STATE CHAMPION! Westphal-Edwards strikes gold at Wells Fargo

DES MOINES - It had been his stated goal all season, and, obviously, the most coveted.

Washington's Tristin Westphal-Edwards wanted to have an unbeaten record wrestling this season because that would mean he would win a state championship.

Westphal-Edwards achieved that dream of a goal Saturday at the Iowa High School Athletic Association Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. With a 43-0 record, he is the Class 2A state champion at 182 pounds.

'I dreamed of that,” Westphal-Edwards said. 'Those people in the stands cheering, the hugs afterward from your family and to get your hand raise and hold up the No. 1 finger.”

After winning his opening match Thursday with a pin in just 29 seconds, Westphal-Edwards scored a 6-2 decision in the quarterfinal.

The semifinals Friday almost brought an end to the dream. His match with Nolan Harsh of ADM was tied at 4-4 at the end of regulation after Harsh had a 3-2 advantage in the third round. Westphal-Edwards got a sudden victory with a takedown in 33 seconds, winning the match 6-4 to advance to the finals and a chance at a ctate championship. Harsh would finish fourth.

The final was against Kyler Fisher, who Westphal-Edwards had wrestled four times previously and who had been on various club teams with him.

Westphal-Edwards said they had wrestled four times previously and he had won all four. Make it five for five.

'It's hard to wrestle somebody that's exactly like you,” Westphal-Edwards said. 'We wrestle just alike – he hits a blast double just like I do, he has heavy hands and he's quick.”

Westphal-Edwards led 2-1 after the first period, scoring a takedown, but giving up an escape.

Westphal-Edwards expanded that lead to 5-2, starting the second period down and getting an escape and a takedown before giving up an escape.

'I felt good,” Westphal-Edwards said. 'It's hard to wrestle somebody like you, but when I got to those shots, I knew this is what I needed to win this state title. If I do this (getting to my offense), then I'll win the state title. When I got to those shots – I wasn't cutting the match short – but when I got to those shots, I knew I was going to win. I knew it.”

Westphal-Edwards started the third period on top but gave up an escape right away, then was taken down with 29 seconds remaining to tie the match at 5-5.

It took him just 5 seconds to escape and hold on for the 6-5 victory.

'I'm gonna have to go and have one of my coaches slap me or pinch myself or something,” Westphal-Edwards said. 'It feels like I'm in a dream right now. Man, it's amazing. It's amazing.”