Washington Wrestling Closes Regular Season with Southeastern Iowa Classic Championship

Posted By: Spencer Dirks
January 30, 2017 @ 7:01 am
Today's Local Sports

Photo courtesy of the Washington Matbackers.

Regular season wrestling competition closed with another weekend championship for the No. 5 Washington Demons (26-1). Washington traveled to Fairfield High School Saturday for the annual Southeastern Iowa Classic featuring wrestlers from Albia, Centerville, Chariton, Clarke, Davis County, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, Fairfield, Fort Madison, Keokuk, Knoxville, Mount Pleasant, and Twin Cedars. Washington, the reigning tournament champion, defended their title with 230.5 points. Fairfield placed second with 161 points.

Eight Demon wrestlers made it to the championship match with Walker Ikerd (106) and Tristin Westphal-Edwards (160) winning their weight divisions. Ikerd opened the tournament with an 18-second pinfall victory versus Albia’s Dakotah Selby. His semifinal bout against Fort Madison’s Elton Kruse ended in a technical fall victory, 20-4, 33 seconds into the third period. Ikerd won the championship by fall 22 seconds into his match against Knoxville’s Gabe Gordon. Westphal-Edwards began his tournament by bringing Fairfield’s Carter Spalla to his back 90 seconds into the match. He followed up with a pinfall victory over Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont’s Dalton Griffiths 1:13 into the first period. Westphal-Edwards grinded out a 9-8 decision victory over Knoxville’s Micheal Ullestad in the championship round.

Kyle Anderson (126), Alex Latcham (132), Andrew Waite (138), Logan Escher (170), Tanner Murphy (220), and Mitchell Huisenga (285) also represented Washington in the title match. Garrett Ikerd (113) and Karlton Skubal (195) won consolation bracket matches for third place.

Washington opens their postseason run in the sectional tournament this Saturday at Keokuk High School. The Demons will grapple wrestlers from Davis County, Eddyville-Blakesburg, Fairfield, Keokuk, and West Burlington for two spots in the district tournament February 11 in Fairfield. The top two scoring teams will also advance to the regional dual tournament on February 7. First matches will commence at noon.