New Iowa high school boys’ wrestling district format adds more state-qualifying opportunities

The road to the Iowa high school boys’ state wrestling tournament is different this year.

The trek is shorter for small schools, while all classes will see more wrestlers advance than previous seasons.

Wrestlers from across the state in all three classes will wrestle in district tournaments Saturday. They will attempt to qualify for the state tournament Feb. 15-18 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Just how they qualify depends on the class for competition. In Class 3A, the top three at each of the eight districts will advance to fill the new 24-person brackets, which increases the total of state qualifiers to 1,008 with 336 in each class. The top two at each weight in the 12 districts in 1A and 2A advance.

The change will add rounds to all districts. First-round losers are no longer limited to fifth as a best finish. Wrestlers are able to come back for true third place. Also, wrestlebacks will still be held for state seeding purposes and not to determine qualifiers.

“I do like the new format with three kids getting to state,” Cedar Rapids Washington Coach J.P. Graham said. “I feel like we have had kids in the past that were deserving but couldn’t get by the top two guys.

“We were feeling better about our chances of it were only two qualifiers this year, but three qualifiers gives you a little room for mistakes. Especially if you happen to lose first round, now you can still come back to third. Our kids are feeling more confident for these reasons also.”

Cedar Rapids Jefferson will host Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Cedar Rapids Prairie, Cedar Rapids Washington, Clear Creek Amana, Marion, Ottumwa and second-ranked Waverly-Shell Rock on Saturday. In most seasons, the Go-Hawks would hoard state berths, leaving others to share the rest.

“Getting more kids to state is important for our program,” Graham said. “We’ve worked hard to improve our team culture, so our kids getting rewarded with a trip to state helps motivate our younger kids.”

Class 3A is the least impacted. The eight districts still consist of eight teams apiece. One concern is the expanded state field will lower the competition level of the early rounds. An extra qualifier will help alleviate the issue of more ranked wrestlers than state berths.

”My thoughts beforehand is it will water down being a state qualifier,” Iowa City High Coach Cory Connell said. “But, there are some loaded weights that it gives an opportunity to those guys.”

The Little Hawks are ranked sixth and travel to No. 4 Bettendorf, competing with Iowa City Liberty, Burlington, Davenport North, Davenport West, Dubuque Senior and Fort Madison.

Eighth-ranked Linn-Mar and Cedar Rapids Xavier head to Marshalltown with Ankeny Centennial, Cedar Falls, Mason City, Waterloo East and Waterloo West.

The added berths will ease some of the pressure associated with the qualifier. More athletes also will be able to experience what is referred to as the state’s top championship event.

“I’m not worried about the field,” West Delaware Coach Jeff Voss said. “What’s the worst that can happen? Some will become a state qualifier and it will make their year.”

Third-ranked West Delaware, Independence and Williamsburg are among 2A district hosts. No. 5 Mount Vernon and No. 6 Union Community will wrestle at Independence.

Second-ranked Lisbon travels to Sigourney for one of three 11-team 1A districts, while No. 4 Alburnett competes at Denver in a 10-team tournament, which is the size of the other nine 1A districts.

Classes 1A and 2A have faced a longer path to state in the past. The elimination of sectionals has streamlined the postseason for smaller schools. The focus is solely on one event instead of consecutive weeks.

“You only need to get ready for one tournament,” Voss said. “The old system forced you to be at your best for two weeks.

“It’s a little less stressful on kids. You don’t have to be on your game week after week. It’s one day and let it fly.”

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