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♪♪ ♪♪ A live look outside Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, for the Iowa High School Girls Wrestling championships.

Tonight we bring you incredible stories and nonstop action as the student athletes who poured their hearts into the journey step on the mat with a championship on the line.

It's sold out as this has the makings of being a historic night.

I'm Eric Braley, this is Megan Black champion, and what an atmosphere we already have and we haven't even started wrestling yet.

Why are you excited for tonight?

I'm so excited.

I'm excited for the girls to have a chance to create their own legacy.

A legacy for their school, and maybe even continue a legacy that their family has started.

I love that word legacy.

She has a lot of legacy herself.

Let's talk about that and what she has done as a women's pioneer for wrestling, because before girls wrestling was a sanctioned sport in Iowa, Megan was the first female to qualify and actually place at the Iowa boys state wrestling tournament.

She went on to be a three time All-American at the Fargo Nationals, won a gold medal at the Junior Pan American Games in 2014, and earned All-America honors all four years of college.

That was a couple of years ago, Megan Black, champion, currently in the U.S.

Army, a mom of three young girls joining us here, you can see all of the accomplishments that you have done.

The state of Iowa, girls wrestling certainly wasn't what it was way back then.

No it's not.

It's come so far.

It makes my heart so happy to be in this arena.

It's packed tonight with people just excited to watch these females compete.

All right.

We'll now send it to the public address announcer for the Parade of Champions.

And a whole lot more.

The Iowa City Area Sports Commission is a proud partner of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, and has been honored to once again serve as the host community for the girls state wrestling championships.

The sports Commission is proud to begin the process of annually supporting one Iowa girl wrestler with a $2,500 scholarship towards their college education.

Today, Iowa City Area Sports Commission Chair Emily Downs, along with Think Iowa City President Josh Schonberger, are honored to present this check and an ongoing commitment to the continued growth of girls wrestling and the Iowa girl.

Accepting the check on behalf of the Iowa Girl Foundation are IGHSAU Executive Director Erin Gerlock and wrestling administrator Kiley Walker.

♪♪ ♪♪ It's now time to present the Iowa Bankers Association Student Athlete Achievement Award.

Every year at the Girls State Wrestling tournament, the Iowa Bankers Association presents a Student Athlete Achievement Award to a student athlete who excels on the court, in the classroom, and in their community.

The recipient receives a $1,000 scholarship to the college of their choice.

The 2026 Student Athlete Achievement Award winner for Girls Wrestling is Katelyn Brandhorst from Madrid High School in Madrid.

Presenting the award is Dustin Anderson from City State Bank in Madrid.

Congratulations, Kaitlin on receiving this scholarship.

And thank you to Dustin with City State Bank in Madrid and the Iowa Bankers Association for their sponsorship of this award.

♪♪ Every year, the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association honors one of its own as the state Athletic Director of the year.

Presenting this year's award is Dia President Tanya Mau and second vice president Zach Clark.

The 2026 recipient of the Athletic Director of the year is Brant Cook of Dubuque.

Senior Brant cook has enjoyed 30 years of experience in secondary education and interscholastic athletics.

He serves as assistant principal for activities and athletics at Dubuque Senior High School, a role he has held since 2012.

Prior to Dubuque, Senior, Brant spent ten years as assistant principal and athletic director at central DeWitt High School and earlier held teaching, coaching, and leadership roles in Illinois.

A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa and Illinois State University, Brant holds the Certified Master Athletic Administrator Cmar designation and is a lifetime member of the Niaa and Dia.

He has served on the Iowa School Athletic Board of Control since 2017, and currently represents section four on the NE AA Board of Directors.

Ladies and gentlemen, congratulations to the 2026.

Ada Athletic Director of the year from Dubuque senior Brant Cook.

♪♪ The Golden Whistle Award is presented to retiring wrestling officials whose dedication to the sport have shaped Iowa wrestling for decades.

Presenting awards.

Today, representing the Iowa wrestling coaches and Officials Association are Brus Lennon, Sean Angel, Lanny Brand, Pat Loughran, and Adam Hargrave.

This year's honorees are Doran Slick, Montgomery, Scott Whitehill, Bob Donnelly, Sean Thompson and Bob Murphy.

Accepting the award for Sean Thompson or his sons Trey and Jade Thompson.

These men have left a tremendous impact on the sport of wrestling and have left lasting legacies through their service and mentorship.

Congratulations all of you!

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ The Iowa CoA honors an official for their dedication and commitment to the sport of wrestling with its official of the year award.

The 2026 Iowa CoA official of the Year is Brian Gray, presenting his award is 2025 winner Ben Marshall.

Brian, the son of Hall of Fame official Rich Gray, grew up on the wrestling mat and has been officiating wrestling for 34 seasons.

He's officiated at every IGHSAU state wrestling tournament while also officiating 26 boys state meets and 19 championship matches.

Brian was named Iowa Wrestling Official of the year in 2020.

Iowa Boy's Official of the year in 2023, and is a member of the Ihsaa Officials Hall of Fame.

He has also served as a valuable mentor and evaluator, and founded the Central Iowa Wrestling Officials Association, and currently serves as the Director of Officials for the CoA.

Brian and his wife, Tiffany, reside in Winterset.

Congratulations to the 2026 CoA official of the year, Brian Gray.

♪♪ The CoA honors a junior high Girls Wrestling Coach of the year each year for dedication and commitment to the sport.

This year, that honor goes to Elena milledge of Lemars, presenting her award as Adam Hale of Pella.

Elena has made a lasting impact on growing and promoting wrestling.

She consistently recruits new athletes by creating a welcoming and encouraging environment that inspires students, many for the first time, to step onto the mat.

Congratulations to this year's Junior High Coach of the year, Elena milledge.

♪♪ ♪♪ Every year, the CoA honors outstanding coaches in both class one A and two A. The CoA won a coach of the year is Jared Pickett presenting his award as one of last year's winners.

Coach Dan Stiefel from East Buchanan Jared has over 20 years of coaching and was the driving force behind Denver High School, adding girls wrestling.

He's known for being an outstanding advocate, recruiter and coach that builds confidence in every student athlete that he coaches while assembling a collaborative coaching staff that brings diverse strengths and perspectives.

He and his staff have increased participation numbers across all age groups while developing a strong wrestling culture.

Prior to coaching at Denver, he spent seven seasons at Emmetsburg and one year at Harlan.

He is currently a science teacher at Denver.

He is honored tonight with his wife, Valerie, and his boys, Reece and Strider, as well as his coaching staff.

Congratulations to the One-a coach of the year from Denver High School, Jared Pickett.

♪♪ ♪♪ The CoA Two-a coach of the year is Kelly Seery from Linn-mar High School, presenting his award as last year's winner.

Jake Phillips from Mason city.

Kelly brings nearly three decades of wrestling coaching experience to his role as head wrestling coach at Linn-mar High School, a position he has held for the past two seasons.

In that time, he has guided the Lions to a 23 and three dual record.

A longtime fixture in Iowa high school wrestling, Kelly stepped into the head coaching role after serving as a Linn-mar girls assistant.

Prior to that, he spent more than a decade as an assistant coach for the Lion Boys program.

Seery began his coaching career in 1997 at Newton High School, and later held assistant coaching positions at Xavier High School and at Cedar Rapids Prairie as.

Accepting his award with him tonight or his wife Tara and his coaches.

Congratulations to the class Two-a coach of the year from Linn-mar Kelly Seery.

♪♪ [APPLAUSE] The Iowa wrestling Coaches and Officials Association honors an individual who has dedicated their life to wrestling with the prestigious President's Award.

Presenting the award tonight is Representative Alana Warren.

The 2026 recipient of the President's Award is Bob Murphy of Manchester.

Bob, a native of Parnell, graduated from Williamsburg in 1970.

An All-American wrestler.

Loras College, Bob began his coaching career at Loras before moving into the high school ranks, coaching at Dubuque Waller before landing at West Delaware, where he spent 25 seasons as assistant principal and athletic director.

He was active as the executive director of the IWC ZOA, and was a leading voice in the sanctioning of girls high school wrestling in Iowa.

He also was a highly decorated wrestling official for 53 years, working 30 state tournaments.

He is still active as commissioner of the Wamac conference and is the current IWC treasurer.

Congratulations to this year's recipient of the IWC ZOA President's Award from West Delaware, Bob Murphy, accompanying Bob tonight is his wife, Jane.

♪♪ Every year, the National Federation of High School Associations honors outstanding officials from each state in their respective sports.

Presenting tonight's award is IGHSAU Executive Director Erin Gerlock.

This year's recipient in girls wrestling is Adam Hargrave of Let's Talk.

Adam is a respected leader in sports officiating with more than 20 years of experience in officiating rules, interpretation and mentorship.

He is known for advancing officiating standards, developing training programs, and supporting the growth of officials across Iowa and beyond.

For over a decade, Adam has officiated high profile state tournaments, demonstrating a strong commitment to athlete safety and integrity.

Adam and his wife, Whitney, have two children, Emery and Lennon.

Congratulations to this year's NFO Girls Wrestling Official of the year.

Adam Hargrave.

♪♪ The ♪♪ Golden Plaque of Distinction Award honors an Iowa coach who has built a successful career while making lasting contributions to their school community and the coaching profession.

Presenting this year's award is IGHSAU Executive Director Erin Gerlock and IGHSAU wrestling administrator Kiley Walker.

The 2026 Golden Plaque of Distinction recipient in wrestling is Troy Grieder of Ridgeview.

Troy began his journey in coaching and growing girls wrestling 11 years ago.

In addition to his coaching duties, he has been a tireless advocate for girls wrestling and the expansion of the sport in Western Iowa.

He is accompanied tonight by the first girl he ever coached, Keegan King Manternach, who has followed in her footsteps by serving as an assistant wrestling coach at South Central.

Calhoun.

He also expresses his deep appreciation to his wife, Kris for her support during his coaching journey.

Presenting the Golden Plaque of Distinction Award in Wrestling from Ridgeview, Troy Grieder congratulations, Troy.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Ladies and gentlemen, we'll now begin our Parade of Champions.

Leading them are our grand marshals past Iwu CoA champions, whose achievements helped lay the foundation for girls wrestling in the state of Iowa.

2019 champion Ali Girres from AG.

2019 and 20 champion Tatum Parke from Davenport North.

2019 and 2020 champion Chloe Clemons from Cedar Rapids.

Jefferson.

2019 champion Toya Griffin from Nashua, Plainfield.

, 2019 champion Riley Slinkard from Colfax.

Mingo.

2020 champion Janelle Avila from Lisbon.

2020 champion Alaina Schmidt from Dubuque, Wahlert.

2020 champion Salima Omari from Iowa City, West.

2021 champion Morgan Smith from Denver.

2021 and 2022 champion Eva Diaz from Waverly-shell.

Rock.

2022 champion Jillian Worthen from Union.

Laporte city.

2022 champion Reina Utterback from Sigourney, Keota.

♪♪ , 2022 champion Hannah Rogers from Wilton.

2022 champion Alexis Ross from Fort Dodge.

Please give them all a round of applause as we celebrate their trailblazing efforts and lasting impact on our sport.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ We will ♪♪ now honor our 2026 place winners.

We will start with our 100 pound athletes.

♪♪ ♪♪ Next, our 105 pound athletes.

♪♪ ♪♪ Please welcome our 110 pound athletes to the floor.

♪♪ ♪♪ Next, welcome to the floor.

Our 115 pound athletes.

♪♪ ♪♪ Please welcome our 120 pound athletes to the mat.

♪♪ ♪♪ Next come our 125 pound athletes.

Please welcome to the mat our 130 pound athletes.

♪♪ [APPLAUSE] Next we have our 135 pound athletes.

And now here comes our 140 pound athletes.

♪♪ ♪♪ Here ♪♪ come our 145 pound athletes.

♪♪ Let's hear it for 155 pound athletes.

♪♪ ♪♪ Next we have our 170 pound athletes joining the floor.

♪♪ ♪♪ Here come our 190 pound athletes.

♪♪ ♪♪ And finally, please welcome our 235 athletes to the floor.

♪♪ ♪♪ Congratulations to all our state qualifiers for the 2026 girls state wrestling tournament, as well as all of our placers.

Ladies, you have all etched your names in the history books tonight.

It is time to crown our 2026 State champions.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ All right, wrestling fans, please rise if you are able, remove your caps and hats as we face the flag, and we honor our many veterans who have so proudly served the men and women across the world who protect our freedom each and every day.

And this great country we call home with tonight the singing of our national anthem by la la La vie Leukoma a 2023 Linn-mar grad.

Seay can you see by the dawn's early Lillard what so proudly we hail at the twilight's.

Last gleaming.

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the Pastor Tayla Stiefel.

All the red imparts we one.

Were so glad.

Live streaming.

And the Ruff.

Reckless.

The bonds Byrd in air.

Gave proof through the night.

That our flag was still there.

O say, does that star spangled banner wave.

Or the land of the free?

And the home of the.

Brave.

The brave.

[APPLAUSE] Thank you.

La Marie.

La vie.

Thank you.

Thank you everyone.

Well, a lot of things just happened.

I'm a little speechless.

That was incredible.

That might be the best national anthem I have ever heard at a state tournament, for sure.

So the stage is set again.

It's sold out here inside the arena.

Goosebumps.

As you see, former champions parading out.

And we have a couple of graphics here to set the stage of the matchups that will really take the next couple of hours here, as we got a lot of weight classes.

We start with 100 pounds.

The lightest weights work our way up really at 5 pound increments and really representing every corner of the state.

Small schools, medium sized schools, large cities.

When you look at the one-a matchups, what anything jump out at you?

Well, I'm excited, of course, to see my alma mater of Eddyville Blakesburg Fremont, but of course, I've seen a lot of, you know, number the first seeds actually making it.

But also you see a number five seed in the finals.

And that's awesome to see as well.

Clear a number nine seed.

It's exciting because that's what the state tournament is about, right?

So that is a look at the one eight matchup.

So we have two matches happening.

Action happening at the exact same time.

So A1A final in the two A finals happening all at once.

So here's the two way matchups happening.

And again only two classes right now for girls wrestling.

If I could look into the crystal ball I don't think, you know, five years from now we might have three classes, right?

We might.

But right now, I love that we're even at two.

And I think that you're going to see the technique and the strength of the girls get better and better and better, and eventually, maybe we'll have A3A.

But I love what we have right now with having two classes.

Again, you see the numbers next to each of the names.

That means that is the seed they had heading into the state championship, the state tournament here in Coralville.

So a lot of ones, meaning they have outstanding records, the full body of work throughout their season.

You have some freshmen, you have some sophomores, you have some juniors, you have some seniors.

You know, someone who's looking to win four in a row, which is something that's really, you know, kind of unprecedented, right?

We're going to get to see that tonight from raccoon River.

So we're going to get a chance to see Katie Biscoglia go for her number four, which is amazing.

Well, again, the crowd, the sights around here with the IG h girls state wrestling, the the pink branding.

They are packed here shoulder to shoulder.

Sold out crowd ready to erupt as the final day of high school girls wrestling is upon us here tonight.

So that's right to my.

Left as we await.

Right by the podium.

So 100.

Student athletes to run right out of there to compete for the 100 pound weight class.

To get to the floor, you will have to go up and around.

And please.

As we take a look at who will be at the 100 pound weight class, it'll be Abigail Peterson and Audrey Cummings for class one and class two A will be Mara Davis and Nora Ohnemus competing for the two.

A crown as Denver Wilton High School, Algona and Indianola High School represented.

All right.

Here we are.

Here we go.

Presenting Denver, Abigail Young Petersen.

And from Wilton.

Audrey Cummings.

So you see the records on the screen, 39 and five against 36 and zero Wright.

Both athletes have had a lot of matches this year.

And now for the class two matchup, 39 and zero Ohnemus versus Davis a sophomore versus a junior.

And now we turn the lights full.

The officials who have worked hard to get to this stage as well.

In the pink I love I love their their pink shirts goes with the theme.

During class one A, you can see the split screen that'll be Cummings and Peterson.

Ohnemus and Davis will be on the right side of your screen.

First period.

Going in and being very aggressive right away.

We got a takedown, three points and already on the back and in trouble.

In real dangerous spot right.

Working hard to get out of that.

No waiting around the field.

Each other out right into it.

Four points.

Jumping out to a seven point lead.

Now let's look over as Cummings.

Not wasting any time at all.

And you see that usually with these lighter weights.

Not like the heavyweights.

Right.

Lots of action.

Right.

Right away.

Takedowns and back points.

Sometimes.

11 points already with still a minute remaining here in the first period, she's.

Gotten two opportunities to take her to her back.

Aggressive, aggressive start.

Cummings.

Trails Petersen by a score of five.

Nothing Petersen out of Denver, Cummings representing Wilton.

We have 45 seconds left in the first period here at one A and 32 seconds in taken away here in the two A opening period.

Davis out of Algona is a junior biggest wrestling accomplishment making it to the state finals.

Parents names Angie and Justin finished fifth at state last year.

That's what you like to see, right?

Improvement from last year.

Just to get to this spot.

Certainly doing that.

But Ohnemus.

Looking for a fall over on one end, maybe.

With three seconds to go.

Time is going to expire, but going to get a four point.

Back points coming and a huge first period to make it 9 to 0.

So some big holes to climb out of here right?

Not necessarily what you want in a in a state championship match or any match.

But I've seen people come back from it before.

Petersen really establishing herself.

Hard to believe.

Just a freshman.

That is so impressive.

Biggest wrestling accomplishment?

Super 32 champ.

Pan Am champion.

So no stranger to the big stage for her.

First trip to state.

She's looking for that chicken wing again.

Has it underneath, and then we see a final here at class two, a Nora Ohnemus winner at class two A, the 100 pound weight class.

Raising her hand.

And we have a winner in class one A as well.

Well, what a way to.

Performance by Abigail Peterson of Denver and Nora Ohnemus of Indianola High School a freshman in Petersen and a sophomore of Ohnemus.

For the future's bright for both of these two, that's for sure.

Opportunity to become multiple time state champions.

I mean, that's that's amazing.

You see the emotion putting the name on the bracket, advancing to the championship.

I really think that's something special that, you know, the girls state tournament has compared to the boys, is getting to sign your name on your bracket, I think is extremely special.

You should be in the awards area.

So they will make their way over to the awards area.

Wrestle for a championship at 100.

And just like that, buckle up.

We're moving right along.

100 is done.

Two champions have been crowned.

Now it's time for 105 pounds in class one A, you'll see Ainsley Hemann against Kennedy Helscher Helscher.

Wapello.

Hemann of Osage, a sophomore, 37 and one record.

The number one seed against the number two seed.

And it doesn't always play out like that, but sometimes it does.

Right where we get a one, A or a one and a two.

So that's fun.

And for class two, A, a two juniors that only have two losses between them all year, a one seed as Cierra Becker, 27, and one.

Against Cassidy Mccallister, the three seed at 49 and one.

Siera Becker state champion Fargo All-American.

Parents Stephens CSF Becker.

She earned fifth place her freshman year.

First place last year.

Meanwhile, Cassidy Mccallister fourth at 100 pounds in 2025.

Working on the edge of the mat and the two way circle.

Again, if you're just joining us, Megan Gerlock champion and Eric Braley sitting mat side here in a sold out Extreme Arena in Coralville, Iowa, the final day of high school girls wrestling championships, the only ticket is right here.

Iowa PBS sports the opportunity to watch it live on our broadcast.

Tough spot here on the two way.

Yeah.

Points awarded yet.

Kind of stuck underneath here.

And now going neutral on two way on the back.

Three points awarded and not done yet as.

Really Helscher got the three.

Good job by Hemann to get back.

Has not been awarded an escape yet.

Still neutral with no points on the two way, 105 pound matchup.

Here's a replay in class one, a. Beautiful shot.

Fighting it off.

Yeah.

Avoiding the fall.

45 seconds left on the one a opening period 23 seconds opening period here at two A. Class is just really getting after it right away.

Lots of action.

Scoreboard might quite not quite say it yet, but.

Got a leg but five seconds going down at two a and running out of time.

Neutral 18 seconds on the one A match again Hemann of Osage Helscher of Wapello.

Wapello.

Helscher won the semifinal match this year, getting to the stage a huge accomplishment.

3 to 1.

The score.

No score yet at two a a quick escape.

Well, riding time has not been a.

[LAUGHTER] factor here at all.

Quickly out of bounds, right toward our camera.

Good hand fighting.

Lots of hand fighting.

Yes.

Trying to get in.

Asserting positions almost identical movements happening.

On each mat here.

Now.

Down.

No control.

Backpedaling and out of bounds.

But a stall call.

That's the first.

Mccallister really on the offense there.

Trying to get that push out.

Not that she gets a point for it, but it does look good when you can have your opponent on your heels like that.

So one nothing here in the two second period.

We're at the 105 pound weight class.

It's the second lightest weight class.

Just a battle standing up pretty tall.

Between Hemann and Helscher.

Every shot has been just fought off.

Let's see if she can fight that.

Yeah, fights it off again.

Hemann trying to make something.

If she.

Can get it herself.

Meanwhile, pushed out of bounds again and brought neutral with 30s left and the two way match.

Hemann in on her own shot.

Now.

14 seconds left.

and a takedown with nine seconds.

And it'll be real interesting.

Third period.

That's going to be important there at the end of the match.

You know, to get that takedown.

Perfect timing.

Another stall call that's big.

That's going to tie up the match over there on the two way side 1 to 1.

There's different ways you can get points.

You know you can have a takedown three.

You can have an escape as one reversal two points.

You can have a near-fall with back points.

But penalty points, you can have a legal hold stalling, unsportsmanlike conduct, two stalls makes it 1 to 1.

Folks.

This is the third and final period.

Two minutes and ticking away a state championship on the line, one point separating on the one a mat, a tie at two a. This is where the endurance comes in.

Absolutely.

Look at one.

A look at two.

Way out of bounds.

Out of bounds.

Conway is really going to have to have that mat awareness now of not not giving up any of those stall calls because that could decide the match here.

It really could.

Neither wrestler has really been able to get in on any good shots there.

So you're going to it'll be interesting.

You have to feel it's already an intense situation battling for a state championship, but now you're in the third period with about a minute to go intensity cranked up to the highest of levels.

Dig deep with everything on the line, maybe take a risk here.

Yeah, you're going.

You're going to need to, you know, this 1 to 1 match here.

You know you can push this into overtime or you could get get her done now.

Wright and Helscher trailing here by two really has to gamble.

I mean, really, with nothing to lose here and and Hemann just.

She's going to need to take down just to tie it up at this point.

Yep.

Which is definitely not out of grasps.

No.

You have 30s on the clock.

That's plenty of time to still set up something good.

Back to neutral at two A. Ooh, it's getting interesting.

Down to 17 seconds for Helscher.

Can she get a takedown to tie this up?

Down to ten.

Hemann doing everything in her power to fight it off and deliver a state title to Osage.

She's staying in great position.

And she did.

Osage and Ainsley Hemann is your 1A-105 pound champion.

And we're going to overtime at two a. Hemann a very common name over there in Osage gable Hemann winning a state championship just a year ago.

On two ORear in.

Oh.

Congratulations.

Here's a look at the replay of your class one a. Yeah.

Highlight of wrestling in high school last year.

State championship win with her older sister.

So to back that up and sign her name.

Meanwhile, who's going.

Over time.

Down here at two 33 seconds here in the first overtime period in trouble.

This.

There it is.

Raccoon River is going to have a state champion.

It went.

Extra period.

You see the emotion a state title at 105 pounds.

Sign your name.

Let's see.

Cassidy Mccallister Abigail Peterson.

And how Waukee, raccoon River.

immediately won this with this move.

Look at.

Big step behind and that's going to be your takedown right there.

She finished fourth at 100 pounds in 2025.

Bumped up a weight class.

Your state champion this year.

She talks about being surrounded by such a big support system.

She's a junior, has a chance to come back next year.

And they have such a great team over there.

You got to know like she's in there with, you know, multiple finalists, probably more state champions right throughout the night.

And you know her getting fourth last year just surrounding herself with good partners has obviously paid off.

Here she is state champion.

Take a deep breath.

Two of the weight classes have been decided.

Four champions have been crowned as the 110 pound weight class is next up, as it'll be.

Violet Diaz Macy Rasmussen.

Katie Biscoglia and Lauren Watson battling at the 1A-110 weight class.

And again, keys to managing nerves.

Maybe for someone like Katie Biscoglia that has hit 200 wins in her career and has three state championships under her belt.

Right?

Well, Katie's been here, done that, you know, and it's a comfortable place for her.

I'm sure she still has some nerves, but with repetition and being here before, you know, comes a lot of confidence.

Podium.

Please come to the podium.

All right.

You see the hugs?

Family members, friends.

Emotional moment.

Oh my goodness.

And everything that went down to the wire.

How about the impact of statewide television coverage in the visibility girls wrestling has?

Well, you know there's girls across the state right now in their living rooms watching with their parents from across the state, little girls who this is what they want to do.

And for them to be able to watch it, I think is so cool.

I was that kid.

I was watching the Boys State tournament, but I was at home watching like, I can't wait to be that someday.

So that's exciting.

Brynnlie Havig here's a look at the.

Sixth place.

Place winners.

George, little Rock, Molly Konechne.

In fifth place from MFL Marmac Kennedy Bachman.

In fourth place from Riverside Oakland, Jersey Hilgenberg.

In third place from West Marshall.

Keely Kasal.

Your runner up at 100 pounds from Wilton Audrey Cummings.

And your one a 100 pound state champion from Denver.

Abigail Petersen.

All right.

As we get set for the 100 pound weight class, we'll look at the finalists for the class two, a 100 pound place winners, as well as that staging is just off to the side of where these two state championship mats are.

There.

You see the camera angle just off to the side.

It's like clockwork here.

The logistics of moving everyone around.

So many student athletes, coaches, cheerleaders, everybody.

It's really amazing to watch.

Like the thought that goes into this and to watch it all play out is pretty amazing.

These girls are used to standing on podiums like this.

And seventh place from Norwalk.

Very young age.

You see the amount of matches they get a year.

It's it's a lot of matches.

You know, they've been on the podium plenty.

And fifth place from Lester Pugh Elli Casey.

In fourth place from Mason city.

Piper Phillips.

In third place from Spencer Kiara Ruiz.

Your runner up from Algona.

Mara Davis.

And your 100 pound champion from Indianola.

Nora Ohnemus.

Congratulations to Nora.

Your class two, a champion from Indianola.

The number one seed who holds on to that title.

Not easy to have that target on your back and to deliver.

A state champion at any weight.

This evening.

We need you to stay and there will be an all champion.. Smiles.

Yeah, that's a little different than the boys state tournament too.

I think sometimes you see their podium and trying to be tough.

All smiles on this podium.

I love that.

Waiting in the wings, the 110 pound weight class about ready to be announced.

The officials are ready.

The cheerleaders are ready.

The coaches are in position as well.

Violet Diaz Macy Rasmussen, Katie Biscoglia and Lauren Watson will be competing for the one and two championship at 110.

110 pounds.

Here we go.

Return to the back Keeler Pedrick.

[APPLAUSE] All right, little change in schedule.

First, they have student athletes on the podium.

So going back to the podium for the 105 pound award winners.

All right.

One a 105 pound award winners in eighth place from A2 tri center Sophia Hazen in seventh place from Gtra Terra Swedin.

In sixth place from Crestwood.

Kara Kennedy.

In fifth place from Charles City.

Sophia Calpito.

In fourth place from Mount Vernon.

Kate Martin.

In third place from Saydel Sophia Carnes your runner up at 105 pounds from Wapello.

Kennedy Helscher and presenting the award to your 105 pound state champion coach Nick Hemann, your champ at 105 from Osage.

Ainsley Hemann.

Gives a hug to her dad there.

How cool is that?

A lot of time spent working together to achieve that state championship accomplishment.

Furthering that family legacy in that Osage school legacy, there.

Osage, a wrestling town.

That is a wrestling town.

Many there's many wrestling towns across this great state of Iowa.

But Osage definitely ranks up there.

And it's really becoming one for women, too.

For a long time, you know, the men were very dominant.

And look what the women are doing.

This is awesome.

It takes a support system, buying in, investing in these student athletes, pouring into them.

I think it can help from that.

Foundation is already set.

Right.

Like, you know, you take a school like Osage where winning is almost expected, right?

It makes it easy, I think maybe easier.

Yeah, expectations.

But so much, so much time.

Any place from Iowa City, Liberty.

Now, the 105 pound class two, a finalist.

Seventh place from.

Recognized and earned their medals.

In sixth place from Boone Poppy Malone and fifth place from Southeast Polk London Vermillion at fourth place from Waverly-shell Rock Kambree Westendorf in third place from Knoxville, Serenity Turner and your runner up at 105 from Indianola, Sierra Becker.

And presenting the award is head coach Ryan Leasure of Raccoon River northwest to his state champion at 105 Cassidy Mccallister.

[APPLAUSE] Louisiana state champs.

Make sure you stick around for the.

Congratulations to Cassidy Mccallister.

An incredible season.

This is the cherry on top winning the class two, a 105 pound weight class and doing it in dramatic fashion.

That overtime win.

Yes!

Award winner.

And obviously helping.

This is an individual sport, but it's a team sport as well as team scores.

They tallied.

Up and you know you'll see a lot of raccoon River girls in the finals.

And anytime you can you can win.

You're racking up more points.

So all right lights off again.

And now we are ready for the 110 pound weight class.

Ready to wrestle.

For the one and two Ray Violet Diaz Macy Rasmussen at one a Katie Biscoglia and Lauren Watson in class two a. Rasmussen Rasmussen of Oddeman Ikm-manning.

She's a sophomore and Diaz out of Denver, a 32 and two record.

They said a lot of matches.

53 and three.

You see a one seed out of Diaz, a three seed.

So expect that to be highly competitive.

And then at the two AA match, Biscoglia has won three state titles undefeated this year.

Dominant, dominant.

Two and zero.

And then Lauren Watson of Ankeny.

She's not going to shy away from this moment, no doubt about it.

Watson at Ankeny, a junior third at state last year at 105 pounds, now wrestling at 110 pounds.

Loves being a part of the Ankeny Girls wrestling meeting.

So many great girls from all over the state of Iowa.

But really one of the story lines Katie Biscoglia hit 200 wins.

200 wins.

That's a lot of matches, a lot of winning.

And she's looking to get add one more to it tonight.

Wrestle at Wartburg next year.

Well, Lauren Watson her opponent playing some wrestling in college and major in dental hygiene.

She's just a junior.

Meanwhile, on the one-a mat, we have our first takedown and our first points awarded as Diaz out of Denver on top early over Rasmussen.

She's going to let her up and try to do it again.

Now that's a strategy, right?

And I'm sure you know, her and her coaches have talked about this.

She's very aggressive, very good on her feet and I'm sure she just wants to put those points on the board.

Meanwhile, down and in trouble a pin.

Are you kidding me?

Are you kidding me?

And that's gonna.

Has happened.

And this is why.

And that's why you got to love wrestling, right?

This is why you compete.

Katie Biscoglia is first place in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

But Lauren Watson.

It's going to be all Lauren tonight.

Champion in 2026.

It's why you play the game.

It's why you wrestle.

It's why you compete.

Lauren Watson I said was not scared of the moment.

She sees the moment.

That's why.

You train.

You believe in.

Yourself.

Almost in shock of what happened.

I think she was, you know, kind of beside herself.

It started out as Katie's shot and she kind of took advantage of her getting kind of out of position and ended up catching her right on her back.

It happened so quick.

You know?

Still a round of applause, though, to Katie.

She's had a heck of a. Career, wins.

A career.

And you know what?

I hope that this you know, people don't forget one match doesn't define your career.

And Katie I think has a long wrestling career ahead of her.

And she's going to do great things.

But Lauren Watson, congrats to you tonight.

And that is like you said, that's why you play the game.

Yep.

You hit the nail on the head.

This is Lauren Watson's night.

And and again that is she did not shy away the spotlight.

So much talk about trying to four peat and and not maybe a lot of talk about Lauren Watson.

And you.

Know not only to win but a first period pin.

Yeah.

This is why I tell people, you know, you have to win positions and winning positions wins matches.

And Lauren took advantage of that.

I'm going to jump in here real quick as we're getting back Hawkins as Diaz is just racking them up.

She'll get at least three and counting.

Minute 12.

Tries to settle in here, but I'm not sure she's going to.

See four.

A ten one lead for Violet Diaz out of Denver.

The junior taking on Macy Rasmussen of Ottoman for.

Owens left in this period.

Plenty of time for her to continue.

Kind of building this lead.

To go back.

I know a lot of famous wrestlers at the high school or college level that lost a match and went on to do some great things.

You know, it's important to remember that one match doesn't define your career.

And and Katie's going to like I said, she's going to go on to have an amazing career.

This is going to be, you know, one blemish and and I'm sure what she's going to do, you know, great things in college.

So and I'm sure she'll learn from this right.

The only.

Life.

Right.

The only way she truly loses that match is if she doesn't learn from it.

And I'm sure I'm sure she will.

More points coming for Violet Diaz.

Has had success at Fargo.

Most likely going to Grandview.

Like her sister.

Just like my sisters planning to wrestle Jared Pickett, high school coach.

There.

You see, all dressed up was honored.

Earlier tonight.

Parade of champions.

Mr.

and Mr.

Peterson helping out and her father Rafael and her mother, Summer Diaz placed her freshman year.

Violet did third at state.

Sophomore year.

State champion.

Now a junior.

Looks like she's on her way.

But you never know.

She looks like she may have tweaked her knee a bit in that last exchange.

Hopefully she can keep her, you know, head in things here and.

Meanwhile, Macy Rasmussen finished sixth at state last year.

Biggest accomplishment, she said, was wrestling in the state finals tonight.

She's going to pick up top for to start this period.

Macy has wrestled at state two years in a row.

Trailing here by 11 here in the third period.

Interesting decision.

Yeah.

You know she's she's gotten taken down and she's had a hard time getting back to her feet.

So probably a smart decision to go ahead and try to turn her.

And she hasn't been too successful at getting points on the board otherwise.

But you know clearly tough on top.

Yep.

Returns Diaz.

Going to bring him to the center here as the clock stops with a minute 40 to go.

You're just joining us Megan Black champion, first female to qualify for the Iowa State Wrestling boys tournament two times and a place at state.

Joining me Eric Braley on the call for Iowa PBS broadcasting in a sold out extreme arena where in the third weight class.

She's got a tough barn.

Still nothing though.

She's running out of time.

She she is.

She's going to need to.

Getting the points out of it, getting the riding time in control, the situation, just not getting awarded the points.

They did just give a stall warning to Diaz, but she's going to need more than that.

She's got a minute left.

You know there's time on the clock.

She can still, you know, rack some points up, maybe get a pin, but she's going to need to to make something happen here.

So tough on top.

Yeah.

I mean, if she was just to ride her, she'd be in great position.

But she's going to need a Turner.

Yep.

35 seconds and probably a stall call will come any second now.

I would think.

Yeah, Diaz not really looking to improve at all here.

There is that stall call.

And strategically she doesn't.

She can give up a stall point.

But you also want to to go out as a state champion on top.

Yep.

And so I'm sure she'll be looking to get back to her feet.

Well she's going to give up another stall warning here.

Five seconds though for Violet Diaz who again repeats back to back state champions from Denver, Iowa.

You're 110 champion.

Did it as a sophomore and did it again as a junior.

Congratulations, Violet Diaz.

Again, we talked about how unique it would be to have your dad on the coaching staff and just the hours and hours spending, she said.

Being with her family 24/7 is is one of the things she loves about wrestling.

It's a team sport, but this family sport, when.

It is, and it seems like she also, you know, loves to glorify God and all that she does.

And that's that's really neat to.

Ernst it always makes it easier to to go out and compete when you're doing it for something bigger than yourself.

So Roster.

So Diaz and Watson winners at the 110 pound weight class.

And now we move to 115.

You see, Ball and Roster.

Pastor 55 and 950 and three.

Raccoon River northwest Madison Avenue.

Mcginness a very household name here in Iowa.

Jeff Mcginness for dad.

♪♪ To.

It's my understanding, though Addison did not start wrestling until maybe her eighth grade year.

So although, you know, she probably grew up watching her, her dad wrestling things she didn't start herself until a little bit later on, but doesn't seem to have slowed her down much.

She's here in the state championships looking for a title.

So strategy with that.

You know, each kid, each person's different.

You want to get burnt out too early.

You know, Troy Steiner once told me you have ten prime years of wrestling.

And do you want your kids ten prime years to start?

Five year.

Old as a five year old or, you know, a ten year old?

I don't know, something that stuck, stuck with me and now makes me think, as a parent.

Here you see the 115 pounders.

State championship on the line.

Interesting at class two way, the number one and number two seed have already gone down.

In on a shot here.

She's going to get the takedown.

Ball.

A sophomore qualified for state her freshman year.

This is the second Wapello wrestler we've had in the finals tonight.

So impressive.

Little go for those guys.

She placed sixth last year as a freshman.

Addison Mcginness over.

Here on the mat looking for the pin.

She's got her on her back.

It's pretty tight.

Mcginness a sophomore as well.

She's got that head scoop.

Seery just trying to do anything to keep that shoulder off there.

Seery the first four time state place winner for Linn-mar girls wrestling program has placed eighth, sixth and third.

Will finish at least second.

But a fall comes in the opening period.

The number four seed.

Addison Mcginness.

, a sophomore.

Year 115 pound state champion following in her dad's footsteps.

When asked have you ever been to state before?

Nope.

Never been.

Now you're a state champion.

You're a state champion.

, and getting a pin.

Congratulations.

She loves her team's energy.

Plans to go to Simpson College for psychology.

I think she knows the coach over there.

She does?

Yeah.

I just love seeing the emotion.

It's interesting how many falls we've seen early on here.

Yeah.

You know, that's that's fairly common still I think I got to call a regional tournament last week.

And again, it was pin or pin.

Here's a look at the the the replay at two way on the right side of your screen.

She has so much pressure there.

You said it was tight.

And again she's in a real precarious situation.

Seery Walz and Mcginness finally had that push to get the call.

The final shoulder blade down.

Meanwhile, a six nothing advantage as we can focus full attention here as Ball, the number one ranked wrestler at 115 pounds.

In class one, a. So a minute to go here in the second.

So plenty of time to still maybe get some back points, but also plenty of time, you know, to maybe score an escape and get yourself on the the on the board.

Sometimes getting that first point can open up the floodgates.

And I think if things can happen.

Absolutely.

You have a lot of adrenaline.

Obviously it's the state championships.

And and sometimes when you can get a point on the board, it helps to kind of shift that momentum.

Stalling, warning.

30s to her feet.

Tough on top.

We'll talk about how wrestling builds confidence and leadership beyond the mat.

Well you know I'm I've been fortunate enough to be around a couple teams and be on a couple teams and maybe be in some leadership roles, and it doesn't matter.

You know, what team it is, whether it's a wrestling team or not or like your job.

It's easy to take.

What's wrestling has taught you with like the the toughness and the tenacity and apply it to to life.

And people tend to listen when they know that you've done tough things.

And so it's easy to be a leader when when you've showed it before.

And you can prove to yourself that you can do hard things.

Yeah.

When you when you prove to yourself you can do hard things, it just it on the wrestling mat, it builds confidence for whatever you do later in life.

Again, she's Megan Gerlock champion.

I'm Eric Braley are outstanding Iowa PBS crew.

They've been here all day working the semifinals.

Making sure to get the highlights and get the cameras set up and everything ready to go for the championships.

So that we could bring you this action.

And there it is.

Nice move to get out the reversal.

And now on top.

Ball was very patient with that.

Well, she's, you know, in a kind of the driver's seat.

She's she's ahead six zero.

She doesn't need to do anything, you know, crazy or, or stupid and in that escape or that reversal was, was really well timed for her.

So Ball the number one ranked wrestler as a sophomore, qualified for state last year.

With Kennedy Helscher, both her freshman and sophomore year.

Now made the finals with her.

Just imagining in my head how much more fun that would be, how rewarding that would be with one of your friends, one of your teammates to go through that journey together.

It's always, always fun when you can do it with someone else, you know?

And you can.

You can feed off each other's energy and.

That's exciting for them.

The coaches have worked hard to get to this position as well, to motivate.

Instruct 15 seconds.

Third period eight.

Nothing Clara Ball.

Finished sixth as a freshman.

She is your state champion as a sophomore.

Your One-a champion at 115 pounds.

Congratulate.

Congratulations to Clara Ball.

Very dominant 8 to 0 win for her.

[APPLAUSE] She looked very calculated, didn't really put herself in any poor positions and really dominated that match.

There's this strategy behind this.

It's not just pure strength and power because you don't want to put yourself in a position where your opponent could.

For sure.

I mean.

really flip the.

Script on.

You a couple matches, right?

When Katie got thrown to her back there not to to relive that, but that's exactly why you stay in good position.

And and you, you try to win positions.

Let's take a look at the replay of the celebration.

After Clara Ball.

as time expired.

Wins her first state title.

And now we go to the awards.

Amaya Bass in fifth place from Clear Lake Saphira Olsen.

In fourth place from Mount Vernon.

Kiersten Swart.

In third place from F Cadence Christensen your runner up at 110 pounds from Audubon Macy Rasmussen and presenting the award, coach Rafael Diaz, to your 110 pound one a state champion from Denver, Violet Diaz.

Violet Diaz is your champion at the 110 pound weight class in class one, a. , joining her sisters as a state champion.

Well, her second state championship, I guess, as well.

Congrats to her.

Third place her freshman year, first place last year, first place as a junior and her father handing her the medal as well.

Congratulations to Violet, the 110 pound champion.

Such a special moment at the father.

I'm sure.

Worked so hard and he gets to witness that firsthand.

Now we have the 110 pound for class two, a, where Lauren Watson has the biggest upset of this championship night out of Ankeny.

I would say probably even in Iowa girls wrestling history at this point.

Yes.

Muscatine in sixth place.

From Sioux City, North.

Cameron Andersen in fifth place from Iowa City.

Liberty, Evelyn Karam in fourth place from Carlisle.

Alyssa Wheeler.

In third place from central DeWitt Greenley Grell.

Your runner up from raccoon River northwest, Katie Biscoglia.

And presenting your champion award.

The head coach of Ankeny, Dustin Roland, to your 110 pound state champion.

Lauren Owens Watson.

[APPLAUSE] A large cheering section just erupted when she got the fall and cheering very loudly.

Well, everyone in this arena may have been surprised, but they were not.

They were here knowing that Lauren was going to win and they were prepared to celebrate that.

I'm sure Katie will probably go back tonight and write down these emotions.

And a year from now I'm, you know, I'm sure she's going to remember, go back and remember how that felt and become better from it.

And again, her wrestling days are not done as she plans to compete at Wartburg and compete at the next level.

Wartburg was a D-3 champs this year, and their national tournament, so or national dual team tournament.

So she's going to a good team.

You talk about these towns and cities across Iowa that pour into wrestling that for the boys that now have poured into the girls program.

So you're seeing that with some of these colleges and universities.

As well.

It's exciting to see, you know, the Wartburg Women's program succeed, just like the men's has for, you know, so long.

Well, scan the QR code or call the number on your screen to support friends of Iowa PBS.

Congress recently cut 3.5 million in federal funding.

The largest One-Time cut in our 55 year history, impacting 18% of our budget.

Despite this challenge, we remain committed to our mission.

Thank you for supporting public media.

And.

And back to the award.

Stand for the class 2A-100 and 15 pound weight class.

Emma Schmitt.

In third place from Gtra Trista Guinn your runner up at 115 pounds from Fenton Schellsburg Kaitlyn Roster and presenting our award to your champion coach, Craig Carlson, and your 115 pound champion from Wapello, Clara Ball.

[APPLAUSE] I think that's Buffalo's first ever state champion for the women's side.

So congrats to to them.

And her previous best wrestling accomplishment was qualifying for state last year.

Getting sixth.

And now as a sophomore.

Clara Ball is your state champion.

So congratulations to Clara and Addison Mcginness, the runner up.

And now.

The state champion at two A. At two AA.

So at 115 pounds, it's just all the different weight classes that we have here.

Pastor in.

Sixth place from Spencer Jada Mingus-alfaro.

In fifth place from Cedar Falls.

Lauren Whitt in fourth place from Ankeny.

Nora Backus in third place from Iowa City.

Liberty.

Cate Eggleston your runner up at 115 from Linn-mar Kate Seery.

And the head coach from raccoon River northwest, Kirsten Bush, presenting the award to the state champion, 115 pounds Addison Mcginness.

There she is.

Love the.

Smiles.

And she deserves to smile again.

First trip to state in her first trip, there's a look nothing better than raising that hand, knowing all that hard work has.

Paid off.

I love watching her jump into her coach's arms to.

The family support in an athlete's journey.

The coaches support so important you can't do it by yourself.

1A-120 and 1A-125 Award winners 120. and 1A-125 Award winners.

Please report to the Chairs of Honor.

All right, as we are getting ready for the next weight class.

It'll be the 120 pound weight class.

We are ready to wrestle at 120 pounds.

Our first one day from Eby takes.

And her.

Opponent at 120.

Pounds from Don Bosco, Erica Irvine.

Alivia Irvine.

And in two a at 120 pounds from Ridgeview.

Teagan Robertson.

And her opponent this evening from Pleasant Valley, Abigail Meyrer.

120 pounds.

As we move up the ladder in the weights.

And we're ready to go here in class two, a Abigail Meyrer and Tegan Robertson one and two in class one A it's one and three is Erica, Irvine and Kate Krause.

There you see your alma mater, Megan Black.

Old F. Yes.

And Don Bosco, you talk about wrestling, you gotta include the dons of Don Bosco in that conversation as well.

Obviously, two programs that have a lot of history on the men's side.

Excited to to watch their women compete as well.

Still neutral on the one mat.

Take down by Robertson of Ridgeview to take an early lead here in the first period.

There is a takedown and points awarded.

As Irvine jumps out to the early advantage and now is on top.

Erica Irvine Don Bosco she's a junior three time freestyle champ, a state finalist, World Team Trials place winner.

Reverse here on two way.

Meyer 3 to 2.

Now with 35 seconds to go.

It was important for her as this period, you know, kind of wraps up for her to try to get an escape or reversal and she was able to secure that.

So that's huge in this state championship match.

Erica Irvine finished second and third place at state.

Kate Kraus finished seventh at state last year, got her 100th win in the finals at the Cedar Falls invite.

Pretty impressive to rack up 100 wins.

She is just a junior and again building off that seventh place finish last year, she'll either get first or second this year.

Kids put in a ton of time just like everyone else, but a ton of time over the summer and it pays off.

You know, summer summer wrestling makes winter champions and you're seeing it today.

Girls wrestling in the championship today.

They're wrestling all summer getting better, and it pays off.

Work when no one's watching.

Building for this moment.

3 to 2 in to a three to nothing and one a Teagan Robertson is a junior.

Her biggest wrestling accomplishment is being a four time state champ.

She plans to go to a four year college for business, isn't sure if she'll wrestle at the next level.

Finished sixth at state last year.

She's got.

A. Good leg right in.

Her wrestling.

Career was her freshman year.

She started beating some wrestlers that had some good names, some recognition.

She realized I might be good at this.

It's kind of that snowball effect, you know, once you get it rolling, it's it's easy to to continue and continue to build that confidence.

Meanwhile, Abigail Meyer, out of Pleasant Valley, a senior three time finalist, 2023 state champion, she has finished first, fourth and second, making history at her school, watching the sport grow is her highlight for the sport of wrestling.

They're going to go back to the center.

Potentially dangerous there.

Yep, did not want to have an injury.

6 to 0.

Erica Irvine.

Looking strong.

Looking to sit through on that.

But.

33 seconds to go in the second period.

Meyrer and Robertson deadlocked at 33.

24 seconds to go.

Gets a reversal.

It is.

Again another.

Two reversals already.

And looking for the pin.

There it.

Is.

Holy buckets.

Wow.

Wow.

That was fast.. And that is the way you want to win a state championship, right?

Blink of an eye.

Looks like Meyer may be injured.

You don't want to see that.

As she went.

In to help her up there.

Just so quickly, that turned.

So focus our attention here as we're in the third period with a buck 42 and ticking away here at the 120 pound weight class, Kate Krause and Erica Irvine.

At 30, Kate's going to need to open up and and get some points on the board here.

You know, a takedown and some turns could do it.

But she's going to have to really open up here and make something happen.

[APPLAUSE] With a minute 14 now on the edge of the mat, they'll go neutral toward the center.

Both girls in great shape.

Neither look to be tired.

Not at all.

Let's look at the replay of how this fall took place.

And an injury happened somewhere in there as well, which you didn't see a lot of fight, potentially because of that injured shoulder.

Yeah, she she came into the match with the shoulder brace on.

So I'm sure there's some sort of preexisting injury there.

48 seconds for Don Bosco's Erica Irvine.

She can sense it, but you can't let the foot off the gas.

Meanwhile, Krause back against the wall.

Needs to again just open up and make something happen here.

Krause finished seventh last year.

100 wins in her high school career.

Parents Garrett and Nicole Krause.

Her brother, Gage Spurgeon, is a state champion for Eddyville as well.

So looking to add to that state championship mix in that house?

Three time state qualifier might wrestle at Laura Stohr Grandview.

Yet to decide that seven seconds to go Erica Irvine finished third, finished second, finished first.

A state championship back to Don Bosco as Erica Irvine your 120 champion in class one.

A.

[APPLAUSE] Lots of emotion from her.

Congratulations.

Erica Irvine.

Just a little dance move there on the edge of the mat.

You you can definitely dance.

You just won a state title.

I mean, talk just about improvement with not only getting to state, getting to the finals, but then.

Right.

And that probably says something about her ability to be coachable when you can continue to show improvements like that.

You know, obviously she's able to take what her coaches are telling her and and do better with it.

And so if I was a college coach looking at her, I'd be thinking, this is someone who I can continue to mold and make better.

And it's going to, you know, probably do really good here in this program, wherever that be as well.

We're going to move up a weight class to 125 pounds.

Disco ball.

Over there.

Look at these.

Coats.

On.

That and her opponent.

From ABC, grace Storjohann.

In two a at 125 from Waverly.

Shellrock.

Camille.

And her opponent at 125 from Algona.

Ruby.

Jordin Mayson.

Officials wrestle.

125 pounds Aileen Aragon and Grace Storjohann at class one a Ruby Roof and Camille Schult for class two.

A. Not even at the halfway point tonight of crowning champions.

We have a lot of fun wrestling to go, a lot of good wrestling to go.

and this place is still pumped so loud.

I already have a tank takedown right in front of us on the edge of the mat.

By Schult Waverly Shellrock.

Getting after it early.

And class one A we have a takedown if she goes around and there it is.

So.

And now an escape.

Three one identical.

Three 131.

[LAUGHTER] Each man.

It's hard, hard to keep track of everything going on.

A flurry of activity, but it's number one and two of one a and one and three seeds heading into the state tournament.

Just battling here again.

Megan Gerlock champion and Eric Braley with the broadcast.

Got another takedown here on two a but by Ruby this time she'll go up 4 to 3.

She's rattled off four consecutive points after giving up that first takedown.

You can see how quickly this new three point takedown can change.

You know the trajectory of a match.

, racking up additional.

Points.

Yep.

She's looking for the fall.

In a real tough spot here is Schult.

She's really starting to biting.

Off.

And in class one A it's 6 to 1 and.

Time runs out there.

Five seconds.

And Schult will be saved.

Just battling to keep.

It will be 8 to 3.

Here is a look at that takedown.

Beautiful takedown.

It's going to put her up 8 to 3.

And let's look at class 1AA reverse reversal makes it 10 to 1.

And really jumping out to that lead here is Grace Storjohann Storjohann out of Aplington-parkersburg Grundy Center.

Current number one.

Getting a turn now.

She's going to get back points.

Aileen Aragon out of West Liberty.

Tough spot.

The official right on it.

You see on his screen.

There it is.

He hit his hand to the mat.

It's going to be a pin.

Congratulations to Grace Storjohann.

Storjohann.

Your class one a 125 pound state champion by fall.

And a takedown.

Is she in?

Just out of bounds.

On the edge of the mat.

You can focus.

Now.

Let's look at the class one.

A a replay of that takedown.

And pin.

And here's the pin again that officials just right on top of things.

And they're.

Delivering Aplington-parkersburg Grundy Center a state championship.

So Algona and Ruby Roof currently in the second period with 33 seconds to go.

Really has controlled, in my opinion.

Yeah.

After giving up that first takedown.

You know, sometimes that's what it takes is, you know, getting your body kind of shocked there at the beginning to, to get the the motor going.

Look out.

And now she's looking for the fall.

Some back points.

She's got a lot of pressure there.

And but only two seconds on the clock.

And again kind of saved by the bell as we go to the third period.

So Roof with a sizable lead Schult down but definitely not out of it as she can.

No.

And she's turned her down once, so she she should still have some confidence that she can do that again.

And and that's what she's going to do.

She's going to go ahead and let Roof up to her feet, which is going to give her a 13 to 3 lead.

But she's taking her down once, and that's what she's kind of banking on here, is that maybe she can do it again.

Schult has finished first place and fourth place here at state.

A state champion her freshman year has had a tremendous high school career.

Camille Schult of Waverly-shell Rock, a junior.

But Ruby Roof has won three AA state titles.

She is just a freshman, first time to state.

She's extremely dominant.

Pinned her way into the finals as a freshman.

Parents Nikki Roof Ray Roof.

Algona High School has a good one.

It'll be fun to watch her through the next three years and see if she can hit that 200 wins.

Or you know that that fourth state championship.

And again, taking on Kamille, who won a state championship her freshman year.

52 seconds to go Moore back points for Ruby Roof.

Got it, got it.

38 seconds remaining in the third period.

And there it is.

Ruby, a freshman, pinned her way into the finals as a freshman.

She gets the pin here in the state championship finals at 125 pounds.

Congratulations to Ruby Roof.

Congratulations, Ruby Roof.

[APPLAUSE] Algona has a state championship along with Aplington-parkersburg and Grundy Center High School.

At the class 125 pound weight class.

Signed the board.

And let's take a look at that winning pin.

That sealed the deal.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you direct your attention to the awards area, we are ready to present your awards in one day at 120 pounds.

In a place from Highland.

Dominant performance.

Dominance.

You know, it was, what, 13 to 3 before she was able to secure that pin.

I mean completely dominant.

Here's a look at the 120 pound place winners for class one A. In fifth place from Woodward, Granger, Hannah Brandhorst in fourth place from West Liberty.

Kiley Collins in third place from assumption.

Davenport.

Valentina West, your runner up from Eddyville.

Blakesburg Fremont.

Kate Krause.

And your 120 pound one a state champion receiving her award from Coach Isaiah Corbin from Don Bosco.

Erica Von.

Here's a look at the junior out of Don Bosco.

Erica Irvine celebrating.

She finished third place, second place and first place here.

With a little dance moves.

And now, smiling atop the podium in one A at 120 pounds.

Adding to that, Don Bosco winning legacy.

Well, stay connected with the Iowa PBS sports no matter where you're watching from.

Join the conversation.

Follow us on Facebook and X and use hashtag Iowa PBS sports to enjoy wrestling with other fans.

Anyah Oatts.

Back to the PA.

And seventh place.

Champions.

Brianna Kiger and sixth place from Cedar Rapids.

Kennedy o Olivia Hallam and fifth place from independence.

Morgan Krall in fourth place from Cedar Falls.

Annabelle Rohret, and third place from Linn-mar.

Chloe Adamson and your runner up from Pleasant Valley, Abigail Meyrer.

And presenting the Champion Award from Ridgeview coach Troy Grieder.

Your champion Tegan Robertson.

[APPLAUSE] ♪♪ The celebration from Teagan pointing to the stands where her loved ones were, her support system and big hugs for the coach.

She was the student athlete that said her freshman year was her favorite, most proud memory when she started beating some good name wrestlers and realized she could be amazing at this sport of wrestling.

And boy, that self-belief definitely came to shine tonight.

Absolutely.

It's amazing once you start believing in yourself, you know how the sport changes.

It becomes enjoyable.

You look forward to wrestling.

You know, hard people in those big names and you know that it's just going to create more confidence.

And you know you can't lose when you go out there with that attitude.

Blakesburg Fremont.

Kendra.

Here's a look at the 125 pound award winner.

Seventh place from Durant.

Ava Streeter in sixth place from Clarinda.

Kylar Downey in fifth place from Missouri Valley.

Maddie McCall in fourth place from Williamsburg, Keston Spratt in third place from Osage.

Lauren Adams, your runner up at 125 pounds from West Liberty.

Eileen Aragon and presenting the award at 125 pounds.

Coach Joel Wright Your one, a 125 pound state champion from Apgc Grace Storjohann.

And raising the hand in celebration after winning the class one, a 125 pound and jumping in to the.

coach of the best dressed coaches as a freshman, made it to the blood round 10th grade.

Seventh place junior year.

Second place.

Senior year.

State champ.

And that is how you want to end your senior year, right?

Progression.

Build, build and going out on top of the podium.

Congratulations to Grace.

Not everyone gets that opportunity.

So and here is the two way, 125 pound place winners, where Ruby Roof stands atop the podium.

In seventh place from Gilbert Kate Melody and sixth place from Ankeny, Karlie Kruse and fifth place from Cedar Falls, Jobie Conway.

In fourth place from raccoon River, northwest, Ellie Hancock.

In third place from Bettendorf, Nesa Selmani.

Your runner up at 125 from Waverly-shell Rock.

Camille Schult.

And presenting as champion coach Luke Saturn from Algona.

Your champion at 125 Ruby.

[APPLAUSE] The celebration by the freshman.

She has never been here before.

Didn't seem like a scared, intimidated freshman.

She looked like a veteran out there.

It's always interesting.

You know, we've talked a couple times tonight about some freshmen who won it and then maybe didn't.

The next year.

And it makes you wonder like does the the fear of the unknown or maybe the not fear.

She has no idea what she was watching.

And maybe does that play a part in things you don't know?

And I guess we maybe won't until next year, but good luck.

Maybe she's just fearless.

Maybe she's just fearless.

Again, she has experience three AAU state titles in one season.

I mean, she's been on big stages.

She has been on the big stage before, and I'm sure we'll see her here in the future as well.

All right.

The lights are turned off and it's time to move to the 130 pound weight class.

130 pounds out, first class one-a from Eby, Georgia.

Smith.

On.

And her opponent at 130 pounds from Denver, Lilli Cooper.

Thank you very.

You can.

have to.

Be in class two a from Waterloo West day night Sharr Watson.

And her opponent at 130 pounds from Lewis Central of a. All right officials, we're ready to wrestle.

130 pound weight class.

Ready to do battle as Eddyville, Blakesburg Fremont and Denver in class one a while.

Waterloo West and Lewis Central.

Quick takedown for Lilli Cooper over here from Denver.

I mean, when you say quick within 10 seconds.

Right, three.

Points on the board.

She came out guns a blazing sometimes, you know, you see him try to feel each other out a little bit, especially in like a state championship atmosphere.

But they're right to it.

In two way.

Smith gets the escape over here on one.

So 3 to 1 at one.

A some hand fighting in two way.

One.

Again, this is the 2026 Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union State Girls wrestling championship from Extreme Arena in Coralville.

Continual growth with girls state wrestling in 2020, 571 girls 2021 no sports due to Covid 2022 1022, 2023, 2387, 2024, 3112 and this year, 3422.

So since 2020, you've added 3000 girls.

[LAUGHTER] .

And it's like, where do they come from?

In five.

Years and.

3000 more?

It's just amazing.

It's amazing to see.

You gotta love it.

And when you last wrestled in 2011, you said there are about 3638 girls.

So in 2011, that was the first year I qualified.

There was 39 girls across the state.

I think by the time I graduated in 2013, there was maybe like 100.

But the first year I qualified, 2011, there was, yeah, 39 across the state.

And now 3422.

It's unbelievable.

Megan Black.

Georgia Smith with a huge takedown.

Carried her and threw her down to the mat.

A lot of points back and forth like a seesaw.

Cooper and Smith.

No one with a real significant advantage to just keeps going back and forth.

This this one might end in the 20s with a point total.

Here's a look at it.

Cooper in here with a double.

And she's going to elevate that and put Cooper right on her hip.

Meanwhile no points scored in the first period into a between Smith and Watson.

Avaeh Smith.

Dania.

Watson.

Just really.

Just locked in.

Neither wrestler really putting a lot.

Yeah, a whole lot together.

You'd like to see maybe 1 or 2 moves at a time.

Start to put 1 or 2 moves together there.

But for now, just kind of feeling each other out.

Look at this replay coming right into your living room.

Look out.

She's got a front row seat.

Smith almost a. Back in on a shot.

Fighting in as Cooper said, not.

And now she'll go.

And she's gonna get a takedown.

The only points here at two a at 130 was the escape.

7 to 4.

Lily Cooper on top.

Looking for some back points.

We'll see if she can get those shoulders exposed.

Potentially dangerous.

As the two wrestlers look to their respective corners and coaches, 38 seconds left here in two A in the second period.

Both still just kind of fighting for wrist control.

No one really taking too many shots over there.

Smith gets an escape over on the one a mat.

It's going to put the score to 7 to 5.

Cooper in the lead.

Smith is a sophomore.

She finished fourth last year as a freshman.

She's in on a shot again.

She's battling against Cooper.

She placed third last year.

So you're looking at a sophomore.

They wrestled each other.

Sophomore that finished third and fourth.

Yes, they wrestled each other for third and fourth last year.

Yeah.

And now they're.

Wrestling in the finals.

Yep.

No time left and we go to the third period.

Anyone can win this obviously as only one point separates Smith and Watson in two A and two points separate Cooper and Smith.

In again.

Back to this three point takedown.

You know, on the one a match a takedown wins this.

Whereas you know before it tied it up.

Oh the three points.

Yeah.

Georgia Smith in on a shot similar to the last one.

She elevates it, takes her to her hip but has not secured it yet.

And rolling over.

Cooper gets a takedown.

To not only fight it off, but to to get control over to her advantage.

Now leading 10 to 5.

Meanwhile, Watson out of Waterloo East High School, a senior, has never been to state before.

Loves building authentic relationships with her teammates.

2 to 1 minute, 28, left.

Smith looking for the reversal over here.

Has not got it yet.

Smith time is ticking though.

She needs to.

Oh, and they're going to give her a stalemate on there.

So one minute exactly remains at one a Avaeh Smith of Lewis Central.

As you see the replay.

Smith on the shot, but Cooper's going to roll her through.

Smith of Lewis Central finished fifth in 2024.

Was your state champion last year trying to go back to back.

Can she do it?

She's trails by one to Watson, who has never been to state before.

44 seconds to go.

Watson was really successful as a youth wrestler and took some time off and she's back and in full form now.

So although maybe new to the high school scene, not new to wrestling.

28 seconds.

Watson with the lead Smith.

Last year's champion has to do something and has to do it fast.

Looking for a shot?

10 seconds eight seconds, five seconds.

Fighting her off.

Watson says not tonight.

Congratulations to Watson.

Never been to state before and she is a state champion for class two A at 130 pounds and Lilli Cooper out of Denver, wins it 10 to 5 back to back state titles.

Over Lily.

Well, she finished third last year and now first.

This year.

She improved on her not only getting to state but getting a level higher.

Right.

It'll be interesting next year to see if these two meet again.

Yeah, I hope so.

That was entertaining.

Here's a look at the class one-a final.

As the sophomore out of Denver, Lilli Cooper.

And here's a look at the two.

A final.

Day Nisha Watson.

Congratulations to those ladies representing Waterloo East High School in Denver.

Really, just about ten minutes away from each other.

Lots of good wrestling in that area.

Northeast Iowa, that's for sure.

Wonder if they've met.

Essentially same.

Earlier this year with being so close in location.

Class one from West Delaware.

Hannah.

Oh ORear.

And her opponent from Vinton, Shellsburg.

Chloe Sanders.

♪♪ And in two a at 135 from southeast Polk at East Olsen.

And her opponent at 135 pounds from Dubuque.

Hempstead.

Bella Miller.

[APPLAUSE] In Shipman going on my watch.

My soul for a championship at 135.

One and two.

Battling in class 1A1 and three.

Facing off in class two A as we're at 135 pounds.

Megan Black, Champion and Eric Braley Matt side here in the final day of competition for the Iowa Girls High School wrestling Championships.

In trouble.

Already with a big time move at one a. Getting back points.

Sanders.

She's the first girl in the state of Iowa to reach 200 wins.

She's 57 zero this season.

She finished second, third and third in state.

Looking to get her first state championship, adding to a remarkable career with 200 wins already.

Out of Vinton Shellsburg, the senior Chloe Sanders, she said her biggest wrestling accomplishment simply making an impact on others.

Wants to wrestle, plans to wrestle in college and study criminal justice.

Up seven.

Nothing very tuned in.

Oh, she's on a mission.

She is second, third and Kurth third place.

Last year, 57 zero.

But Anna ORear, 46 wins.

She's only lost twice this year at 135 pounds.

She was state runner up last year.

Both extremely technical.

And 2024 made it to the state tournament with her sister Abigail ORear.

Anna ORear pinned the number one seed last year to reach the state finals.

Three Nothing in class two A the early lead to Isabella Miller Miller's 29 zero out of Dubuque Hempstead High School placed at Fargo in the World Team Trials.

She was the state champion in 2024, third place last year.

Addie Nelson out of Southeast Polk.

Placed fifth place.

So a senior and junior in class two, a. Interesting.

Two seniors battling in one A in a junior and senior in two way.

It is you know we've seen a lot of really young girls so far.

I think this is the first time we've seen two seniors.

It is.

So their their last time in their high school.

Stieglitz I'm sure they're going to leave it out all out on the mat tonight.

135 pounds again.

We're bumping up by 5 pound increments.

We started at 100.

We went 105, 110, 115, one 2125, 130.

Now we're at 135.

We'll keep doing that until we get to 155.

Then we'll bump up to 170, take a leap to 190, and then end with heavyweight 235.

Minute to go in the second period at two a. ORear attempts a shot, but Sanders is going to make the most of it.

Another takedown for her.

10 to 1.

Now for Sanders.

Right at the edge of the mat.

They're probably going to pull him back to the center.

We love to see the new rule of them getting to at least one toe in.

I mean, you're looking at 3 to 4ft extra on the edge of that mat that, you know, these girls are getting to use.

Now.

Some coaches want the biggest mat possible.

So you can really, really get.

Maximize your scoring potential.

Yep.

Final seconds here in one a. Sanders.

[APPLAUSE] Guinn.

ORear.

Just so strong last year finishing second.

And this year only two losses, 46 and two overall.

She picks top.

And so I'm thinking she she understands the situation.

It's you know she's down 10 to 1.

She needs she needs a pin to win here.

So.

You only have two minutes to get at least nine points.

And.

You know she's been taken down a couple times.

Now she's got to try something different.

Meanwhile within reach.

But running out of time is Addie Nelson.

Nelson finished fifth last year, 42 and two this season.

But Isabella miller, she's tough.

First place in 2024, third place last year on top.

And she's going to score again.

Three more.

9 to 0.

Definitely been a dominant performance from her.

I mean both of these nine zero and 14.

One yes.

Very technical a plan strategy countering.

And execution.

You know you can plan all you want, but you got to come out here and and deliver.

And both of these girls have just stuck to the game plan and and went to work.

38 seconds to go in one a. Vinton Shellsburg.

As Chloe Sanders, daughter of Jason and Angie, Sanders has never won a state title, she's finished second, third and third.

She is a senior and she is 12 seconds away.

She's already, you know, hit one milestone this year of being the first girl to hit 200 wins.

I would love to see her cap it off here in these last two seconds.

There it is.

With a state championship.

Congratulations, Chloe Sanders 58 and zero.

An undefeated, perfect senior season and her first state title.

Second, third, third and first.

What a career she's had.

Congratulations, Chloe Sanders.

And the final seconds at two a 12 to 1.

[APPLAUSE] Two times.

Two times.

And celebration.

As Isabella.

Miller out of Dubuque Hempstead High School finished first in 2024.

Third last year and first again in 2026.

Bella.

Let's take a look at Chloe Sanders.

Replay of the winning moments.

Roller to look good for.

Miller's gonna run over here.

She'll see her family.

She's about jumped over her table.

Nothing was going to stop her.

And I don't blame her.

Here's a look at her dominant performance on a mission.

At 130 pounds.

She's hugging her family now, feeling that embrace.

Congratulations to her.

You can tell she.

You know, she took that loss, that third place last year and not that she lost her third place match.

But obviously maybe didn't end it.

Like she would have wanted to.

The awards podium for class one, a 130 pound place winners.

In fourth place from Osage.

Aiden Keefe and third place from Williamsburg.

Cecilia Gryp in your runner up from F Georgia Smith.

And your champion.

Her award, presented by coach Jared Pickett from Denver, Lilli Cooper.

And the celebration as Lilli Cooper.

The sophomore out of Denver, Iowa finished third place and now a state champion.

Daughter of Tiffany and Travis Cooper, state champ in class one A at 130 pounds.

What an amazing feeling.

I wish I knew what it felt like to be a state champ.

You were a pioneer for these ladies.

Competing against boys, a place winner against boys.

It was a different time then.

It was.

I'm thankful, you know, that.

I got to wrestle and obviously I wish I got to, you know, compete against girls and that thing.

But I'm so excited for these girls.

And, you know, I have three girls of my own now and excited for them to possibly have the opportunity to wrestle here as well.

And now.

The class two, a 130 pound place winners with Watson atop the podium at Waterloo East High.

School.

Destiny Hoeppner.

In fourth place from raccoon River, northwest, Izzy Duncan in third place from Linn-mar.

Brielle Parke your runner up at 130 pounds from Lewis Central.

Avaeh Smith and your 130 pound Two-a state champion, receiving her award from Coach Joe Kadlec of Waterloo West.

De Nyesha Watson.

And the celebration from Watson has never been to state it does not matter.

All confidence she knew she.

Had so confident.

When you expect something she went out and delivered tonight.

right from the start.

I said it earlier, but she has that confidence because she has won before.

You know, she was very confident, very, very good youth wrestler, took some time off and didn't seem to slow her down any because, you know, she's a state champion tonight.

She did a lot of things well in that match.

Not just one thing.

Well she she stayed in really good position.

She obviously scored in in positions where she knew she was confident in.

And it paid off.

All right.

You're one awards at 135 pounds in eighth place from Clear Lake Piper.

Lester in seventh place from South Winneshiek.

Maddie Jansen in sixth place from Woodward.

Granger, Sunshine Casey in fifth place from Clarinda.

Lilly Weinreich in fourth place from Eddyville.

Blakesburg, Fremont, Miley Kirkpatrick in third place from Alburnett.

Lyni Gusick your runner up at 135 pounds from West Delaware.

Anna ORear and your 135 pound, one eighth champion, receiving her award from coach and dad Jason Sanders from Vinton Shellsburg Kolohe Sander.

♪♪ The celebration, 58 and zero as Chloe Sanders gets the first place championship medal from her coach and dad.

Second place, third place, third place and as a senior, first place.

She loves accomplishing goals with this team and she plans to wrestle in college.

Congratulations to Chloe Sanders of Vinton, Shellsburg.

Your class won a 135 pound, undefeated 58 zero state champ.

Will be excited to see you know, where she goes to college and how she continues to to do.

Because I think the ceiling is really high for her.

Gets a big hug from her dad.

There.

And here's the.

look at the two weigh 135 pound place winners.

In seventh place from Cedar Rapids.

Severson Josephine Budederi in sixth place from Creston, Grace Keeler, in fifth place from Oskaloosa.

Mia Luck in fourth place from Fort Dodge.

Mariah Benedict in third place from Ames, Lexa Rozevink, and runner up from Southeast Polk.

Addie Nelson.

And coach Derek Anderson of Dubuque, Hempstead presents the championship medal to Bella Miller.

[APPLAUSE] For the second time, Miller is a state champion back in 2020 for third place last year and a state champion again here in two AA class 135.

A perfect season of 30 zero out of Dubuque Hempstead High School.

She ends it on top.

Well, we talk about the growth of the sport.

Anything that you have seen either technical adjustments or just how these individual wrestlers have have grown strength wise or anything with the sport as well.

You know, we've talked about numbers and how much, you know, the sport has gained number wise.

I don't think it's talked about enough how much the sport has gained technique wise.

Yeah.

The girls are so much better, you know, conditioned.

They know now awareness.

They know actual technique.

They're better coached.

It's watching the growth of the actual wrestlers to me, is more gratifying than watching the growth of the numbers.

And both are amazing.

Oh, absolutely.

And her opponent at 140 pounds from Logan, Magnolia Woodbine, Teagan Carritt.

In two a at 140 pounds out.

First from Waverly, Shellrock McKenna Miller.

And her opponent at 140 pounds from raccoon River, northwest.

The Raue.

Is.

At.

Officials as well.

We expect some good ones here at the 140 pound weight class.

This one is stacked one and two at in 1A1 and two and two a. , so these brackets played out how you know, we maybe thought they would at least at the top.

The whistles have been blown and we are ready to go.

Carritt and Tenborg in one a Rodish and Miller battling here in two a. Lots of hand fighting over here on mat one.

A girls getting into some good positions.

Ooh!

Right up the edge.

You can see standing up.

She got it, she got it.

Three points right on the edge of that mat.

Again.

So the points awarded to Teagan Carritt at a Logan Magnolia Woodbine.

She is a sophomore, a state champion.

Last year.

Looking to do it again.

She knows what it takes to get the job done.

She loves the relationship she formed with her teammates and coaches, competing in the sport of wrestling.

You hear that time and time again on with these girls is how much you know they appreciate the teams that they're on, the girls they surround themselves with, and probably just that, that family they've formed.

We have a stoppage at the two way match at 140 pounds, as.

Some blood time over there.

Miller is getting tended to.

She's a junior.

Her biggest wrestling accomplishment making it to the state finals.

She has not placed at state before.

Parents Alisa and Brian Miller.

Meanwhile, at one A, it's 3 to 1 as we're neutral with 44 seconds to go here in the opening period.

Back to live action here in two.

A back to that same edge of the mat.

They really like that.

Area.

About 30s left a lot of action on both sides in the first period.

Again, Carritt jumped out to the early advantage, getting the takeout takedown right with hardly any room to go fighting it off.

Seven seconds.

Takedown, three points.

And we move to the second period in two.

A that's a great takedown for Calista.

You know, with such short time left.

Making it hard for you know Miller to to gain those points back when you get them right at the end of the period like that.

Here's a replay on your screen of one a. Going right down there.

Well, Waukee.

A senior Rodish two time state finalist plans to go into nursing or pre-med.

Been to state before.

Finished sixth place, fourth place and second place.

Taking on Miller three to nothing.

Second period.

Miller says not just a junior, no plans for college yet, but would love to compete.

Maybe at Wartburg or somewhere, right?

Still plenty of time as a junior to figure that out.

Right?

On a nice single elevates it.

Another takedown right at a minute to go here.

Second period.

The escape makes it 6 to 1.

She really looks like she's starting to to kind of flow and get into things.

Both takedowns been beautiful.

3 to 1 on top a takedown in one, a 4 to 3.

We got a good one here in one a Carritt and Tenborg.

The sophomore and senior Tenborg out of Saydel High School plans to major in kinesiology.

She said her biggest wrestling accomplishment was actually taking down Coach Wilson.

I understand that some of your coaches are, you know, your biggest opponents.

She's been to state before, finished sixth as a freshman, first as a sophomore, first as a junior.

Highlights of wrestling.

Rodish going to get another takedown.

And really.

Right at the end of that period.

That's the second time here.

She's so six of the 12 points have come.

In the final seconds of the.

Period, 7 or 8 seconds.

Yeah, and that just makes it so hard for Miller to to come back when you can't continue to close the gap.

You know that period.

So really smart, savvy wrestling on Calista's part.

12 two and two a Rodish has been dominant.

50 zero has not lost this year at 140 pounds.

Cassie and Brad are her parents again.

Has not won a state title, has finished sixth, fourth and second but has to be pretty confident coming in her senior year with an undefeated record.

Definitely.

And one again, we're talking about who's been coachable, right?

You see that constant progress throughout her career and here she is.

You know, in the state championship going for a state title.

[APPLAUSE] Another stoppage.

All right.

Focus now on 1A3 points separating Tenborg and Coree.

Tenborg finished first as a sophomore and a junior trying to go repeat here.

She's up 9 to 3.

Pretty comfortable lead right now.

She said.

Her highlight of wrestling so far growing the women's wrestling program at Saydel High School, and all the awesome connections she made with the girls on her team.

A pioneer in her own right for wrestling at Saydel 9 to 3 with a minute to go, 15 to 2 in two, a with 26 seconds to go Rodish just putting on a clinic as the number one seed in undefeated.

She's continued to just stay calm and poised and just present in each position and really capitalized on her body.

Everything is showing that to just real calm, not letting the moment be too big, not feeling rushed.

Right.

Eight seconds to go.

Calista Rodish.

For the first time, she is a state champion.

Her senior season undefeated.

Sixth place, fourth place, second place.

First place, first place.

Congratulations.

And raccoon River going to get another state champion tonight.

Wrestling racking up the points for the team title.

9 to 3 in one a as time down to five seconds to go.

And Tenborg out of Saydel has won it three times in a row.

Wow.

The seniors go out on top, but Tenborg sophomore, junior and senior year state champion.

Congratulations.

Congratulations to her.

She's going to run over to her coaches.

[APPLAUSE] See signing her name.

And how cool.

Where does that go in her house?

You know, you get to take.

[LAUGHTER] That.

[LAUGHTER] home.

, [LAUGHTER] right?

Frame that.

It's got to go in the living room.

Right?

That's where I'd put it.

Right next to the fireplace, just for everyone to see.

Here's a replay.

Currently leading 9 to 3 at one A there.

Really sealing the deal to go up 12 three at that point.

Extremely dominant match for her.

Megan Champion first female to qualify for the Iowa State wrestling tournament.

Two times placed in the boys tournament.

Four time All-American, two time national finalist.

University national champion.

Joining me Eric Braley on the call for Iowa PBS.

It's been a fun night, an emotional night as we tell the stories of these tremendous women and student athletes.

We've seen freshman, sophomore, juniors and seniors do it as we move up to another weight class.

As it's time for the 145 pounders.

One Ray from Mount Vernon, Adeline Whisner.

Dirkx and her opponent at 145 from East Buchanan.

Tayla Stiefel.

Into a representing Ankeny.

Krall.

And her opponent from Decorah.

A.D.

145 pounds.

Lauren.

Let's wrestle at 145 pounds.

145 pound weight class of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union state wrestling championships from Xtream Arena and Coralville, Iowa.

Sold out.

Arena, an electric atmosphere tonight.

And it's still full in here.

Why would you?

People aren't leaving plenty of good wrestling still to come.

After this.

We have 155 pounds to takedown.

Big takedown.

And an escape makes it 3 to 1.

We're neutral and looking a takedown and back points at one.

A. As Stiefel out of East Buchanan.

Over.

Whisner.

Whisner is in a bad spot here and she's pinned.

That's a mount Vernon.

The senior.

She finished sixth place last year, but Taylor Stiefel 39 and ten.

The senior, finished fourth place in 2024, finished third last year for the first time ever.

She's a state champion.

Congratulations to Taylor Stiefel at East Buchanan.

That did.

I mean, she had a plan.

She was on a mission.

She came in the number one seed and she's leaving here a state champion.

The senior said her biggest wrestling accomplishment was being a mighty buccaneer and love.

Starting every morning in the practice room with the greatest team on Earth.

Meanwhile, another takedown.

23 seconds to go.

They'll bring him to the center, 6 to 1.

Let's take a look at the left of your screen for the one.

A replay.

Whisner.

Had a tremendous career this season.

Ended up going 53 and five out of Mount Vernon.

So you have the number one seed winning over on the one mat.

On the two way mat you have the number five seed and the number two seed.

Feels like Ankeny is feeling some momentum.

It does seem like that.

She's up 6 to 2.

I won't count, but maybe something like that might even send a message.

I think it does.

You know, as a as a competitor, you're thinking like she's she's still coming the whole time.

She's still coming.

Relentless.

She's relentless.

Yes.

And that starts to get taxing.

So it's 6 to 2 second period.

And now.

In a good spot.

Three points coming.

Well I'll be honest I thought maybe that was going to be a feat to back type situation.

But she fought it off and just gave up the three some smart wrestling on her part to just to give that maybe that position up.

Lauren Luzum.

Jammie Krah will come back to center with a minute 20 to go.

Second period.

You see the coaches doing what they can from their respective corners to build up these student athletes, to put them in the best positions they can to win the state title.

Jamie, up to her feet, quickly gets taken back.

Down five.

And starting to flip the script here.

Casey Lauren really kind of coming on here this second period.

You know, kind of working up to full speed, I'd say.

Well, Lauren finished sixth in 2023, eighth in 2024 and fifth in 2025.

Here's a look at that takedown by Lauren Luzum.

So she's been here before.

You see the reaction from the coach sixth, eighth and fifth first time battling for a state title.

A senior.

She wants to attend a four year college and wrestle.

6 to 5 here in the second period.

She's still down with 30s to go I'm sure.

Looking for some back points here.

Try to take the lead.

145 pound weight class.

The reason we don't have split screen is because a pin happened quite quickly in one a in the opening period.

Six seconds before the third period, where it will be really anybody's to win and the third and final period, you can feel the intensity with so much riding.

And there was a stall warning there.

So we'll see.

You know, if that pays plays out any, anywhere here in the third period.

Again, there can be penalty points, illegal hold stalling, unsportsmanlike conduct.

The common points are takedowns are worth three.

When a wrestler takes an opponent from standing to the mat and gains control, escape is when a wrestler on the bottom Krause now can get away.

Stand up, return to neutral standing position, a reversal is when the bottom wrestler reverses.

You can see riding out is Luzum.

And you can get near her back points as well.

That'd be interesting what Luzum does here, because again, she's.

You don't want.

To cut down.

But maybe, you know, you might.

How long will we see her continue on top before maybe she cuts her to try to to win this with the takedown.

You want to give yourself time for the takedown?

Writing.

She may be looking for a cradle here.

Strong on top, but not necessarily in a scoring position.

Right now.

A minute, 32 to go again.

Luzum I think she's maybe looking to overwhelm Krall a little bit.

Maybe try to get a stall point, tie things up.

Got a leg.

Fifth place last year.

Returns her.

Krah last place finished seventh.

Krah a sophomore.

Ness Luzum out of Decorah.

Senior.

Well, buckle up, folks.

We got a minute and three seconds to go.

And I think.

They're going to take her.

Cut her saying, let her go so she'll place hands, let let her go.

Neutral to the point is awarded.

And now a takedown would make it eight unless a takedown goes the other way.

So three.

Points awarded.

Points.

I mean, no hesitation.

None.

Just immediately attacks.

She's been, you know, very aggressive on her feet throughout this match.

I'm not surprised.

The toe just barely barely moves out of the circle.

But 14 to 5.

And now just a huge.

A huge gap.

You know right before that exchange.

Here's the replay where she just lifts her and drives her into the mat.

Right before that happened.

You see Lauren look at her corner corner says, you know, up to her feet.

And Lauren kind of nods her head like, this is not what I want.

And then, you know, immediately after that gets taken down, you wonder if, you know, maybe she wasn't fully firing when they started that period.

30s to go.

We're at 145 pounds here at the class Two-a Championship match.

14 to 6 Jammie Krah gets another takedown.

Moore back points to.

But you have to gamble at some point.

You do.

At some point you just have to go for it.

And there it is.

With one minute to go, a dominant final minute foot on the gas on the accelerator and a big.

Celebration.

And.

Cue.

The.

Celebration.

Congratulations to Krah.

Ankeny High School.

Takes down her coach.

Good night.

The sophomore finished seventh last year and is a state champ.

I feel like she could have gone another three periods.

It sure seems like it.

She signs her name on the winning bracket for 145 pounds.

Let's take a look at some of the highlights.

I hope one of the highlights is her taking down her coach.

That might be.

highlights to watch it again.

♪♪ Awards in one day.

140 pounds.

Oh, here she goes in.

You shall receive Catholic Water Jose Koch Dean.

Oh man.

In seventh place from North.

And here are the place winners.

Little in sixth place from Bcluw.

Kiana White in fifth place from Woodward.

Granger Katelyn Brandhorst in fourth place from Garner.

Hayfield, Ventura Alexa Heflin in third place from central Lyon.

George Little Rock, Lucy Konechne your runner up at 140 pounds from Logan.

Magnolia, Woodbine, Teagan Carritt and Your One, a 140 pound state champion presenting her award.

Coach Tyler Wilson of Saydel Colby Tenborg.

That makes sense.

That makes total sense.

And there it is, the hand raise and the celebration giving Saydel High School the state title, sixth place as a freshman, first place as a sophomore, first place as a junior, and going out on top.

First place again as a senior for Tenborg.

Wow, what a great match for her.

Yeah, right.

Right from the start and powered it through right till the end.

As they await the next set of place winners in this sold out extreme Arena.

The next.

Award winners.

For.

Class two A. Their way to the podium.

In eighth place.

Haley Togba of Ankeny in seventh place from Cedar Rapids.

Kennedy, Meredith Kaump in sixth place from Fort Madison.

Mara Smith in fifth place from South Tama Maylee Rucker in fourth place from Ames, Lauryn Metcalf in third place from Iowa City.

Liberty Evelyn Eggleston and your runner up at 140 from Waverly, Rock.

Makenna miller.

And receiving her award from her coach and sister from raccoon River northwest.

Your state champion 140 Calista Rodish.

Nothing like the embrace from your sister.

The hand raise the celebration.

The senior first ever state title for Calista Rodish sixth place as a freshman.

Fourth place as a sophomore.

Second place as a junior.

First place as a senior, and getting the state champion medal from her sister.

51 and oh her senior season.

Congratulations to Calista.

Something that's so fun to watch.

You know, throughout the the girls tournament.

But also the boys tournament.

It's just the different family ties for me.

A lot of them.

I love to watch that for me, you know, the support you get from your family, you know, really is what helped propel me through my career.

And I love watching it, you know, play out for other people as well.

In seventh place.

And now 145 pounds.

Class one a place winners in state championship.

Hailey Pedrick in fifth place from Southwest Valley Kenzie Maeder.

In fourth place from Emmetsburg.

Peyton Haack.

In third place from Mid-prairie.

Sophie Miller.

Your runner up from Mount Vernon.

Adeline Whisner.

And presenting the award at 145 pounds.

Coach and dad Dan Stiefel to your 145 pound state champion from East Buchanan.

Taylor Stiefel.

Congratulations to Addie.

You see the emotion on her face and the celebration.

Sometimes you got to pinch yourself.

Is this really happening?

Congratulations.

Delivering Decorah.

Runs over to her dad.

She finishes.

Jump into the dad's arms.

Sixth.

Eighth, fifth and now first as a senior multi-sport athlete loves wrestling, plays softball and track as well.

Interesting to see what she wants to do in college.

I think that's awesome.

You know, to be able to to do multiple things and to do them well is so impressive to me.

And our class two, a 145 pound champion and place winners.

This just ended Jammie Krah at the top.

It's sixth place from raccoon River northwest, Natalie Keller in fifth place from Sioux City.

North.

Jenna Hansen in fourth place from Cedar Rapids Prairie Luisa Meade in third place from Benton Community Lizzy Wolf and your runner up from Decorah, Lauren Luzum and presenting award to the champion at 145 Koch Ken Ray from Ankeny.

Your champion Jamie Craw.

Jamie Krah, 45 and five this year, blows the kiss.

Talk about I mean she lost five times this year.

Just taking early season losses and realizing her goals were still in front of her.

You know, one thing I learned, you know, maybe not as early in my career as I would have liked.

Is that all you need is one good day.

Here she goes back.

Her coach.

Oh, my.

But you know, when you get here, it doesn't matter what you've done prior in the year, it doesn't matter if you're hurt.

It doesn't matter if you've been sick.

What matters is that your present that day and she's been present the last two days.

And it paid off.

She was present each match.

And here she is now, state champion.

Who cares about those other five matches, right?

She's here now.

Seize the moment.

That was in front of her.

And her opponent at.

155 pounds from East Buchanan, Miley was.

Kara Kennedy.

In class two A from Algona.

Reagan Jensen.

Her opponent at 155 from southeast Polk Skylar Slade.

The day I said my girl she talked to me.

I did that time that we are ready to wrestle at 155.

155 pound weight class.

We started at 100 pounds and have gone up by 5 pound increments.

After this, we take the leap.

We go to 170, then 190, then 235.

So starting to get some more muscle and some more weight on these ladies.

And we have our first takedown and class two A as you see, Slade out of Southeast Polk on top of Jensen and a takedown in class one, a As Walz is down.

Minteer.

She's looking for that half.

Not sure if she's going to get it.

Brus out of Davenport.

Assumption 41 and oh.

Assumption Catholic High School a senior finished second in 2024 as a sophomore.

Brus also placed third at Fargo.

Taking on Miley Walz of East Buchanan, who's 50, in five the senior year.

Another mighty buccaneer, proud to be in the finals.

No stranger here to state.

She's looking to get back points right on that edge.

Not sure if she'll quite get it.

Referees not sure yet either.

Still signaling signaling that she doesn't quite have it yet.

There we go.

Now he's counting.

A two count and two seconds to go.

We move to the second period in one A with a six.

Nothing score with Greta Brus on top.

She plans to wrestle in college.

She is a senior.

No decision made quite yet.

Well, I'm sure there's a lot.

Of.

You know, colleges out there seeking her.

She's she's a tough one.

41 and oh.

41 and oh, she's a she's tough.

She's going to start the second period on bottom.

And in 2AA30 lead where Slade got that takedown within the first 30s.

Also very dominant on top.

Had a good ride.

She's going to start down on bottom.

Second period.

Slade as a freshman won it all.

Here she is back to her feet.

Gets the escape.

In 10th place.

In 10th grade she finished third.

And last year she finished second.

So champion third second.

She's on the climb back up looking looking to be a champion again this year.

Taking on a very tough opponent as well as Regan Jensen.

Is a takedown.

They awarded points.

No, I jumped the gun.

There it is.

Jensen out of Algona.

Sophomore finished seventh last year as a freshman.

Placed third at Donnybrook.

Placed seventh again last year and that was a big confidence booster as a freshman.

She started on a good shot here.

We'll see if she can elevate and, you know, make something of it.

Slade very tough here though.

They're going to call it a stalemate.

Back to their feet.

For nothing.

Regan Jensen trails Skylar Slade.

Well, Greta Brus has a sizable nine point advantage over Miley Walz.

Yet, though.

She's in a real good spot.

20s to go here in the second period.

She looks over.

Koch what do you want me to do?

15 seconds might not have this good of opportunity.

Again.

Again?

She's looking to seize the moment.

Five gets her three.

For three.

Two, one.

She got the points out of it, but.

So to the third period here in One-a with Brus out of Davenport Catholic assumption leading by six, we go neutral and a seven nothing lead for Slade we go neutral 155 pounds.

Megan Gerlock champion Eric Braley for Iowa PBS.

Sold out Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa.

Final day of high school girls wrestling in the state of Iowa.

Walz gets one over here.

Chipping away.

She's chipping away.

Four point run A40 run.

Trailing by five, but time is starting to run out.

Slade looking to.

look out.

There we go.

And there it is.

Take down and a pin.

Skylar Slade back on top.

Slade fourth place.

Excuse me.

First place, third place.

Second place.

First place.

That's what you call a high school career.

Congratulations to Skylar Slade of Southeast Polk.

She plans to continue wrestling somewhere at the next level.

As she writes her name on the state championship line.

You'll see the replay of the winning highlight on the right side of your screen, and we watch the final 45 seconds in one day as well.

Working so hard.

I love she.

Continues.

Working hard.

She continues to pressure in, but not before.

Brus is tough.

Yes, Brus gets in on a takedown again, tries to shuffle, going to run through.

Three points and that should do it.

Makes it 13 to 6 less than 20s to go.

Greta Brus.

Second place as a sophomore, now a senior.

The senior out of Assumption Catholic High School.

[APPLAUSE] Won.

State champion.

Beretta Wu.

[APPLAUSE] Congratulations to Greta Brus.

A perfect senior season.

A perfect senior season.

Nothing like going out on top.

155 pound champion in class one A and hugs to her coaches and signing her name on the championship bracket.

We'll take a look at one of her biggest, bigger scoring opportunities.

And here it is.

This is.

How about we wrestle for a championship at 170 pounds?

Class one.

A all right.

♪♪ .

I told the viewers we'd bump it up 5 pounds.

No more bumping it up.

Now we go to 190 pounds.

Excuse me, to 170 pounds.

From West.

Liberty, where.

Bricsia Garcia-Vasquez you see the matchups?

And in to a Graham.

South Tama Autumn Elsbury.

And her opponent at 170 pounds from Waverly.

Shellrock.

Amalia Djoumessi.

Backdrop change.

Let's wrestle at 170.

Hard to believe we're down to the final three weight classes in what's been an epic night for the Iowa girl here at the 2026 High School Girls State Wrestling Championships.

Final day of wrestling.

On the two way mat, we have two nationally ranked wrestlers going at it.

It's the one you circle, right?

Yep.

Both girls extremely experienced.

Three nothing already representing Waverly, Shellrock and South Tama County.

And in one a it's West Liberty against Mount Vernon.

3030 is the score.

Amalia Djoumessi out of Waverly.

Shell is a sophomore state champion.

Last year, sixth place at Fargo.

State champion as a freshman.

43 and one overall record, taking on Autumn Elsbury out of South Tama senior.

And autumn was a champion.

Her junior year.

Her sophomore year finished second and her freshman year finished fourth.

And the one a match.

We have a junior in a senior.

Pinckney out of Mount Vernon, qualified for state all four years.

Last year and won a at 170 pounds.

Finished fifth.

Taking on Garcia-Vasquez out of West Liberty.

Proudest moment tonight?

Making the finals this year, plans to go into nursing.

Based at state freshman year had an eighth place finish.

Sophomore year.

Finished third.

Second period action at one a, A30 score.

In favor of Garcia-Vasquez.

Same basically same thing over here on the two way match.

Got another three zero score.

Going to start on her feet again.

Strategy.

Strategy strategy.

It's not all about muscle strength.

Power.

It's a chess match as well.

Trying to counter what your opponent is doing using your head.

Oh.

Big takedown.

Autumn with the three point takedown.

It's going to tie it up now.

3 to.

3 minute and a half to go.

Second period.

Let's see if we can get a takedown in one a. We saw Djoumessi extremely you know good on top.

Was able to ride basically that entire period.

We'll see.

You know what Elsbury now has.

Yep.

To counter that.

Elsbury 39 and four overall.

Looking to get back points.

Looking to get out of it.

Staying calm.

A lot of action, but no points.

Nothing.

42 seconds in one a. Stall call going to be against Garcia-Vasquez.

That's the first against her neutral and the left of your screen here in one.

A one takedown has been the only point.

Elsbury has a really nice chicken wing locked up here.

We'll see if she can get any points with it.

She's she's very slow.

She's taking this over very slow.

Rolled her over.

There's some back points.

There's a pin a fall.

Oh of Elsbury of South team of the senior.

39 and four.

Heading into this, we said.

And class One-a.

It all happened at the exact same time.

Oh my goodness.

At the.

Exact same 30s.

In the second period.

Eight a pin happened in one A and two A at the exact same time.

We'll show you two a first.

Tucker viewers, what happened here?

Well, look at Elsbury and and just how slow and calculated she's taking over this, this chicken wing.

She knows that she has time on the clock.

She doesn't have to rush it.

And girls shoulders are extremely flexible.

If you try to rush this Djoumessi is probably just going to roll through and end up getting points herself.

So very smart on Autumn Elsbury to take that very slow and just build that pressure right into that pin.

And I'm going to be honest with you, I want to see the one, a final because I was very distracted.

So here it is.

That.

Is a big, big move.

for Gracie Pinckney, the senior last year, fifth place this year, state champ at 170 pounds.

Congratulations to Gracie.

Wow.

Congrats to both of what what great matches man.

I just wish it was like 30s apart it was I wish much happening at once.

Fully seen both matches.

Wow.

Very exciting.

Edge of your seat type entertainment taking place here.

Again we mentioned this probably an hour and a half ago, but the growth of sport here.

But first let's talk let's let's go to the place.

Winners and award the champions all the way down.

First through eighth place at 155 pounds.

Class one A. In sixth place from Bcluw Taya Hollingsworth.

In fifth place from Louisa-muscatine Kiersyn Duncombe.

In fourth place from Western Iowa.

Marlee Pittet.

In third place from West Lyon.

Eliana Kooi your runner up at 155 from East Buchanan.

Miley Walz.

And presenting our award at 155 pounds.

Koch Marcus Bass and your 155 pound class one a state champion from assumption, Davenport, Greta Brus.

The champion assumption, proud to represent and bring another state title.

The senior finished second as a sophomore and a state champion.

A perfect season.

Congratulations.

A perfect season nonetheless.

There's a lot of ways you can celebrate.

Some tackle their coaches, some run up into the stands, some just shed tears and just drop their jaw and can't believe it.

I'm not sure.

Hard to predict what your emotion there.

There's no way to even predict here.

Now back to the podium.

Class two a 155 pound place winners.

In fifth place from Iowa City.

Liberty.

Peyton Van Dike in fourth place from Benton Community.

Layna Demoss in third place from City High.

Shawna Emmanuel and your runner up in class 2A-155 from Algona.

Regan Jensen.

And presenting the award Koch Alexis Slade, the mom of Southeast Bockes champion Skylar Slade.

Lola Voth.

Congratulations to Skylar Slade, the senior first place as a freshman.

Third place as a sophomore.

Second place as a junior.

First place as a senior.

And I think the first mom giving the.

I was just going to say something about that.

You know, right now you see so many dads giving their daughters and that's amazing.

And think about this generation of girls now who are winning state championships, getting to someday, maybe put that medal on their daughters and how special that moment will be.

Not that it's not special for her mom.

I'm just thinking, you know, future.

That's what we're that's what we have to look forward to.

That's so special.

Tonight is special.

What is being built is special.

Again, in 2020, there were 571 girls.

There's 3422 tonight.

Here's the next group of ladies and place winners hundred and 70 pounds.

In sixth place.

For class one.

A Samantha Lyons in fifth place from Anamosa.

Izzy Taylor in fourth place from Clear Lake.

Kayma Burleson.

In third place from Humboldt, Danica Diedrick.

Your runner up at 170 pounds from West Liberty.

Bricsia Garcia-Vasquez and presenting the award at 170 pounds, coach Trevor Trende, your 170 pound state champion from Mount Vernon.

Gracie Pinckney.

Love the smile.

Congratulations to the senior Gracie Pinckney.

Have a feeling she'll be smiling all night.

Last year.

Fifth place this year as a senior, taking care of business.

Plans to go to school for elementary education and wrestling.

You can see her.

Personality just shining.

Should be a good kindergarten first grade.

She will.

Love to see it.

Congratulations to Mount Vernon and Gracie.

, 170 pound.

Class.

And to the match that just wrapped up.

From Linn-mar.

The 170 pound weight class for two A. And seventh place from Burlington, Macy Peterson in sixth place from Prairie, Cedar Rapids, Addison Bowman, and fifth place from Western Dubuque Ava.

Pfab and fourth place from North Metro Peyton Traynor in third place from Decorah Ana Simon.

Your runner up at class 1A-170 from Waverly-shell Rock.

Amalia Djoumessi.

And presenting the Champions Award.

Koch Maly Elsbury from South Tama, your champion at 1A-170 Autumn Elsbury.

What an extremely tough bracket that was.

We knew it heading in.

That was a dog fight.

Congratulations to Autumn Elsbury the senior out of South Tama.

Four time state place winner as a freshman, finished fourth.

Sophomore.

Finished runner up last year.

Champion this year.

Champion as a senior last year.

Father gave her a medal going out on top.

Has yet to decide college plans.

Well, I'm sure her sister there would love to see her at William Penn alongside her.

We are ready.

All right, two more weight classes.

Left 190.

And up.

First.

The heavyweight.

Here we go.

Byrd.

And her opponent at 190 pounds from East Buchanan, Brooklyn.

Gray.

She.

Into a representing Iowa City West Ava.

[APPLAUSE] And her opponent at 190 pounds from Algona Reagan Haynes.

Officials.

Let's wrestle.

One and two in class one A is Brooklyn Graham of East Buchanan, 42 and zero undefeated record last year.

First place took home the title as a sophomore.

Third place finish as a freshman, a fifth place finish taking on Kennedy Burk, who went 28 and two out of Denver.

Sophomore.

She finished sixth and then points already in class two.

A quick work over here.

Haynes looking to possibly get the fall.

Iowa City West High.

Back point.

And there it is.

Reagan Haynes, Algona High School, 43 and four record.

She's never placed at state before.

43 and four.

Biggest wrestling accomplishment heading into this year was right now.

Incredible.

That was fast.

That was fast.

This is just another perfect example of you don't.

It matters that you show up consistently throughout the year.

But when it comes down to it, you have to be on your game at this tournament at the right time.

And she was at her best at the right time.

So fast, ready to attack, jumped out to that three nothing lead.

And then you see just trying to turn ready to apply the pressure.

You see the arm.

And able to get it down for the fall.

Beautiful.

Congratulations, Reagan Haynes.

Algona.

First period.

Another state champion for Algona.

Algona.

Having a great night here in the final day of high school girls wrestling.

Class two a champion.

And big emotions, as expected for Reagan Haynes.

Haynes, the daughter of Diana and Joel Haynes.

Undecided of what to do.

Just a junior making it to state with all her friends and going to finals with them.

Her favorite memory with the sport.

All right, now we can focus full attention on class one, a no score.

A senior and a junior facing off as already here in the second period.

East Buchanan has had a number of ladies competing in the state finals.

Especially in the second half of wrestling.

Their upper weights have been extremely tough.

Thayer come on and kind of hard with that hand.

Yeah, some some tough hand fighting here.

Still no score.

Both wrestlers hand fighting hard, but I haven't seen many shot attempts.

True shot attempts.

There's been some reaches, I guess.

But.

Standing kind.

Of tall.

Yep.

48 seconds to go.

Second period starting to push as Kennedy Burk of Denver now pushing back.

And I think we're going to run out of real estate there.

Yeah.

And now back to center with 34 seconds to go.

Megan Gerlock champion and Eric Braley on the call here.

Started about I don't even know what time it was.

What did we go on about 633.

Yeah we're.

About three.

About three hours in.

And it's been an entertaining, fun night from the sold out Xtream Arena and Coralville, Iowa.

There's not many times I just get to sit down for three hours right now in my life.

Girls.

[LAUGHTER] So this is this has been a fun three hours.

And no doubt about it, we got the best seat in the house.

We are Matt side.

We could reach out and touch the competitors.

Shot.

But runs out.

Of time.

Did it with.

About five seconds to go.

Had the move, had the leg and then the whistle blew saying time has expired.

Well, she can be looking for that here in these next two periods.

A little bit of blood.

So a bit of a break as the athletic trainer tends to Kennedy Burk again, A12 match up.

Kennedy Burk, a junior Brooklyn Graham a senior.

As we talk about it, you know what separates maybe a state?

Well, first a Reed as I want to tell you something because tonight has been exciting.

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You know, is it really seizing the opportunity?

The difference between making it to state or making it to advance to the next day, or or what?

What are some of the variables that you see as a former medalist?

Well, I think, you know, I don't mean to be repetitive, but just staying, you know, present in the match in each position.

I truly think regardless of if it was regionals or the first day of state or now, you know, the finals, you can't progress to the next step if you're not staying present in the match.

You just got to be locked in.

You do if you if you if you can win each position or win the next position, that's what's going to put a whole match together for you.

We're in the third period here and we have no points in the 190 pound weight class in class One-a between Graham and Burk, one and two, 42 and zero for Graham 28 and two for Burk grams.

Looking to maybe lock up a chicken wing here?

She's got got some time to do it.

She's going to need to roll that wrist or get a half on the other side though.

Right now Burk has got kind of hand control.

The experience that Graham has again as a junior, she won state.

As a sophomore, she finished third.

As a freshman, she finished fifth.

Burk sixth place finish last year.

Can be a stall warning on top.

No points awarded for the stall, but you can't get another one.

Again.

She had that chicken wing but really wasn't looking to advance too much with.

It was kind of just sitting on top.

She's going to try a wing on the other side now.

Graham on top, Burk on bottom.

47 seconds.

They say unsafe position.

We'll restart.

[APPLAUSE] Trying to roll out of it for an escape, which would be huge.

Yeah, it's going to be huge for for Burk here to get out to get that point on the board because neither wrestler has, you know, gotten a takedown.

We need to see an escape from Burk.

25 seconds state championship on the line for Graham of East Buchanan and Burk of Denver.

Trying to rise to her feet.

Graham won't let her and we might have extra.

Yeah, I think we're going to get some extra wrestling here.

Karam continues to Roller, but back to those shoulders that are just extremely flexible.

And now it comes down to endurance.

Really, this is this is gut check time.

This is all that extra conditioning.

One minute on the clock here.

And we're going to need to see them open up.

We really haven't seen many attempts by either wrestler.

Someone's going to have to put it on the line.

So much on the line right here, right now.

A takedown would win it.

In about 30s to get it done.

Remember, Graham does have a stall call.

Yes.

And they just gave.

Just warned Burk.

So they.

Each they each have one.

24 seconds and time ticking down everything on the line here at 190 pounds, 15 seconds to go.

Thought she could turn her, but relentless on the defense.

Five four, three two one.

Well.

What else do.

You expect?

It's one versus two.

Yeah.

I don't have the history on them.

I wonder if they've met up before.

I do not either.

Again, you see, just reading the the non-verbal language.

And just how much is riding on this.

This is an intense situation.

Rising to her feet, trying to stay in.

This is going to be huge because now we have a stall call.

Yep.

[APPLAUSE] So a stall call awards a point to Brooklyn Graham.

Now, if she gets an escape, it's going to make it really tough.

There's 19 seconds now.

Burk trying to ride her out up on her feet.

That's huge.

So now Burk is going to have to get a reversal.

Yep.

To tie it, to at least tie it up again.

I mean, we have definitely not out of question.

Well, and not out of question to think that we could see another stall call again.

That is.

also true.

So now with 30s to go.

Kennedy Burk back against the wall has to get a minimum two points.

So here in this in these overtimes we've got 30s.

Each girl gets the chance to to.

choose to get.

Yeah.

To get your points here.

So she's going to let her up.

So a takedown would tie it.

But you only got 22 seconds and you haven't had a takedown yet.

Time.

And Brooklyn Graham is the biggest challenge for Kennedy Burk here.

Eight.

Seven six half to shoot and gamble here.

And Brooklyn Graham holds off.

Well, that took forever.

And that's a testament to how hard these girls battle.

They battled so hard for that one.

Tip your cap.

♪♪ That that was truly a battle between Brooklyn Graham of East Buchanan and Kennedy Burk of Denver.

Not one shot that entire match.

No, as opposed to the two way which ended in about 30s.

Hey, pointer points!

Points are points.

And points win matches.

Here is the hand raise as Brooklyn Graham the senior back to back state champion.

So look at her trophy case.

Fifth place, third place, first place, first place a lot of wins 235 the final weight class and the final competition on the final day of wrestling here in the state of Iowa for girls wrestling.

We have seen some crazy matches, some great wrestling.

Are.

Maybe some of the best technical wrestling I've seen from the girls state tournament yet.

It's just keeps getting better.

These last two.

Representing Ottumwa, Delilah Sharr.

And pulling on that of 235 from Cedar Rapids.

Prairie.

Amelia.

Kasal.

Lynch.

Make things harder about starting.

All right.

Megan, you ready for another one?

I'm ready.

Here we go.

235 pound weight class.

These ladies have been.

I don't know if they've been patiently waiting.

Can you imagine?

I would be impatiently waiting.

Six, seven, eight in the morning and say, okay, I'm wrestling for a state title today.

You step on the mat at 959.

Holy buckets.

My goodness.

Cannot imagine already for a shot in class one a in for a shot on two a these ladies not wasting any time at all.

No points awarded on two way a takedown.

And now it's identical scores of three.

Nothing.

You know, something kind of started that exchange and ended up with a raise on top.

Sexton gets the escape though.

Three one.

Representing the schools of Atlantic and Crestwood in class one A and Cedar Rapids, Prairie and Ottumwa.

The larger schools in class two A, a very entertaining first period here at the 235 pound weight class.

First time they qualified for the state tournament was for the Bulldogs.

So nice to see them continue to get some tough girls.

And tough is one thing you got to be in this sport, another takedown.

6 to 1 37 seconds to go.

Reyes, a junior, has she placed at state before?

No, no she hasn't.

But 42 and one on the season.

Looking for a pin here from Armstrong.

Five seconds.

Getting the.

back.321.

is one second to go.

And I'm going to guess you're going to look at that and make sure.

The only question is.

And on the other mat.

Two pins.

And both came within two seconds of the first period.

Wow, what an ending.

If that doesn't show you, you got to wrestle to the last second.

I don't know, it does.

Emily Reyes has never placed before.

She is your class two a state champion going 43 and one.

And Haley Armstrong of Atlantic, the senior, a four time state place winner, finished eighth, third, fifth and first signing her name.

And there's the replay.

Wow.

Usually the upper weights take a little while.

But do they roll or do they roll when they get going?

Man.

High five celebration hugs and tears.

Jump over the boards.

Please do not jump over the boards.

Again.

We are going to stay here until the final place winners have been crowned and medals have been given out.

At all.

So wrestling has come a long way.

We talked about when you competed 39 girls back in 2011.

We now have about 3500 competing.

What is tonight's championship represent for the future girls of wrestling?

I would say so much.

Promise.

Promise that you're going to continue to have amazing opportunities.

Amazing support.

Sexton.

In sixth place from Mid-prairie Ellie Callahan in fifth place from Central Lyon.

George Little Rock Kenley Korthals.

In fourth place from Hampton-dumont.

Cal Marin Subbert.

In third place from New Hampton, Turkey Valley.

Ava Trende your runner up at 190 pounds in class one A from Denver Kennedy Burk and your one, a 190 pound champion is being awarded by Coach Kendra Burchette from East Buchanan, Brooklyn.

Graham.

Back to back state titles for Brooklyn Graham.

You talked about a lot of promise for the future, right?

Just, you know, I don't think we're going away.

You know, I think at the beginning there was this idea of like, this is growing.

When is it going to stop?

And I think you look at this tonight and I don't see there any way of this not continuing to just grow and get better, better coaches, better programs.

It's it's been amazing to watch.

Not only are the numbers growing, but the technique and the support and everything's going back to the podium for the class two, a 190 pound medalist.

Kadence Hagan of Boone, in seventh place from Washington, Cedar Rapids Serenity Malone in sixth place from Lewis Central, Madison, Wright in fifth place from Carlisle.

Mallori Stutsman in fourth place from North Metro Marli Badgley in third place from southeast Polk Sophie Reed and the runner up from Iowa City West, Ava Jara.

And presenting the award to the champion in class two AA at 190 pounds.

Koch Jacob Adams to algunas Reagan Haynes.

Congratulations to Reagan Haynes, the junior 43 and four overall, had never placed at state before and is now a state champion.

Picked a good time to do it.

She will be back.

Teams in each.

Division, the police come.

Down.

As the 190 pound medalist exit.

Tunnel.

, led by Reagan.

Please come to the tunnel by the head table.

As the as the 235 pounders.

And remember the teams.

The teams.

This isn't just an individual.

The team awards for one A and two A will also be crowned tonight with trophies as well.

Back to the podium.

Wagner.

In seventh place from Colfax.

Mingo, Emmalyn Buchman in sixth place from New Hampton.

Turkey Valley.

Kaidance Hall.

In fifth place from northeast Skylar Wegener.

In fourth place from Wahlert.

Catholic Olivia.

See.

In third place from Boyden-hull Rock Valley.

Kaylee Dejong.

Your runner up at 235 from Crestwood.

Rose Niewoehner and your 1A-235 pound champion, receiving her award from coach Brian Armstrong from Atlantic.

Haley Armstrong.

Haley celebrates her first state championship, finished eighth, third, fifth and now first.

And a big bear hug to celebrate.

The senior from Atlantic High School.

Congratulations.

As she wants to wrestle somewhere at the next level.

And next up, we'll have the class two AA 235 pound state champs.

And here are your.

Award and place winners.

For the 235 pound weight class, in eighth place from Council Bluffs.

Abraham Lincoln, Lillian Miller, seventh place from Ankeny.

Aja moser in sixth place from South Tama Kinley Jimenez in fifth place from Knoxville.

Mariah Ripperger, and fourth place from Fort Dodge.

Ava Potter and third place from North Scott Sage Dzeladini and your runner up from Ottumwa, Delilah Subsin, and presenting the Champions Award, coach Chris Hauger from Cedar Rapids Prairie.

Your champion at 235.

Amelia Reyes.

Jaydee Bircher, I need you to report to the tunnel area immediately, please.

Amelia Reyes of Cedar Rapids Prairie, the junior has never placed at state and is now your state champion in class 2A-235.

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

A 43 and one overall record.

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Please, if you were an individual champion tonight, one and Tuesday, please go.

To the podium.

Immediately.

The next thing we're waiting on is the final team awards and just so what happens if I'm a high school girls wrestler?

What happens between now and the start of next wrestling season?

Well, to me, I think the most important thing starts and that's freestyle because.

And why I think it's important is if you read, you know, as we were reading these bios for the majority of girls, they want to go to the next level.

They want to wrestle college wrestling.

And that's going to be freestyle.

So the next thing they should be looking to do is, is wrestle freestyle season, which, you know, is coming up here in the spring.

So do they take their coaches with them?

Do they get different coaches or how is that different than what we just witnessed?

This is a great opportunity for them to wrestle, you know, maybe some other local teams, maybe some club teams also continue to wrestle with their their own high school teams, but maybe get some of that iron sharpens iron in that area.

Wrestle the best.

You know kind of in some some different rooms and just try to get better.

That's what spring and summer wrestling is to me about is just getting better.

Again.

If you just are joining the broadcast in the last hour or so back in 2011, she wrestled the boys and placed against the boys.

There was no there was none of this.

There was no girls wrestling state.

And to see how far it has come, I know you have to be a little envious and jealous because this was not here, but it's awesome to see the pioneer and the foundation that you have laid, and it's really cool too, that you have three young daughters and not saying that they're going to wrestle, but the opportunity is there for them and.

That's.

what I love for them.

You know, I, I wrestled boys because that's the opportunity I had.

And honestly, I'm grateful for every guy that stepped out on the mat.

And not everyone did.

And not everyone did.

And so I'm thankful for those that did, because I wouldn't be the person I am without them.

But I'm extremely excited for my girls, for my niece, for all the little girls throughout the state that they get the opportunity that I didn't.

All right, well, we are getting word that Denver is the one a winner of the team award.

We got.

Another chance and raccoon River is the winner of the two way award.

So congratulations to Denver and Raccoon River.

Your team champions, to go along with all the other individual champions that were crowned and received medals here tonight.

All right.

The champions have been crowned here at Extreme Arena.

It's been an exciting 3.5 hours of high school girls wrestling here in Coralville.

But that's not all.

The high school wrestling Iowa PBS has to offer.

Tune in.

February 21st at 5:30 p.m.

for the boys high school wrestling championships from Des Moines.

On your statewide network for the the entire Iowa PBS crew and my broadcast partner, Megan Black champion.

I'm Eric Braley good night from Extreme Arena in Coralville.

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