District wrestlers battle for state berth

With a long regular season, conference championships and the duals tournament in the books, the high school wrestling scene is approaching one of the most anticipated weekends of the entire season.

Area teams will spread out to four different sites for the 2023 district meets, which take place this Saturday, Feb. 11. For the first time, all wrestlers are eligible for the meet, as the Iowa High School Athletic Association has done away with sectionals, meaning everybody is one good day away from a berth at the state tournament.

District tournaments will begin at 10 a.m. on Monday across the state. Currently, the Union area’s teams are all in Class 2A and Class 1A.

In Class 2A, all three of the Union area big schools will meet up at a familiar site, as Washington High School plays host to eight Class 2A squads, including rivals Fairfield and Mt. Pleasant.

Along with the Demons, Trojans and Panthers, WHS will welcome in Davenport Assumption, Centerville, Davis County, Keokuk and Notre Dame-West Burlington.

The other area Class 2A teams will be in Williamsburg. Columbus/Winfield-Mount Union and Mid-Prairie will accompany the hosting Raiders, as well as Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, Oskaloosa, South Tama County, Tipton and West Liberty.

Most of the Union area Class 1A teams will be in Sigourney. Sigourne-Keota will play host to Cardinal, Highland, Pekin and Van Buren County. Non-Union teams in attendance will be Lisbon, Lone Tree, Louisa-Muscatine, Regina and Springville.

New London was pushed out of the local district. The Tigers will be in Wilton, alongside Bellevue, Cascade, Durant, Mediapolis, Midland, North Cedar, Northeast, Wapello, West Branch and Wilton.

Going into districts, the Union area has plenty of ranked wrestlers in the IAWrestle Top-12 poll. All ranked matmen are listed below.

Class 1A

132: 4. Carlos Valenzuela (12), Highland.

160: 2. Dominic Lopez (12), New London; 6. Louden Huisenga (10), WACO

170: 2. Jack Clarahan (12) Sigourney-Keota

220: 9. Trent Wilkerson (12), New London

CLASS 2A

106: 8. Cael McCabe (9), Fairfield.

120: 4. Aaron Boone (10), Washington.

285: 12. Russel Coil (11), Columbus/Winfield-Mount Union