HIGH SCHOOL

Iowa high school wrestling: Here are the 2020 state duals pairings

Cody Goodwin
The Des Moines Register

The 2020 state duals brackets were released Thursday by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. 

The action begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena. Below are the first-round matchups for each class, including mats and times of the duals, as well as the semifinals and finals schedules.

Class 3A

Southeast Polk vs. West Des Moines Valley, 11 a.m., Mat 1

Bettendorf vs. North Scott, 11 a.m., Mat 2

Fort Dodge vs. Waukee, 11 a.m., Mat 4

Waverly-Shell Rock vs. Indianola, 11 a.m., Mat 3

Schedule: Semifinals, Mats 3 and 4, 1 p.m.; Finals, Mat 6, 6:30 p.m.

Analysis: Very real possibility here we could see a rematch of last season's state duals final between Southeast Polk and Waverly-Shell Rock. The Rams used an exciting pin from Devin Harmison at 113 pounds to win a year ago. If they clash with the Go-Hawks again, it could be just as thrilling a matchup.

In IAWrestle's final rankings, Waverly-Shell Rock sat at No. 1, while Southeast Polk was at No. 2. Individually, 10 Go-Hawk wrestlers are ranked at their respective weights, while nine Ram wrestlers are also ranked. If these teams do meet, six of the 14 matchups would feature a pair of ranked wrestlers. Some might even be previews of state title matches.

Both teams will have to navigate a proverbial minefield to even get to Wednesday night, though. The Class 3A state duals bracket features plenty of teams filled with depth and talent. Fort Dodge earned the No. 3 seed and will face a stout Waukee squad on Wednesday morning in the first round. Bettendorf and North Scott are both traveling from the Mississippi River side of the state to wrestle each other in Des Moines.

West Des Moines Valley and Indianola both qualified after upsetting Ankeny Centennial and Johnston, respectively, in their regional finals — the Tigers advanced on criteria over the Jaguars, while the Indians walloped the Dragons. Their rewards are first-round meetings with the top two teams in the state. Giddy up.

IWCOA Rankings

  • No. 1 Southeast Polk
  • No. 2 Waverly-Shell Rock
  • No. 3 Fort Dodge
  • No. 4 Bettendorf
  • No. 6 North Scott
  • No. 8 Waukee
  • No. 10 Indianola
  • No. 11 W.D.M. Valley
Members of the Southeast Polk wrestling team celebrate a Class 3A state title win over Waverly-Shell Rock during the 2019 Iowa high school dual wrestling state tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019, at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Class 2A

West Delaware vs. Humboldt, 9 a.m., Mat 5

Osage vs. Davenport Assumption, 9 a.m., Mat 6

Independence vs. Winterset, 9 a.m., Mat 7

Williamsburg vs. Sergeant Bluff-Luton, 9 a.m., Mat 8

Schedule: Semifinals, Mats 5 and 6, 1 p.m.; Finals, Mat 4, 6:30 p.m.

Analysis: West Delaware barreled through everybody a year ago en route to its second state duals title. The Hawks are back and perhaps even stronger than they were last season. They're the heavy favorite to repeat in both the 2A duals and traditional state tournaments.

Already this season, West Delaware thumped both Independence and Williamsburg, the second and third seeds in 2A. A potential rematch between the Mustangs and Raiders should draw plenty of attention, as Independence edged Williamsburg in a 28-27 thriller back in January.

Osage also boasts five ranked wrestlers and could factor into the traditional tournament trophy race. The same should be said for Winterset, Davenport Assumption and Sergeant Bluff-Luton.

IWCOA Rankings

  • No. 1 West Delaware
  • No. 2 Independence
  • No. 3 Williamsburg
  • No. 4 Osage
  • No. 5 Sergeant Bluff-Luton
  • No. 7 Winterset
  • No. 8 Davenport Assumption
  • No. 9 Humboldt
Members of the West Delaware wrestling team celebrate a Class 2A title during the 2019 Iowa high school dual wrestling state tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019, at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Class 1A

Don Bosco vs. Woodbury Central, 9 a.m., Mat 1

Logan-Magnolia vs. Lake Mills, 9 a.m., Mat 2

Lisbon vs. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, 9 a.m., Mat 3

West Sioux vs. Denver, 9 a.m., Mat 4

Schedule: Semifinals, Mats 1 and 2, 1 p.m.; Finals, Mat 2, 6:30 p.m.

Analysis: All eyes are on a potential third showdown between Lisbon and Don Bosco. The Lions won the first meeting, a 34-32 thriller, in December at the Battle of Waterloo. The Dons roared back with a 37-21 victory last month in Lisbon. Should they meet again, expect plenty of fireworks, tension and great wrestling.

Lisbon and Don Bosco could easily fight over the traditional title as well, but don't overlook West Sioux, led by potential four-timer Adam Allard. The Falcons have grown into a tough Class 1A program in recent years and won't go down without swinging hard if they meet Lisbon in the semifinals.

The quarterfinal between Logan-Magnolia and Lake Mills is also a sneakily fun matchup. Both teams could factor into the 1A trophy race over the weekend and could produce an intense first-round state duals matchup as well.

IWCOA Rankings

  • No. 1 Lisbon
  • No. 2 Don Bosco
  • No. 3 West Sioux
  • No. 4 Logan-Magnolia
  • No. 5 Lake Mills
  • No. 6 Denver
  • No. 8 Woodbury Central
  • No. 9 Clarion-Goldfield-Dows
Members of the Don Bosco wrestling team raise the Class 1A state championship trophy during the 2019 Iowa high school dual wrestling state tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019, at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Full state duals schedule

Wednesday, Febr. 19

  • 9 a.m. — Class 2A, 1A Quarterfinals
  • 11 a.m. — Class 3A Quarterfinals; 2A, 1A Consolations
  • 1 p.m. — Class 3A, 2A, 1A Semifinals; 3A Consolations
  • 4:30 p.m. — Class 3A, 2A, 1A 5th, 7th Place Matches
  • 6:30 p.m. — Class 3A, 2A, 1A, Championships, 3rd Place Matches

Cody Goodwin covers wrestling and high school sports for the Des Moines Register. Follow him on Twitter at @codygoodwin.

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