Iowa Wrestling Weekend That Was: Takeaways from the IGHSAU state, IHSAA State Dual tournaments

Takeaways from the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union state wrestling tournament, including its announcement about the inaugural girls’ State Duals next season. Iowa High School Athletic Association State Duals was everything it promised. University of Northern Iowa beats South Dakota State again and Iowa earns split during the Wrestling Weekend That Was.

IGHSAU STATE DUALS SITE ANNOUNCED

The IGHSAU announced Monday that its inaugural State Duals competition will be held at Xtream Arena in Coralville. The venue has been the host of all four sanctioned IGHSAU individual state tournaments and two Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association state championships, in addition to various high school, college and international wrestling events.

“There is no better place to host our State Dual meet tournament than WrestleTown USA,” IGHSAU Executive Director Erin Gerlich said in a news release. “Coralville and Iowa City are the premier hub for wrestling in Iowa, and we are thrilled to extend the strong relationship we’ve built with Xtream Arena and the great people at The Iowa City Area Sports Commission.

“As the host of our state volleyball and wrestling championships, this is a natural fit for the continued growth of girls wrestling.”

The IGHSAU has held state volleyball here since 2022 and state swimming and diving was hosted by Iowa City and University of Iowa in 2025.

The traditional state tournament is held during a three-day wrestling extravaganza, preceding the IHSAA State Duals. The IGHSAU state duals will be held Jan. 22, 2027.

"We are honored to host the inaugural girls state dual tournament and continue our collective efforts to grow the sport.” President of Think Iowa City and the Iowa City Area Sports Commission Josh Schamberger said. “Our community values its important role to create another atmosphere and experience for the Iowa Girl that will be remembered for a lifetime. Many thanks to our partners and leadership at IGHSAU for this trust."

TAKEAWAYS FROM THE IGHSAU STATE TOURNAMENT

Girls wrestling in Iowa continues to grow in numbers and skill. This year’s IGHSAU tournament produced numerous memorable moments, ranging from unexpected to the undeniable and everything in between. The product improves every year, and with more wrestlers entering high school with more experience, the sport will only keep getting better. Exciting times ahead for the sport.

First for the surprising, offered up by Ankeny junior Lauren Watson in the Class 2A 110-pound final. She played spoiler as Raccoon River-Northwest’s Katie Biscoglia attempted to become the first four-time champion with wrestling as a sanctioned sport.

Two of Watson’s six losses this season came to Biscoglia, falling 10-1 and 5-0 in December. The latter came at Xtream Arena during the Dan Gable Donnybrook. Watson avenged those previous meetings, coming up on top of a throw in a scramble situation and recording the upset pin in just 43 seconds. Watson seemed as shocked as the onlookers before running and jumping into her coaches arms. It was an upset that rivals some of the top in Iowa high school history.

Biscoglia handled the situation like the three-time champion she is. She rose from the mat and stood patiently in the center of the mat, while Watson celebrated briefly. They shook hands and Biscoglia slowly walked to her corner before walking off the arena floor. No tantrum or confrontation. Just resolve and class. She showed up to the podium presentation, discreetly wiped tears from her cheek and mustered a smile when all of the medalists were announced. Both wrestlers should be commended.

Two area wrestlers were among the undeniable. South Tama’s Autumn Elsbury stood atop one of the toughest brackets in state history. She joined Waverly-Shell Rock’s state champion Amalia Djoumessi and Decorah state finalist Ana Simon at 170 in 2A. All three competed here in the Donnybrook in December. Simon beat both to win the title then. This time, Elsbury beat both and was dominant, downing Simon, 16-8, and pinning Djoumessi in 3:33 of the finals. She said she briefly thought about bumping up to 190 for an easier path but decided she wanted to remain at the weight she has competed at since her freshman year. Elsbury finished as a two-time state champion, three-time finalist and four-time medalist, finishing fourth or better each season.

If you don’t know Denver’s Abigail Peterson, catch on quick. She is a force in Iowa wrestling and has the potential to be one of Iowa’s best. She is already a Pan-Am age-level gold medalist and had one of the most dominant seasons as a freshman. She pinned her way through the 100-pound field in 1A, wrestling a total of 4:42. She didn’t get through the first period until pinning Wilton senior and top-seeded Audrey Cummings in 2:42 of the championship bout. Peterson ended the season 37-0 with many more wins (pins) to come.

Cedar Rapids Community School District had at least one representative from all three schools, including firsts from Cedar Rapids Jefferson and Cedar Rapids Washington. Jefferson’s Josephine Budederi became the school’s first IGHSAU state medalist (Chloe Clemons was an IWCOA state champion) and first with 100 wins in the sanctioned era. Budederi earned her 101st victory, getting seventh at 135. She ended her career with a fall.

Sophomore 190-pounder Serenity Malone became the Warriors’ first state medalist. She pinned Boone’s Cadence Heggen in 3:37 for seventh. Malone, seeded 15th out of 16, pinned Cedar Falls’ top-seed and previous state champion Briar Ludeman and Linn-Mar’s No. 7 Divine Akili in consecutive consolation round matches to reach the podium.

Marion earned its first state medal thanks to a seventh-place finish from Cadence Pastor at 115 in 2A. She dropped a one-point decision to Ankeny’s semifinalist Nora Bockes but rebounded with a pin and sudden victory decision to reach the award stand. She capped the performance with a 6-0 win over Iowa City West’s Brianna Lucero.

Denver edged Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont by two points for the 1A. The Cyclones only qualified five wrestlers but finished with three champions and one runner-up. RRNW controlled the 2A race, scoring 148.5 wins with titles from Cassidy McCallister (105), Addison McGinness (115) and Calista Rodish at 140. McGinness is the daughter of former Iowa City High four-time state champion and University of Iowa two-time NCAA champion Jeff McGinness, who is the women’s coach at Simpson, and former Washington state champion and former Hawkeye swimmer Jami (Strauss) McGinness.

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IHSAA STATE DUALS

The annual State Duals tournament had few surprises throughout Saturday. Don Bosco (1A) and Southeast Polk (3A) won titles. Class 2A remained to be the most competitive and wide-open of the three classes.

Don Bosco wasn’t the runaway champion many thought it would be. Jesup battled the Dons tough, coming down to the final bout before Kyler Sallis secured the 36-30 victory with a decision at heavyweight. The J-Hawks have made a steady climb, making their debut in 2024. They have finished fifth, fourth and a very respectable second.

EBF entered the 2A field as the No. 3 seed and beat No. 2 Clarion-Goldfield-Dows in the semifinals and No. 1 Decorah in the finals. The Rockets wrestled a fun and exciting brand of wrestling. It resulted in a title.

The Vikings were a good story, qualifying for the third time and first in 30 years. They have reached the finals in all three appearances.

Moving up to 2A wasn’t too much for Alburnett. After placing second to Don Bosco in 1A last season, the Pirates were the No. 6 seed in the larger class. They dropped a 40-29 quarterfinal to EBF and rebounded with two wins, including a 39-27 win over 2A State Duals stalwart West Delaware.

UNI TOPS SDSU AGAIN

Despite injuries and wrestling at Brookings, S.D., UNI defeated South Dakota State for the second time this season. The Panthers beat the Jackrabbits, 19-13, on Sunday.

The dual came down to the heavyweight bout where Adam Ahrendsen used a late reversal to defeat No. 25 Luke Rasmussen, 5-3.

UNI received a major decision from Julian Farber (133), Caleb Rathjen at 149 and three straight decisions from Ryder Downey (165), Jared Simma at 174 and 184-pounder Nick Fox.

Interestingly, UNI Coach Doug Schwab made the trip to SDSU after attending the State Duals in Coralville Saturday, watching his sons, Hayden and Hendrix, wrestle for 1A champion Don Bosco.

IOWA EARNS SPLIT WITH WIN AT MICHIGAN STATE

The Hawkeyes got back to their winning ways. Eighth-ranked Iowa won all nine matches contested and recorded seven bonus point victories to trounce Michigan State, 40-6, in a Big Ten Conference men’s wrestling Sunday in East Lansing, Mich.

The Hawkeyes have taken 11 straight duals from the Spartans.

Six of those wins were technical falls. Iowa had three straight techs in two streaks. Two-time NCAA finalist Drake Ayala, Kale Petersen and Ryder Block did it from 133 to 149.

Petersen is 2-1 as a starter when Nasir Bailey hasn’t competed. His only loss is to NCAA champion and offensive dynamo Jesse Mendez.

After the break, Michael Caliendo (165), Patrick Kennedy at 174 and 184-pounder Gabe Arnold all recorded technical falls, pushing the Hawkeyes’ bonus-point total to 13. A positive for Iowa, which also got a major decision from Dean Peterson at 125 and decisions from Victory Voinovich III (157) and heavyweight Ben Kueter.

Iowa forfeited 197 but shouldn’t be an area of concern going forward.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com