The 2024 edition of the Iowa boys state wrestling tournament had it all.
Blood, sweat, tears, goosebumps, heartbreak, relief and the emotional highs are just a start of all the things produced in Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Winning a state championship in Iowa is not an easy task. Even some of the greatest wrestlers this state has produced have only one one or two, which is exactly why the four-timer list is so exclusive.
Beyond each of the 42 state title winners is a story. Here are 10 stories that define what wrestling is all about.
Liam Adlfinger – Wilton
Adlfinger had one of the bigger upsets of the finals, defeating Don Bosco’s Hayden Schwab. Coming in, Schwab was undefeated and the No. 1 seed while Adlfinger was a double-digit seed in this final. Trailing in the third, Adlfinger got a takedown with 54 seconds left to tie, then used the following 40 seconds to work into a three-point near fall to clinch the win.
Wilton at that point was firmly out of the team race, but his teammates raced to the tunnel where Adlfinger was conducting his interview. They pulled their cameras out, making him feel like a star while cheering him on as he answered question.