Photos Courtesy of Washington MatBackers and WACO CSD Social Media
In a loaded field at the 2025 WACO Warrior wrestling invitational Saturday, it was local talent that rose to the top.
The Washington Demons were team tournament champions, with their score of 182.5, better than second place Mount Pleasant with 160. Washington had five individual champions with Nate Edmonds at 113 getting a title bout win over Cash Cole of Highland by 15-4 major decision. The Demons’ Aaron Boone was the 132lb winner, pinning Tyler Pierson of Highland. At 144lbs, gold belonged to Jude Carter after a tech fall win over Keegan Birdsell of Mount Pleasant. Blaine Rees was best at 165lbs, scoring a tech fall win in the finals over Carter Ball of Wapello. Greyson Hartman won the title at 215 with a pin over Tommy Miller of Mid-Prairie. The group joined KCII Sports after the podium presentation to talk about the team win.
Edmonds said, “It feels awesome, just to be able to see the hard work we put into the room pay off standing on top of the podium. It really reflects that hard work.”
Carter continued, “It’s really rewarding, it gives you a lot of joy to be up there!”
Boone said, “Especially since this is our senior year, it’s a little bitter sweet, knowing that it’s coming to an end, but it was big to get up there.”
Rees said, “It was meaningful to get up to the top today when there were a lot of local teams here. We know a lot of faces.”
Hartman added, “We did it for the seniors!”
Other top Demons were Rudy Wolfe runner-up at 285 and Joseph Schreiber at 106 and Bryer Billingsly at 157 each fifth.
Highland was third of 15 teams with 117 points. Top finishes for the Huskies were second for Cash Cole at 113lbs and Tyler Pierson at 132. Brock Thomann was third at 126, Gauge Richardson at 157 and Isaac Kleese at 215 both fourth, and Aiden Yoder at 120 and Mason Lavely at 126 both fifth.
WACO was fifth with their score of 101 points. The Warriors had three individual winners including Ian Maize with gold at 106lbs after topping Levi Evans of Mt. Pleasant by 9-3 decision in the finals. Gage Samo won the 120lbs class, getting a tech fall over Brock Nebergall of Lone Tree in the finals. At 190lbs, it was a title for Louden Huisenga, getting the tech fall against Payton Walker of Mt. Pleasant. After the meet, the three champions talked with KCII Sports about the day.
Maize said, “It was great to hear people yelling our name when we score points and get takedowns. I was scoring points, not really to win the match, but to keep scoring and keep the pressure on him. (To be at the top of the podium) is pretty cool knowing that the work you’re putting in is paying out.”
Huisenga continued, “You only get to wrestle here two or three times a year, so you have to make the most of it. It was just awesome. I needed to keep the pressure on and get to my shots.”
Samo added, “We get a lot of people here and it’s pretty fun. I wanted to finish the (championship) match as quick as possible. I got my fakes going and that felt good. The snaps felt good too.”
Harley Larrimore was also fifth at 165.
Lone Tree scored 49 points for 12th. Brock Nebergall led the Lions as runner-up at 120lbs. Other top performances for Lone Tree were Tate Nelson fourth at 190 and Easton Roman fifth at 175.
The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks were 13th with 40 points. Tommy Miller led the Hawks taking second at 215lbs. Burke Berry was third at 285 and Brock Fisher fifth at 215.