Iowa high school wrestling state tournament: State championship results, team scores (2/17/2024)
The fourth and final day of the Iowa high school wrestling state tournament capped a wild and crazy season on the mat.
Southeast Polk, Osage and Don Bosco were crowned team champions, as individual winners were also declared in all three classes and 14 weight divisions.
Here is a recap of Saturday’s action, which SBLive also provided live coverage from throughout.
Tucker Stangel of Osage (left) tries to escape the hold of Sergeant Bluff-Luton's Bo Koedam during the Class 2A 157-pound state championship match at the Iowa high school state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Saturday. (Photo by Ryan Timmerman)
3A: Southeast Polk defends the crown; Freeman denied history
For the sixth time in the last 12 years, the mighty Rams were crowned traditional team champions, running away with the title by scoring 221.5 points. Southeast Polk also had individuals win titles in Nico DeSalvo, Carter Pearson and Brent Slade.
Seven of the other 10 qualifiers for the Rams scored medals by placing in the Top 8.
Bettendorf finished second followed by Fort Dodge, Ankeny Centennial and Waverly-Shell Rock.
Damarion Ross of Fort Dodge (left) wrestles against Asa Hemsted of Carlisle (right) during the Class 3A 175-pound state championship match during the Iowa high school state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Saturday. (Photo by Ryan Timmerman)
In one of the night's featured bouts, Pearson earned a 1-0 decision over Jake Knight from Bettendorf in the 120-pound finals. Pearson also scored a fall vs. Knight at state duals, capping his junior campaign 39-0.
Koy Davidson denied Waukee Northwest senior Carter Freeman his fourth state title, scoring a 6-1 victory in overtime for his first state title. The Fort Dodge junior, who split two meetings with Freeman during the year, locked up the three-time champion before putting him on his back in the final seconds of the extra period.
Joining Davidson atop the podium were brothers Damarion and Dreshaun Ross, as Damarion Ross won his first title at 175 and Dreshaun his second in two years at 215 with the first fall of the finals.
Tyler Harper of Norwalk capped his senior year by avenging a loss in the finals, finishing 40-0 with gold around his neck. Cale Seaton of Iowa City High earned his second title at 132.
Bettendorf did pick up a title when Timothy Koester won his second in three years with a 4-3 decision over Koufax Christensen of Waukee Northwest at 126.
Junior Jacob Helgeson claimed his second state title, finishing 34-1 at 165 pounds for Johnston. He has won 77 of his last 78 matches overall.
Linn-Mar’s Kane Naaktgeboren and Ames heavyweight Daniel Herrera both finished unbeaten with state titles on their resumes. Herrera added to his two titles won in California.
Bas Diaz of Waverly-Shell Rock and Kael Voinovich of Iowa City High rounded out the champions for this year.
2A: Doolittle stuns Wells Fargo Arena
Jace Hedeman’s run at history ended in the finals at 120 pounds, as the two-time state champion from Union LaPorte City was stunned by Carson Doolittle. The Webster City senior capped an unbeaten season by scoring an escape at the buzzer in the third to force overtime.
From there, Doolittle fended off a deep takedown attempt by Hedeman and scored on his own, earning the win and his first championship after placing third three consecutive years.
Roland Story’s Kade Blume got the better of Kaiden Dietzenbach from Burlington Notre Dame for his third title. Blume was kept off the mats his junior year after being charged with a felony for hazing.
Blake Fox earned his second state title at 138 pounds and clinched the team crown for Osage, as the Green Devils defended. Anders Kittleson added his first title in putting together a perfect season, while Tucker Stangel also went unbeaten and claimed his second crown.
Mac Muller capped off the performance by finishing perfect and as the heavyweight champion.
Colin Young of Dubuque Wahlert, Austin Scranton from Anamosa and Jarrett Roos of Sheldon/South O’Brien all capped unbeaten seasons with state titles while Gage Spurgeon of Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, Caleb Olson of Union LaPorte City and Braden McShane were also crowned champions.
Mount Vernon placed second with Union LaPorte City third, Burlington Notre Dame fourth and Creston fifth.
1A: Don Bosco makes it six straight
It was another history-making tournament for Don Bosco, as the Dons became the first program to capture six consecutive traditional team titles. Along the way, Don Bosco picked up individual titles from Dawson Youngblut along with brothers Kyler and Kaiden Knaack.
Kyler Knaack earned his second consecutive title and put together a perfect season while Youngblut, a freshman, scored his first. Five other Don Bosco wrestlers came away with medals to help the cause.
Gavin Landers from Denver, Jesse Lewis of West Sioux, Blake Allen of Underwood, Corbin Reisz from Logan-Magnolia, McKade Bloker of North Butler-Clarksville and Mason Knipp from Waterloo Columbus all went unbeaten this year and won state titles.
Wilton’s Liam Adlfinger, Alburnett’s Rowdy Neighbor, Keaton Moeller from Starmont, Maddox Nelson from Underwood and Austin Honnold of Nodaway Valley were all crowned champions.
Alburnett claimed runner-up honored followed by Wilton, Jesup and Underwood.
-- Dana Becker I @SBLiveIA
