It’s February in Iowa, and you can feel state wrestling energy in the air.
That’s the case in the Iowa City area as 42 wrestlers punched their tickets to the IHSAA boys state wrestling tournament, to be held Wednesday through Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Following strong performances at districts on Saturday, Iowa City-area wrestlers will get a chance to represent their respective schools — including Clear Creek Amana, Iowa City High, Iowa City West, Iowa City Liberty, Regina Catholic and Solon — while getting a shot at state wrestling immortality this week.
City High’s Cale Seaton and West High’s Alexander Pierce — the only returning state champions from Iowa City — will be on a quest for back-to-back state titles. Other wrestlers will look to reach the mountaintop for the first time.
Here’s a list of the Iowa City area wrestlers who will compete at the Iowa boys state wrestling tournament:
Clear Creek Amana
Elder Mendieta, 106 pounds
Jose Mendieta, 113 pounds
Cale Nash, 120 pounds