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 adds women’s wrestling, Alli St. John to coach

Published

8 hours ago

April 17, 2026

Press Room

Iowa State adds women’s wrestling, Alli St. John to coach

Iowa State announced Thursday the addition of women’s wrestling as its 18th varsity sport, with the program scheduled to begin competition during the 2027-28 academic year. The team is the first varsity sport added at the university since soccer in 1996. Iowa State will be the 12th school in the state of Iowa to have an NCAA women’s wrestling program.

The Cyclones will be only the second Power Four institution to feature a varsity women’s wrestling program, joining the University of Iowa.

The university appointed Alli St. John, a two-time World Wrestling Championships silver medalist, as the program’s first head coach. St. John, who has spent the last three years with the Cyclone Regional Training Center, was a two-time women’s college national champion at King University.

“I am incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to be the first head coach of women’s wrestling at Iowa State University,” St. John said. “This is a historic moment not only for Iowa State University, but for the sport of wrestling, too. Iowa State has a rich wrestling tradition, and I’m excited to expand that legacy on the women’s side as we work to build a premier program in Ames that produces not only NCAA champions, but World and Olympic champions as well.”

The program will support a roster of 30 student-athletes with 10 scholarship equivalents, matching the scholarship limit of the men’s team. Official competitions will be held in Hilton Coliseum, with practice facilities in Beyer Hall.

The university also announced a major restructuring of its wrestling leadership, naming long-time men’s head coach Kevin Dresser as the Director of Wrestling. In this new capacity, Dresser will oversee both programs, assisting with fundraising and mentoring the coaching staff, which includes newly promoted men’s head coach Brent Metcalf.

“The addition of women’s wrestling is an exciting opportunity for Iowa State Athletics,” Dresser said. “The fact that it is one of the fastest growing sports at the high school level coupled with the overall love of wrestling in the state of Iowa makes this a very good decision. I can envision the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk dual already and the excitement it will bring to the sport. I am excited to roll up my sleeves and help start another wrestling program.”

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Top 16 announced in Coolest Thing Made in Iowa contest

Published

20 hours ago

April 17, 2026

Press Room

Top 16 announced in Coolest Thing Made in Iowa contest

DES MOINES, Iowa — After a week of voting, a list of more than 50 is down to the Top 16 in the Coolest Thing Made in Iowa Competition.

Hosted by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry and MidwestOne Bank, the Coolest Thing Made in Iowa Contest is a newer competition that highlights items that are designed or produced in the state that carry national, even international, impact.

58 products were initially nominated in the contest’s third year, on Thursday, officials announced the Top 16 had been chosen after a week of public voting. Products that made the cut include agricultural equipment, construction materials, food, and beverages.

Mi-T-M ePowerStation (Mi-T-M Corporation – Peosta)
Pella Steady Set (Pella Corporation – Pella)
Beer Caves (Walk-In Coolers & Freezers) (Leer, Inc. – Carroll)
Weiler D1075 Blasthole Drill (Weiler – Knoxville)
Butter Braid Pastries (Country Maid, Inc. – West Bend)
Ironclad Tornado Shelter & Gun Safe (Ironclad Shelter Solutions, LLC – Earlham)
Spalding Arena Renegade Basketball Hoop (Spalding – Jefferson)
Winnebago EKKO 23B (Winnebago – Forest City)
Gushers (General Mills – Cedar Rapids)
Cedar Ridge Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Cedar Ridge Distillery – Swisher)
Load Cell (Scale-Tec – Anamosa)
Flexzilla Garden Hose (Legacy Manufacturing – Marion)
Marie Callender’s Pot Pie (Conagra – Council Bluffs)
23-28XL Scraper (Mobile Track Solutions – Elkader)
Sterzing’s Potato Chips (Sterzing Food Company – Burlington)
dScribe Studio, 55″ – Digital Lightboard (Revolution Lightboards – Dubuque)

“This is where the competition really comes to life,” said Nicole Crain, ABI President. “These Top 16 products represent the very best of Iowa manufacturing — innovative, high-quality, and made right here in our state. Now it’s up to Iowans to help decide which product rises to the top.”

Voting to decide the Top 8 moves to a bracket-style tournament, which opens on April 17 and runs through April 22. Participants can vote in each matchup, once per day (every 24 hours) per device. The Top 8 will be announced on April 23.

The 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Iowa will be revealed live in June during ABI’s annual Taking Care of Business Conference in Coralville and Iowa City.

Previously, the Vermeer Automated Hay Baler won the first contest in 2024, and the John Deere CP770 Cotton Picker won the second contest in 2025.

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April rains ease drought across Iowa, Drought Monitor map shows

Published

1 day ago

April 16, 2026

Press Room

April rains ease drought across Iowa, Drought Monitor map shows

The last few weeks of rain have alleviated some drought conditions in Iowa, though some areas of the state are still experiencing a moderate drought.

The U.S. Drought Monitor offers a state-by-state tracking of drought conditions nationwide. New maps and forecasts are released each Thursday. What are the current drought conditions in Iowa?

US Drought Monitor map: How much of Iowa is in a drought?

The latest Drought Monitor report, released on April 16, indicated that roughly 22% of the state is experiencing some form of drought. It includes observations as of 8 a.m. April 14, so even more rain has fallen since then.

This is an improvement from the last report, released on April 9, which showed that 73% of Iowa was experiencing some form of drought.

Here is the breakdown of drought conditions in Iowa as of April 16:

83% of the state of Iowa is experiencing no drought conditions
17% of the state is experiencing abnormally dry conditions
5% of the state is experiencing moderate drought conditions
0.02% of the state is experiencing severe drought conditions

The April 16 map shows abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions mainly in western and southern Iowa. Parts of northwest Iowa are in moderate drought, while a separate stretch of dry conditions runs across south-central into southeast Iowa.

Polk County is not experiencing any dry conditions. Des Moines has recorded 5.06 inches of rain so far in April, well above the normal monthly total of 1.70 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

Current conditions are an improvement from a year ago, when 86% of Iowa was abnormally dry, and 30% was in moderate drought, according to the Drought Monitor.

All 99 counties in Iowa were categorized as drought-free last August thanks to record-setting rainfall totals during the summer. It held this designation for several weeks before the first reports of abnormally dry conditions returned at the beginning of September 2025.

Iowa Drought Monitor tracks conditions weekly

The U.S. Drought Monitor offers a state-by-state tracking of drought conditions nationwide. New maps and forecasts are released each Thursday.

The intensity levels range from abnormally dry, or D0, to exceptional drought, or D4.

Typically under D0 conditions, corn can show drought stress. Pond levels start to decline under moderate drought conditions and soybeans abort pods, according to the Drought Monitor. The Drought Monitor also has a look-back chart that compares drought conditions from 3 months ago up to 1 year ago.

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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