A number of the area’s top wrestlers have punched their ticket to this year’s Iowa high school state championships after finishing top-two in their weight classes at district tournaments Saturday. That includes four Washington Demons, who qualified for state while hosting the IHSAA Class 2A District 9 Championships. Sophomore Aaron Boone, ranked fourth in the state in 2A at 120 pounds, brought home a district championship by pinning his first opponent, then winning a 15-7 major decision in the semifinals before defeating CJ Davis of Burlington Notre Dame by a 3-2 decision in the title bout, Boone’s 40th win of the season.

Washington senior Curtis Stender also won a district title at 195 lbs, while freshman Caden Greiner and junior Chase Greiner earned their spots at state by finishing runner-up at 132 and 160, respectively. The Demons finished fifth in the team standings at districts.

Sigourney-Keota had a terrific day on their home mat as well, taking second as a team while hosting the Class 1A District 9 tournament. SK had six wrestlers qualify for state, including three district champs. Sophomore Brady Clark got two pins before winning a 7-4 decision against Cash Hartfield of Iowa City-Regina in the 126-lbs final. Junior Reid Molyneux pinned both of his opponents to claim the title at 152 and improve to 27-4, while senior Jack Clarahan won a 16-3 major decision and a 10-4 decision to take first at 170 and get his 40th victory. With second-place finishes, Sigourney-Keota also sends to state sophomore Reanah Utterback at 106; senior Dan Mclaughlin at 132; and junior Jack Moore at 160.

The dominant season for Highland senior Carlos Valenzuela continued, as two pins and an 8-0 major decision propelled the fourth-ranked wrestler at 132 lbs to a 1A District 9 title and raised his record to 47-1. Also moving on to state with runner-up finishes at districts are Huskies juniors Luke Guseman at 120 and Jack Peiffer at 138. WACO came up with a pair of District 9 champions, as sophomore Louden Huisenga pinned all three of his opponents at 160 lbs and classmate Gage Samo won decisions of 8-0 and 9-3 at 113. Warriors senior Drew Diers was the runner-up at 195, meaning he moves on to join the rest of the qualifiers at the IHSAA Wrestling State Championships starting Wednesday in Des Moines.