Upper Iowa has landed their third in-state recruit in the class of 2018 as head coach Heath Grimm has picked up the Decorah’s Philip Ihde has committed to wrestle for the Peacocks. A two-time state qualifier, Ihde joins 3 time place winner Ryan Steffen of Crestwood, Riceville state champion Chance Throndson, & North Fayette state champion Jordan Baumler.
Projecting as a 125/133 for Upper Iowa, Ihde qualified for the state tournament as a freshman at 106 pounds and as a junior at 120 pounds for Decorah. This past season Ihde got a tough draw at the state tournament falling to eventual state champion Bryce West in the quarterfinals, and was then eliminated by former runner-up Carter Cox.
Ihde will be expected to be a key contender in 2A at 126 pounds. Last year as a junior he entered the state tournament ranked #6, and as mentioned above his losses came to the #1 and #2 ranked wrestlers.