What: IHSAA State Dual Tournament
When: Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Where: Wells Fargo Arena, 730 3rd Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
Direct Link: IHSAA State Dual Tournament

The Teams

No. 1 Fort Dodge (Dodgers)

Ranked Wrestlers 
106 – #2 Drake Ayala (Fr)
113 – #4 Carson Taylor (So)
126 – #1 Brody Teske (Sr)
132 – #2 Drew Bennett (Sr)
138 – #10 Drevon Ross (Jr)
145 – #3 Damond Lockner (Sr)
152 – #2 Cayd Lara (Sr)
160 – #7 Levi Egli (So)
195 – #8 Triston Licht (Jr)

Record against State Field – 2-0
defeated Johnston 34-33
defeated Valley, West Des Moines 40-22

No. 2 Valley, West Des Moines (Tigers)

Ranked Wrestlers 
113 – #2 Nick Oldham (Jr)
132 – #4 Caleb Corbin (Fr)
152 – #1 Grant Stotts (Sr)
182 – #1 Joel Shapiro (Sr)
220 – #7 Beau Lombardi (Jr)
285 – #7 Carter Lawrence (So)

Record against State Field – 3-3
lost to Southeast Polk 35-34
defeated Iowa City, City High 39-30
defeated North Scott, Eldridge 43-27
defeated Southeast Polk 37-36
lost to Waukee 41-27
lost to Fort Dodge 40-22

No. 3 Waukee (Warriors)

Ranked Wrestlers
106 – #4 Lucas Uliano (Fr)
113 – #9 Nick Miller (Jr)
120 – #1 Kyle Biscoglia (Sr)
126 – #8 Cody Anderson (So)
145 – #5 Brock Parker (Sr)
170 – #3 Anthony Zach (Jr)
182 – #3 Brandon Tessau (Sr)
285 – #3 Nathan McDonald (Sr)

Record against State Field – 2-1
defeated Johnston 46-18
lost to Southeast Polk 41-17
defeated Valley, West Des Moines 41-27

No. 4 Southeast Polk (Rams)

Ranked Wrestlers 
106 – #5 Devin Harmison (Jr)
120 – #2 Kobey Pritchard (Sr)
126 – #10 Cam Baarda (So)
138 – #9 Nathan Marchand (Jr)
145 – #1 Cade DeVos (Jr)
152 – #4 Lance Runyon (Jr)
170 – #4 Thaddeus Breitsprecker (Sr)
195 – #3 Gabe Christenson (So)

Record against State Field – 2-1
defeated Valley, West Des Moines 35-34
defeated Waukee 41-17
lost to Valley, West Des Moines 37-36

No. 5 Johnston (Dragons)

Ranked Wrestlers 
113 – #6 Caleb Helgeson (Fr)
132 – #1 Zach Price (Sr)
145 – #6 Elliott Pohlmeyer (Sr)
170 – #5 Collin Hushagen (Sr)
285 – #2 Jake Ryan (Sr)

Record against State Field – 0-1
lost to Fort Dodge 34-33

No. 6 Iowa City, City High (Hawks)

Ranked Wrestlers
106 – #6 Ethan Wood-Finley (So)
132 – #8 Lance Bormann (Sr)
152 – #5 Kyle Hefley (Jr)
160 – #4 Wilfred Kadohou (Sr)
195 – #2 Jacob Dykes (Sr)
285 – #9 Jacob Murry (Jr)

Record against State Field – 1-1
lost to Valley, West Des Moines 39-30
defeated Dubuque Hempstead 31-30

No. 7 North Scott, Eldridge (Lancers)

Ranked Wrestlers
126 – #4 Caleb McCabe (Jr)
145 – #8 Collin Lewis (Jr)
160 – #3 Jake Matthaidess (So)
220 – #6 Zach Petersen (Sr)
285 – #8 Cole Ernst (Sr)

Record against State Field – 1-1
lost to Valley, West Des Moines 43-27
defeated Dubuque Hempstead 37-27

No. 8 Dubuque Hempstead (Mustangs)

Ranked Wrestlers 
113 – #3 Dillon Gottschalk (Sr)
126 – #3 Joe Pins (Jr)
160 – #5 Alex Ward (Sr)
285 – #4 Dylan Olson (Sr)

Record against State Field – 0-2
lost to North Scott 37-27
lost to Iowa City, City High 31-30

The Bracket

The Predictions

Quarter-finals

#1 Fort Dodge vs #8 Dubuque Hempstead 
The Dodgers are coming to Des Moines with one thing on their mind: sweeping the State Duals and Traditional Tournament. 13 Dodgers qualified for this tournament, the depth is obviously there.  The Mustangs qualified 9 for the Traditional Tournament and will need to pull some major upsets to have a shot in this one.  Look for the Dodgers to advance to a much anticipated semi-final match-up with #4 Southeast Polk.

Key Match – 113 – #3 Dillion Gottschalk (DH) vs #4 Carson Taylor (FD)

#4 Southeast Polk vs #5 Johnston
Still trying to figure out how Southeast Polk fell to the 4 seed, but it is what it is.  These two CIML rivals did not meet in a dual this year, however SEP out-placed Johnston both at The Ed Winger Classic (1st/3rd) and CIML Conference Tournament (2nd/6th).  The Rams presumably hold the advantage in the ranked match-ups and should advance to face #1 Fort Dodge in the Semi-Finals.

Key Match – 170 – #4 Thaddeus Breitsprecker (SEP) vs #5 Collin Hushagen (Johnston)

#3 Waukee vs #6 Iowa City, City High
Waukee is lead by their lower weights and 2-time State Champion Kyle Biscoglia. The Warriors are sending 8 wrestlers to the big dance and should progress to the semis to set the stage for a rematch with #2 Valley, WDM.  The Hawks are making their first State Duals appearance under head coach Cory Connell.

Key Match – 106 – #4 Lucas Uliano (Waukee) vs #6 Ethan Wood-Finley (ICCH)

#2 Valley, West Des Moines vs #7 North Scott, Eldridge 
The Tigers are looking to make their 3rd State Duals semi-final appearance in as many years, led by seniors, and ISU signees, Grant Stotts and Joel Shapiro.  North Scott has battled some injury issues this year, but coach Drew Kelly always assembles a competitive dual squad.  The Lancers will need to pull a couple of upsets to advance in this one.

Key Match – 220 – #6 Zach Petersen (NS) vs #7 Beau Lombardi (VWDM)

Semi-Finals

#1 Fort Dodge vs #4 Southeast Polk
This is the dual I have been waiting to see all year: the rematch from last year’s State Dual finals.  The Dodgers have been tested by a few duals this year, but stand alone as the only team in the state with an unblemished record.  I have this match up even at 6 victories a piece, with 2 toss up matches.  Which coach will pull the right strings and which team will score the bonus points that could determine the outcome? Whoever wins the flip could be in the driver’s seat.

Key Match – #1 Cade DeVos (SEP) vs #3 Damond Lockner (FD)

#3 Waukee vs #2 Valley, West Des Moines
These two CIML foes hooked up in mid January with the Warriors scoring a 41-27 victory at home.  Both teams shuffled their lineup for that meet, and the alterations paid off for Coach V and his staff. Depending on how the lineups shake out, I see 138, 160 and possible 220 and Hwt as tossup matches. With a finals spot on the line, be prepared for this to be a tight match up.

Key Match – Pick one of the tossups

Finals

#1 Fort Dodge vs #2 Valley, West Des Moines
Fort Dodge won the first meeting at home on Senior night 40-22.  On that night the Dodgers were without the services of Carson Taylor, while the Tigers were missing talented freshmen Caleb Corbin.  The first meeting had 3 match ups decided by 1 point.  The Gold will be on the line hopefully both teams come ready to battle.  Anyone want to see Stotts/Lara III?

Key Match – #1 Grant Stotts (VWDM) vs #2 Cayd Lara (FD)