodge’s Dreshaun Ross eyes fourth Iowa state wrestling title

Class 3A team scores at Iowa boys state wrestling tournament

• 1st – Southeast Polk (68 points)
• 2nd – North Scott (58)
• 3rd – Indianola (55.5)
• 4th – Dowling Catholic (52)
• 5th – Bettendorf (42.5)

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.