Fareway Stores, Inc., IAwrestle, and Iowa Corn present the Dan Gable Ms. and Mr. Wrestler of the Year Awards in coordination with the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (IWCOA).
The IWCOA accepted nominations from high school coaches for student-athletes in each of the three state wrestling classes for the men and two classes for the women’s award, Class 1A and Class 2A, regardless of their year in school and weight class. In January a committee selected by the IWCOA provided IAwrestle with a list of 15 finalist candidates for public input.
Fans voted once per list at Facebook.com/IAwrestle for their favorite wrestler in each category from January 29th to February 8th, when the list had been narrowed down to the top 7. The next round of voting took place from February 9th to February 22nd, detirmining the top 3 finalists. Today, the winner was announced at the Fareway Conference Center in Boone, Iowa.
Dan Gable, Mark Ironside and Alex Marinelli were special guests handing out awards.
The two runner-up student-athletes in each class each received finalist award plaques. A duplicate Wrestler of the Year trophy and duplicate Wrestler of the Year runner-up plaques will be provided to each high school where finalists attend, for permanent placement in the high school trophy case.
Please note, the fan vote winners will counted as ONE vote towards the IWCOA’s committee votes in EACH round. (For example: Wrestler A received enough fan votes to place second in the poll, but that does not guarantee them to move on to the next round. IWCOA has selected 12 coaches and officials to serve on the committee. The fan vote is the 13th vote.)
1A Girls
Winner: Chloe Sanders – Vinton-Shellsburg
Abigail Peterson – Denver
Greta Brus – Assumption
2A Girls
Winner: Calista Rodish – Raccoon River-Northwest
Bella Miller – Dubuque Hempstead
Tegan Robertson – Ridge View
1A Boys
Winner: Dawson Youngblut – Don Bosco
Ashton Honnold – Nodaway Valley
Hayden Schwab – Don Bosco
2A Boys
Winner: Blake Fox – Osage
Gavin Landers – Denver
Mason Koehler – Glenwood
3A Boys
Winner: Dreshaun Ross – Fort Dodge
Eddie Woody Jr. – Southeast Polk
Mac Crosson – Indianola