Depth at the lower weights is making for a competitive start to Washington Demon wrestling practice. The squad held their first full practice on Monday evening in the wrestling room at Case Field. The Demon wrestling team is coming off the best season in program history, winning 32 of 35 duals. Washington graduated three wrestlers from last year’s squad including Bryce Rickey, Michael Ellingson, and Oscar German.

Washington head wrestling coach Brent Van Weelden says he expects the biggest competition for starting spots to come from weight class 113 through 132. Walker Ikerd won 40 matches at 113 pounds as a freshman last year. David Hora’s freshman season featured 42 match victories at 120 pounds last year. Alex Latchum is returning this winter after an injury forced him to miss his entire junior season. He won 29 matches at 106 pounds his sophomore season. Garrett Ikerd earned 26 wins at 106 pounds last year. Cade Pohren and Brennan Murphy posted more than 10 victories last season. Pohren had 17 victories at 126 pounds, while Murphy won 11 matches at 113 pounds.

The Demons return five wrestlers who’ve competed at the Iowa High School Individual State Wrestling Tournament including Kyle Anderson, Trey Van Weelden, Andrew Waite, Austin Hazelett, and Tristin Westphal-Edwards. Anderson medaled his freshman and sophomore seasons at 120 pounds, while Van Weelden earned his first state medal last season at 152 pounds. The Washington Demon wrestlers open the competition season at home on November 29th, hosting a quadrangular versus Benton, Iowa Valley, and HLV.