Demon wrestlers make mark on conference

For the third straight year, the Washington wrestlers found themselves on top of the Southeast Iowa Conference.

A 4-0 record in conference duals claimed the conference title, and the Demons added an exclamation point to this year?s title, putting together a 32-3 dual record, and a sixth-place finish among dual teams in the state.

With one of its best team seasons in program history, it only makes sense they are well represented on the all-conference lists.

Of the 14 weight classes, Demons were listed on the first- or second-team Conference lists in 11 of them, with five earning first-team honors.

Washington?s Bryce Rickey was the only senior to earn first-team honors, using a 28-win season to cap off his career, and earn the nod at 170 pounds.

Individually, Rickey saw his year end at sectionals in third place.

Three juniors earned their way onto the first-team all-conference lists.

Austin Hazelett (138 pounds) posted 45 wins for the Demons this year, and earned his first state appearance this season.

Hazelett will look to return to state next year and earn the first medal of his career.

At 152 pounds, Trey Van Weelden earned the nod, after leading the team with 50 wins on the year.

He qualified for his second state tournament this season, and finished in seventh place to take home a medal.

At 182 pounds, Washington junior Karlton Skubal earned the first-team nod, with 43 wins on the season.

Skubal finished in third at districts this year, and will look to qualify for state as an individual next year.

The other first-team selection was freshman Walker Ikerd (113 pounds), who put together 43 wins in his first high school season.

Ikerd finished in third place at sectionals, with both of the wrestlers who finished in front of him eventually becoming state qualifiers.

Earning second-team honors was Washington senior Michael Ellingson, who posted 42 wins this year at 145 pounds.

Ellingson finished his individual run for state in districts where he took third place.

Junior Andrew Waite earned the second-team nod at 126 pounds this season, after picking up 37 wins and his third-straight state appearance.

Waite will look to go 4-for-4 at state next year, and earn his first medal.

Junior Kyle Anderson was also a second-team performer at 132 pounds this year, notching 44 wins.

The two-time state qualifier didn?t advance to state this year after finishing third in a tough district bracket.

Freshman Tristan Westphal-Edwards earned the second-team nod at 160 pounds for his 43-win season this year.

Westphal-Edwards qualified for state this season, and will look to get back to Des Moines in 2017 and earn a medal.

At 106 pounds, freshman Garrett Ikerd earned second-team honors for his 29-win season, where he missed some time due to injury.

Ikerd won his sectional, but finished third in districts to narrowly miss state.

Freshman David Hora also earned second-team honors at 120 pounds, notching 43 wins this year for the Demons.

Hora won his sectional, but finished third in districts, missing state in his freshman year.

Washington wrestling will lose three seniors in Rickey (170 pounds), Ellingson (145 pounds) and Oscar German (220 pounds), as the Demons will look to claim their fourth-straight conference title and a second state dual berth.