Iowa high school wrestling notebook (2/5/2024)
Southeast Polk once again reigned supreme on the wrestling mat, claiming another Class 3A state duals championship inside the Xtream Arena in Coralville.
The Rams, the odds-on favorite to hoist gold at the upcoming traditional state meet, dominated Bettendorf in the finals, 48-16.
In 2A, Creston finished off its magical ride to gold with a 36-33 win over Sergeant Bluff-Luton, while Don Bosco controlled the field in 1A.
The rest of the final 3A matches saw Fort Dodge clip Indianola for third, Ankeny Centennial down Waukee Northwest for fifth and Dubuque Hempstead top defending champion Waverly-Shell Rock for seventh.
Osage, who won it all last year, was third in 2A after downing Mount Vernon. Humboldt edged Independence for fifth and West Delaware downed Algona for seventh.
WIlton was third after topping Nashua-Plainfield in 1A, Jesup finished fifth with a win over Wapsie Valley and Hinton downed Lake Mills for seventh.
One of the leaders for Southeast Polk was Carter Pearson, as the standout downed Fort Dodge senior and University of Iowa recruit Dru Ayala in the semifinals, 5-0, before pinning Jake Knight of Bettendorf in the finals in 6:49.
Knight won the 113-pound state title last year as a freshman while Ayala finished second to him. Pearson placed third at 106 a season ago.
In Fort Dodge’s win over Indianola for bronze, Cal Hartman scored a 5-4 decision in the final match vs. Isaiah Kellow for the deciding points. The Dodgers won five of the first eight matches before the Indians went on a run by taking four straight.
Damarion Ross and Hartman finished off the dual for Fort Dodge with decisions.
District tournaments on deck
All three classes will now turn their attention to Saturday and district tournaments around the state.
At each of the 12 sites for 1A and 2A wrestlers, the champion and runner-up will advance to state. In 3A, the first, second and third place finishers qualify. There are no longer sectionals ahead of districts as in the past.
The traditional state tournament takes place February 14-17 in Des Moines from Wells Fargo Arena.
--Dana Becker I @SBLIve Iowa
