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State wrestling first round matchups

See where all 20 area wrestlers start off on Thursday in Des Moines

Andy Krutsinger

Feb. 18, 2026 2:57 pm

Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.

DES MOINES — The 2026 Iowa High School State Wrestling tournament began on Wednesday, with the area’s Classes, 1A and 2A, starting up on Thursday at the Casey’s Center in Des Moines, and 19 area wrestlers will be on hand to try and bring home a championship for their respective schools.

Listed below are first round matchups for each area wrestler, listed in alphabetical order by team.

CARDINAL

2A-215: Blake Lamansky (Cardinal) vs. Carter Schaeding (OABCIG)

COLUMBUS/WINFIELD-MT. UNION

1A 106: Justin Knipfer (Columbus/WMU) FIRST ROUND BYE

1A 113: Dakota Aney (Columbus/WMU) vs. Eli Rieb (Alta/Aurelia)

1A-132: Bowen Thomson (Columbus/WMU) vs. Johnny Cortez (Coon Rapids-Bayard)

1A-175: Trevor Phillips (Columbus/WMU) vs. Landen Schnuelle (South Winneshiek)

FAIRFIELD

2A-175: Dain Burkhart (Fairfield) FIRST ROUND BYE

MT. PLEASANT

2A-120: Levi Evans (Mt. Pleasant) vs. Noah Garcia (West Liberty)

SIGOURNEY-KEOTA

1A-138: Ryker VandenHeuvel (Sigourney-Keota) vs. Jordan Melling (East Marshall/Meskwaki)

1A-165: Dillion Menke (Sigourney-Keota) vs. Andrew Hall (Saint Ansgar)

1A-285: Owen Menke (Sigourney-Keota) FIRST ROUND BYE

WACO

1A-113: Ian Maize (WACO) FIRST ROUND BYE

1A-120: Ryddge Sterna (WACO) vs. Quinton Heistand (Woodbine)

1A-132: Teage Pepper (WACO) vs. Tayler Kibbee (Janesville)

1A-150: Harley Larrimore (WACO) vs. Wade Sankot (Belle Plaine)

WACO’s Ian Maize (right) tries to break down Don Bosco’s Kaiden Belinsky during their 1A 106 lbs. championship match at the Iowa Boys’ High School Athletic Association’s 2025 State Wrestling Championships at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday, February 22, 2025. Belinsky won. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
WACO’s Ian Maize (right) tries to break down Don Bosco’s Kaiden Belinsky during their 1A 106 lbs. championship match at the Iowa Boys’ High School Athletic Association’s 2025 State Wrestling Championships at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday, February 22, 2025. Belinsky won. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

WASHINGTON

2A-138: Caden Greiner (Washington) FIRST ROUND BYE

2A-157: Jace Kinzenbaw (Washington) vs. Cooper Franklin (Alburnett)

2A-190: Blaine Rees (Washington) vs. Gabriel Nebergall (West Liberty)

2A-215: Brayden Vermillion (Washington) vs. Carter Eddy (Independence)

2A-285: Rudy Wolve (Washington) vs. Gable Eddy (Independence)

Washington's Blaine Rees battles in a match against Burlington at the Southeast Iowa Classic on Jan. 31, 2026. (Jack Knowlton/The Union)
Washington's Blaine Rees battles in a match against Burlington at the Southeast Iowa Classic on Jan. 31, 2026. (Jack Knowlton/The Union)
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