Washington senior Michael Ellingson circles Williamsburg’s Gage Blythe during the regional dual tournament held at Washington High School. Photo by KCII’s Sally Hart.

A historic season for the No. 7 Washington Demon wrestling team (32-3 overall) came to an end Wednesday in Des Moines. The Demons’ first ever team appearance at Wells Fargo Arena saw the squad finish in sixth place out of the eight team field.

Washington opened the state duals versus the No. 2 Davenport Assumption Knights (20-1 overall). The Demons scored one win by decison, one by sudden victory, and two by forfeit, dropping the quarterfinal dual 40-18. Sophomore Tanner Murphy (195) and freshman Walker Ikerd earned the Demons’ contested wins. Murphy won by sudden victory, 9-7, over Brock Timmons, while Ikerd pulled out a 3-2 decision against Jacob Felderman. The Knights would go onto win the Class 2A State Dual title for the fifth time in six years.

The Demons bounced back in the consolation semifinals, earning four wins by fall, three victories by decision, and one by major decision to pull out a 37-29 dual victory over No. 6 Sergeant Bluff-Luton (15-2 overall). Senior Michael Ellingson (145), junior Kyle Anderson (132), junior Karlton Skubal (182), and sophomore Mitchell Huseinga (285) earned wins by fall.

In the fifth place match, Washington earned two wins by fall, three by decision, and one by sudden victory in a 34-24 setback against the No. 5 Independence Mustangs (25-6 overall). Ellingson capped of his Demon wrestling career with a win by fall over the Mustang’s Spencer Shonka 2:36 into their match. Junior Andrew Waite also won his bout by fall, pinning Jacob Wolf 30 seconds into their grapple.

Washington concludes their dual season with a record of 32-3, the most dual wins recorded in school history. The Demons lose will three wrestlers to graduation including Ellingson, Bryce Rickey (170), and Oscar German (220).