Daily Newsletters
Account
Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Iowa Valley trio advances to state wrestling semifinals in Class 1A
Montezuma’s Plants pins way to 215 semifinals
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
DES MOINES — Iowa Valley’s Nolan Kriegel said “When one of us wins, we’re going to feed off that” after all three Tigers advanced to the state wrestling quarterfinals in succession Thursday.
That statement rung true again Friday, day two of the 2026 Iowa High School Athletic Association Boys State Wrestling Tournament Friday at Casey’s Center in Des Moines.
All three Iowa Valley wrestlers advanced to the semifinals at their respective weights within a short period of time in the morning session.
The first came at 150 pounds from Chance Hoyt, who defeated three-seed Preston Hunter of Dyersville Beckman by a 4-1 decision. Chance Hoyt secured a takedown in the final period for the win.
Chance’s brother Mason rolled past Lawson-Bronson’s Lane Mitchell with a 12-4 major decision at 175.
Last came Nolan Kriegel at 190, winning 6-2 and securing the only takedown in the match against Ridge View’s Blake Myrtue.
“Seeing us all three in the semis in pretty special,” Nolan Kriegel said.
The trio, who play multiple sports together for the Tigers, have all played a hand in each other’s success, pushing each other in practice.
“We couldn’t have done this without each other,” Mason Hoyt said. “It’s crazy to see how far we’ve gotten.”
The wins also secured Mason Hoyt’s and Kriegel’s first state medals.
What makes it all the more special is the family ties for all three.
Chance and Mason are triplets with a sister, Skyler, who also wrestles.
“Doing it with him has been the best thing,” Chance Hoyt said.
The Tigers are coached by Jeremy Kriegel, Nolan’s father.
“The atmosphere is a little bit different when you have family with you,” Nolan Kriegel said. “It gives you an edge to do it for them and not only for yourself.”
It is the first time since 1991 that Iowa Valley will finish with three state medalists.
“It’s a surreal feeling to sit back and look at what they’re accomplishing,” coach Jeremy Kriegel said. “They’ve continued to better themselves and the program and they’ve done it for each other. I could not be more proud of them.”
Plants dominates on way to semis
Montezuma’s Braxton Plants won his first match with a first-period fall Thursday in the 215-pound bracket.
Plants repeated history, this time with the fall coming in the third period against Akron-Westfield’s Nathan Schoenfelder.
Leading 4-0 after a takedown and an escape in the second, Plants displayed dominant top wrestling the whole final period.
“I knew I could ride good on top and I just kept chopping,” Braxton Plants said. “I worked a lot on being in the top position over the summer.”
Plants clinches his second state medal and first semifinal appearance.
“I worked really hard in the offseason, but the job is not finished yet,” Braxton Plants said.
The improvements speak for themselves. Plants’ record this season alone is 57-1 heading into the semifinals.
“All his hard work is paying off,” Montezuma coach and father Mike Plants said. “But it’s not over yet.”
Plants is Montezuma’s first semifinalist since Tyler Foubert in 2012.
The semifinals for all three classes begin today at 5 p.m.
Timm, Weisskopf clinch medals
Belle Plaine’s Aidan Timm (144) and HLV-TC’s Cael Weisskopf (157) both lost their quarterfinal matches, but bounced back in the blood round (round of 12) to clinch state medals.
Timm defeated ACGC’s Charlie Christensen by a 12-6 decision to clinch his second state medal.
Weisskopf lost in sudden victory in the quarterfinals but bounced back with a win by fall over Nashua Plainfield’s Devon Blanchard.
The medal is the first for the Warriors since 2020 with Kody Timm.
Other Area Results
Both BGM’s Brock York (157) and Reed Slater (215) were defeated in the third round consolations. Both kept their matches to decisions as they finish their state tournament debuts 1-2.
Belle Plaine’s Will and Wade Sankot closed out great careers for the Plainsmen. Will lost in the 138 third round consolations, while Wade, at 150, advanced to the blood round before being defeated.
Semifinals recap
Chance Hoyt advanced to the 150-pound championship with a second-period fall over St. Albert’s Sam Raymond in the semifinals.
Chance Hoyt earned a takedown, reversal and a stalling point before getting the pin.
The championship matches in all classes begins at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
No.1 Brock Mulder of Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley pinned Mason Hoyt in the 175 semifinal.
Nodaway Valley’s Caleb Christensen defeated Kriegel 7-0 at 190.
In the last area semifinal, Woodbury Central’s Carter Wright defeated Montezuma’s Plants by a 10-0 major decision at 215.
