Iowa’s Best High School Wrestlers: Meet The State’s Top Sophomores

Winning a authorities wrestling title successful Iowa arsenic a freshman is rather nan feat.

For starters, it is nan only measurement you tin support nan thrust live to becoming a four-time Iowa precocious schoolhouse authorities wrestling champion.

But battling done nan authorities tourney section and coming retired connected apical arsenic a ninth-grader is nary mini feat. Three accomplished it past twelvemonth successful Southeast Polk’s Eddie Woody, Jr., Dylan Williamson from Van Meter and Hendrix Schwab of Don Bosco.

Woody, Williamson and Schwab will each beryllium looking to make it 2-for-2 this winter.

Here is simply a look astatine immoderate of nan apical sophomore wrestlers successful Iowa precocious schoolhouse athletics:

Eddie Woody, Jr., Southeast Polk

Woody entered correct into nan stacked Southeast Polk lineup and recovered thing but success, going 41-1 wide and winning golden successful Class 3A astatine 106 pounds.

Van Meter's Dylan Williamson wrestles Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont's Slater Thomas successful nan 2A 106 lbs last during Iowa precocious schoolhouse wrestling authorities championships astatine Wells Fargo Arena connected Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, successful Des Moines. / Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Much for illustration Woody successful 3A, Williamson dominated astatine 106 pounds successful his weight class, finishing his first play 39-3 wide and pinch a golden badge astir his neck.

Hendrix Schwab, Don Bosco

The relative of chap Don Bosco standout Hayden Schwab and boy of University of Northern Iowa caput coach Doug Schwab, Hendrix Schwab went 43-1 and won a authorities title successful 1A astatine 113 pounds.

Dowling Catholic’s Cruz Gannon takes down Dubuque Hempstead’s Abe Heysinger during their 106-pound wrestling 3A boys authorities Semi-final astatine Wells Fargo Arena connected Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, successful Des Moines, Iowa. / Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Gannon was astir unstoppable, reaching nan 3A 106-pound last earlier falling to Woody. He had a grounds of 27-4 overall.

Slater Thomas, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont

It was a silver-medal capacity by Thomas, finishing pinch a 43-2 grounds and a authorities runner-up decorativeness astatine 106 pounds.

Like this teammate Thomas, Bettis reached nan finals, earning metallic astatine 113 pounds while going 37-4.

Ian Maize, WACO

Maize put together a grounds of 37-4 and reached a authorities title match, coming up conscionable short by placing second.

Heysinger was connected a rotation arsenic a freshman, finishing 3rd astatine nan authorities tourney astatine 106 pounds while going 35-4 overall.

Calvin Rathjen, Ankeny

In a loaded 3A bracket, Rathjen shined, placing 4th astatine 132 pounds while finishing nan twelvemonth 34-6 wide connected nan season.