Third Mark McNamara. F Yeah. I love being around the competitors and it's *** special week for our family. I just like the thrill of getting out of school and watching wrest. I mean wrestling is just the highest sport. Good job. We just love this thing and like I said we wouldn't miss it for the world and we were just lucky enough that we get to chase our son doing the sport. Oh my God. We have one of the best state tournaments in the nation. 3 There's basketball tournaments, there's football tournaments, but this is kind of *** one of *** kind. It's where you get all the schools 18283A, small to big. Every kid that's wrestled in club together gets together, so it's kind of it's the pinnacle of it for sure. 15.
Iowa high school wrestling: Brackets, schedule and more for 2025 boys state wrestling tournament
Updated: 9:13 PM CST Feb 22, 2025
Iowa's high school boys wrestling state tournament is Feb. 19-22 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Click here for all 42 finals matches This year marks the 100th state tournament under the Iowa High School Athletic Association and 20th at Wells Fargo. It was previously at Veterans Memorial Auditorium for 35 years (1970-2005). With three classes, 14 weights per class and 24 qualifiers per weight, 1,008 wrestlers enter the tournament with championship aspirations. But only 42 will earn championships Saturday night. Here's what you need to know about this week's state tournament.Iowa high school boys state wrestling tournament scheduleWednesday, Feb. 19: Session 1: 9 a.m.; Class 3A, First Round, ConsolationsSession 2: 1:30 p.m.; Class 1A, First Round, ConsolationsSession 3: 6 p.m.; Class 2A, First Round, ConsolationsWatch: Day 1 of Class 3A and Class 2A state wrestling 2025Thursday, Feb. 20: Session 4: 9 a.m.; Class 3A Quarterfinals, ConsolationsSession 5: 1:30 p.m.; Class 1A Quarterfinals, ConsolationsSession 6: 6:00 p.m.; Class 2A Quarterfinals, ConsolationsWatch: Day 2 of the 2025 Iowa state wrestling tournamentFriday, Feb. 21: Session 7: 9 a.m.; Class 3A Semifinals, ConsolationsSession 8: 1:30 p.m.; Class 1A Semifinals, ConsolationsSession 9: 6 p.m.; Class 2A Semifinals, ConsolationsWatch: Day 3 of 2025 Iowa boys state wrestling tournamentSaturday, Feb. 22Session 10: 9 a.m.; All Classes, Consolation Semifinals & FinalsSession 11: 5:15 p.m.; All Classes, Awards, Grand March, FinalsQualifiers and bracketsClick here for brackets.TicketsAdmission is $15. Click here to buy tickets. WATCH: Lifelong wrestling fan, former state champion writes love letter to Iowa's state wrestling tournament2025 IHSAA wrestling, officials hall of fame honoreesSource: Iowa High School Athletic AssociationCoachMICHAEL DOYLE, Independence – A graduate of West Delaware, Doyle developed as a wrestler from being a state place-winner and part of the Hawks’ 1991 team championships into a three-time All-American at Wartburg. His contribution to the sport grew even further when he joined the coaching staff at Independence in 1995, first as an assistant and then as head coach in 1999. Since then, Doyle has twice been IWCOA state coach of the year, three times the Northeast district coach of the year, won over 500 duals, and guided the Mustangs to eight traditional tournament trophies and 13 dual team tournament appearances. Independence has claimed 11 individual state champions and 68 place-winners during his tenure, as he has also served as an IHSAA advisory committee member, a USA wrestling contributor, and as IWCOA president for four years. At Independence he is a math teacher and coach for middle school football and strength and conditioning. Doyle and his wife Jessie have three adult children: Allison, Matthew, and Natalie.WrestlersROD EARLEYWINE, Mondamin, West Harrison – A two-time state champion and four-time qualifier who graduated in 1977 with a varsity record of 99-8. Earleywine finished third as a freshman with lead-up losses to the eventual state champion. He then went 30-0 in both junior and senior seasons, winning at 132 and 145. Earleywine was a national place-winner and international representative in freestyle in high school, and ultimately won the 1978 world Junior freestyle championship while at Drake University. He was a three-year letterwinner with 53-20-1 record with the Bulldogs, then became a teacher and wrestling coach at West Sioux from 1982 through 1994. Dr. Earleywine became an accomplished administrator and was a 2007 selection to the IHSAA Officials Hall of Fame. He currently serves as superintendent at Sioux City Community School District and is a second-term member of the IHSAA Board of Control. Earleywine and his wife Molly have four adult children (Zach, Samantha, Aeriel, Zoe) and three grandchildren (Hayes, Salem, Hoyer).BRANDON MASON, Lewis Central – A three-time champion in Class 3A who graduated with a remarkable record of 195-2. Mason won his state titles across 2001, 2003, and 2004, finishing third as a sophomore in 2002. His Titans squads also won two team titles (2001, 2004) and a dual team championship (2001). As a youth wrestler, Mason was also a Cadet national champion in freestyle, a runner-up in Greco, an AAU national champion, and won three Tulsa titles, while also earning Dave Schultz regional winner and national finalist honors. He went on to wrestle for Oklahoma State and was a four-time NCAA qualifier and a 2007 All-American. Cowboys won NCAA team titles in 2005 and 2006. Once his wrestling career was complete as a four-time NWCA academic All-American and four-time Big 12 honor roll selection, Mason went to medical school and he currently serves as a radiologist at Stillwater Medical Center. He has also been a volunteer team physician for both Oklahoma State and USA Wrestling in international competition. Mason and his wife Brittany have three children: Peyton, Paxton, and Bryton.MATT McDONOUGH, Linn-Mar – A three-time champion from 2006 to 2008 at 112, 119, and 130 pounds, McDonough graduated with a varsity record of 151-15 and the Linn-Mar record for takedowns and tied for the top mark on pins in a season. The three-time Academic All-State pick also won a national championship in freestyle in 2006 and was honored as a regional winner and national finalist for the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award in 2008. He went on to become a four-year starter and two-time NCAA champion at Iowa, wrestling for coach Tom Brands from 2008 to 2013. A four-time Big Ten finalist and two-time champ (2011, 2012) he ended his NCAA career at 122-9 with 40 wins by pin. After college, McDonough wrestled for Hawkeye Wrestling Club and the U.S. national team, and served as an assistant coach at Cornell College and Wisconsin. He now works in orthopedic joint replacement sales and lives in Marion with his wife Cori and three children: Everly, Logan, and Finn.WILLIE MIKLUS, Southeast Polk & Ballard – A four-time state finalist with an exceptional development from his first two seasons at Ballard (119 and 145 pounds) to his final two at Southeast Polk (171 and 220). Miklus was one of a record nine Bombers in the finals when he as a freshman as they completed a team title sweep. He went 41-3 as a sophomore, then moved over to the Rams’ room and won state titles as a junior and a senior. His career record of 152-12 belied his growth and ability, recording 368 takedowns at 220 pounds in 2012. Miklus continued his success at the next level with four seasons at Missouri and one at Iowa State, earning All-American honors four times and going 105-28. He finished sixth twice at the NCAA championships with his teams always finishing inside the top 10. Miklus went into coaching, starting as a graduate assistant at Iowa State and now serves as an assistant coach at Michigan State. The son of the late Garry and LuAnn Miklus, Willie has three siblings: brothers Tim and Sean, and sister Erin (Dallan) Colby.BILL REX, Leon – The only two-time state champion ever at Leon or Central Decatur, Rex went undefeated as a junior to win the Class B title at 133 pounds in 1963, then the Class A crown at 138 in 1964. The 49-0 mark across his junior and senior seasons lifted his overall varsity mark to 68-6 in an era with just eight state qualifiers per weight across 12 classes. He continued his wrestling at Iowa State, then Northwest Missouri State, qualifying for nationals twice and placing fifth in 1967. He jumped into teaching and coaching in 1968 at Pekin, serving as an assistant football coach for two years, head wrestling coach for 21 years, and assistant boys’ track coach for 57 years. As wrestling coach, Rex’s teams won 12 Blackhawk Conference titles and one Southeast Iowa Conference dual title. Pekin finished as high as second in 1970, and his dual record finished at 151-40-1. Rex continues to be a bus driver and assistant track coach at Pekin. He and his wife Wanda have been married for 57 years and have a son, Sterling (Sara), four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.OfficialsLANNY BRAND, Pleasant Hill: From successful athlete to coach to official, Brand has been a mainstay of wrestling officiating for more than 20 years and has twice been named state official of the year (2013, 2022). Brand was a four-sport athlete at Lynnville-Sully who continued with football and wrestling at Central College. He went into coaching with middle school then high school at Clinton, then began officiating in earnest while back as a volunteer assistant at Central. Brand has since racked up 19 state tournament appearances with 17 finals entering this week. He has worked 17 state dual team tournaments and has appeared as a finals official for each year of the IGHSAU championships and was the state’s 2024 NFHS/NFOA official of the year. An assignor for nearly 40 schools and nine youth programs in central Iowa, Brand is a frequent advisory board member and evaluator for wrestling officials and was a 2025 selection to the AAU National Officials Hall of Fame. Brand and his wife and top supporter Jodie have two children: Levi and Hannah.ERIC ECKERMAN, Waverly: A state leader and advocate for wrestling and officiating who got his start with his father Lindsay out on the mat. A four-sport athlete at Forest City with state medals in wrestling and track and field, Eckerman first registered as an official right after graduation in 1992. He started with youth and middle school baseball, football, and wrestling, then worked his first varsity match with his father and has gone forward ever since. Eckerman has worked 14 state dual tournaments and he enters this week with 24 traditional tournaments and 19 finals appearances. Eckerman is the current president and director of officials for the IWCOA, and has twice been the organization’s official of the year (2014, 2020). After being named the state’s NFHS/NFOA official of the year in 2023, he helped lead the Grand March in 2024 as it honored the tournament’s officials and their contributions. Eckerman and his wife Sue have six children – Tyler, Alysa (Alex), Haley, Olivia, Coryn, and Jillian – and three grandchildren.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa's high school boys wrestling state tournament is Feb. 19-22 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
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You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Click here for all 42 finals matches
This year marks the 100th state tournament under the Iowa High School Athletic Association and 20th at Wells Fargo. It was previously at Veterans Memorial Auditorium for 35 years (1970-2005).
With three classes, 14 weights per class and 24 qualifiers per weight, 1,008 wrestlers enter the tournament with championship aspirations. But only 42 will earn championships Saturday night.
Here's what you need to know about this week's state tournament.
Iowa high school boys state wrestling tournament schedule
Wednesday, Feb. 19:
- Session 1: 9 a.m.; Class 3A, First Round, Consolations
- Session 2: 1:30 p.m.; Class 1A, First Round, Consolations
- Session 3: 6 p.m.; Class 2A, First Round, Consolations
Watch: Day 1 of Class 3A and Class 2A state wrestling 2025
Thursday, Feb. 20:
- Session 4: 9 a.m.; Class 3A Quarterfinals, Consolations
- Session 5: 1:30 p.m.; Class 1A Quarterfinals, Consolations
- Session 6: 6:00 p.m.; Class 2A Quarterfinals, Consolations
Watch: Day 2 of the 2025 Iowa state wrestling tournament
Friday, Feb. 21:
- Session 7: 9 a.m.; Class 3A Semifinals, Consolations
- Session 8: 1:30 p.m.; Class 1A Semifinals, Consolations
- Session 9: 6 p.m.; Class 2A Semifinals, Consolations
Watch: Day 3 of 2025 Iowa boys state wrestling tournament
Saturday, Feb. 22
- Session 10: 9 a.m.; All Classes, Consolation Semifinals & Finals
- Session 11: 5:15 p.m.; All Classes, Awards, Grand March, Finals
Qualifiers and brackets
Click here for .
Tickets
Admission is $15. .
WATCH: Lifelong wrestling fan, former state champion writes love letter to Iowa's state wrestling tournament
2025 IHSAA wrestling, officials hall of fame honorees
Source: Iowa High School Athletic Association
Coach
- MICHAEL DOYLE, Independence – A graduate of West Delaware, Doyle developed as a wrestler from being a state place-winner and part of the Hawks’ 1991 team championships into a three-time All-American at Wartburg. His contribution to the sport grew even further when he joined the coaching staff at Independence in 1995, first as an assistant and then as head coach in 1999. Since then, Doyle has twice been IWCOA state coach of the year, three times the Northeast district coach of the year, won over 500 duals, and guided the Mustangs to eight traditional tournament trophies and 13 dual team tournament appearances. Independence has claimed 11 individual state champions and 68 place-winners during his tenure, as he has also served as an IHSAA advisory committee member, a USA wrestling contributor, and as IWCOA president for four years. At Independence he is a math teacher and coach for middle school football and strength and conditioning. Doyle and his wife Jessie have three adult children: Allison, Matthew, and Natalie.
Wrestlers
- ROD EARLEYWINE, Mondamin, West Harrison – A two-time state champion and four-time qualifier who graduated in 1977 with a varsity record of 99-8. Earleywine finished third as a freshman with lead-up losses to the eventual state champion. He then went 30-0 in both junior and senior seasons, winning at 132 and 145. Earleywine was a national place-winner and international representative in freestyle in high school, and ultimately won the 1978 world Junior freestyle championship while at Drake University. He was a three-year letterwinner with 53-20-1 record with the Bulldogs, then became a teacher and wrestling coach at West Sioux from 1982 through 1994. Dr. Earleywine became an accomplished administrator and was a 2007 selection to the IHSAA Officials Hall of Fame. He currently serves as superintendent at Sioux City Community School District and is a second-term member of the IHSAA Board of Control. Earleywine and his wife Molly have four adult children (Zach, Samantha, Aeriel, Zoe) and three grandchildren (Hayes, Salem, Hoyer).
- BRANDON MASON, Lewis Central – A three-time champion in Class 3A who graduated with a remarkable record of 195-2. Mason won his state titles across 2001, 2003, and 2004, finishing third as a sophomore in 2002. His Titans squads also won two team titles (2001, 2004) and a dual team championship (2001). As a youth wrestler, Mason was also a Cadet national champion in freestyle, a runner-up in Greco, an AAU national champion, and won three Tulsa titles, while also earning Dave Schultz regional winner and national finalist honors. He went on to wrestle for Oklahoma State and was a four-time NCAA qualifier and a 2007 All-American. Cowboys won NCAA team titles in 2005 and 2006. Once his wrestling career was complete as a four-time NWCA academic All-American and four-time Big 12 honor roll selection, Mason went to medical school and he currently serves as a radiologist at Stillwater Medical Center. He has also been a volunteer team physician for both Oklahoma State and USA Wrestling in international competition. Mason and his wife Brittany have three children: Peyton, Paxton, and Bryton.
- MATT McDONOUGH, Linn-Mar – A three-time champion from 2006 to 2008 at 112, 119, and 130 pounds, McDonough graduated with a varsity record of 151-15 and the Linn-Mar record for takedowns and tied for the top mark on pins in a season. The three-time Academic All-State pick also won a national championship in freestyle in 2006 and was honored as a regional winner and national finalist for the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award in 2008. He went on to become a four-year starter and two-time NCAA champion at Iowa, wrestling for coach Tom Brands from 2008 to 2013. A four-time Big Ten finalist and two-time champ (2011, 2012) he ended his NCAA career at 122-9 with 40 wins by pin. After college, McDonough wrestled for Hawkeye Wrestling Club and the U.S. national team, and served as an assistant coach at Cornell College and Wisconsin. He now works in orthopedic joint replacement sales and lives in Marion with his wife Cori and three children: Everly, Logan, and Finn.
- WILLIE MIKLUS, Southeast Polk & Ballard – A four-time state finalist with an exceptional development from his first two seasons at Ballard (119 and 145 pounds) to his final two at Southeast Polk (171 and 220). Miklus was one of a record nine Bombers in the finals when he as a freshman as they completed a team title sweep. He went 41-3 as a sophomore, then moved over to the Rams’ room and won state titles as a junior and a senior. His career record of 152-12 belied his growth and ability, recording 368 takedowns at 220 pounds in 2012. Miklus continued his success at the next level with four seasons at Missouri and one at Iowa State, earning All-American honors four times and going 105-28. He finished sixth twice at the NCAA championships with his teams always finishing inside the top 10. Miklus went into coaching, starting as a graduate assistant at Iowa State and now serves as an assistant coach at Michigan State. The son of the late Garry and LuAnn Miklus, Willie has three siblings: brothers Tim and Sean, and sister Erin (Dallan) Colby.
- BILL REX, Leon – The only two-time state champion ever at Leon or Central Decatur, Rex went undefeated as a junior to win the Class B title at 133 pounds in 1963, then the Class A crown at 138 in 1964. The 49-0 mark across his junior and senior seasons lifted his overall varsity mark to 68-6 in an era with just eight state qualifiers per weight across 12 classes. He continued his wrestling at Iowa State, then Northwest Missouri State, qualifying for nationals twice and placing fifth in 1967. He jumped into teaching and coaching in 1968 at Pekin, serving as an assistant football coach for two years, head wrestling coach for 21 years, and assistant boys’ track coach for 57 years. As wrestling coach, Rex’s teams won 12 Blackhawk Conference titles and one Southeast Iowa Conference dual title. Pekin finished as high as second in 1970, and his dual record finished at 151-40-1. Rex continues to be a bus driver and assistant track coach at Pekin. He and his wife Wanda have been married for 57 years and have a son, Sterling (Sara), four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Officials
- LANNY BRAND, Pleasant Hill: From successful athlete to coach to official, Brand has been a mainstay of wrestling officiating for more than 20 years and has twice been named state official of the year (2013, 2022). Brand was a four-sport athlete at Lynnville-Sully who continued with football and wrestling at Central College. He went into coaching with middle school then high school at Clinton, then began officiating in earnest while back as a volunteer assistant at Central. Brand has since racked up 19 state tournament appearances with 17 finals entering this week. He has worked 17 state dual team tournaments and has appeared as a finals official for each year of the IGHSAU championships and was the state’s 2024 NFHS/NFOA official of the year. An assignor for nearly 40 schools and nine youth programs in central Iowa, Brand is a frequent advisory board member and evaluator for wrestling officials and was a 2025 selection to the AAU National Officials Hall of Fame. Brand and his wife and top supporter Jodie have two children: Levi and Hannah.
- ERIC ECKERMAN, Waverly: A state leader and advocate for wrestling and officiating who got his start with his father Lindsay out on the mat. A four-sport athlete at Forest City with state medals in wrestling and track and field, Eckerman first registered as an official right after graduation in 1992. He started with youth and middle school baseball, football, and wrestling, then worked his first varsity match with his father and has gone forward ever since. Eckerman has worked 14 state dual tournaments and he enters this week with 24 traditional tournaments and 19 finals appearances. Eckerman is the current president and director of officials for the IWCOA, and has twice been the organization’s official of the year (2014, 2020). After being named the state’s NFHS/NFOA official of the year in 2023, he helped lead the Grand March in 2024 as it honored the tournament’s officials and their contributions. Eckerman and his wife Sue have six children – Tyler, Alysa (Alex), Haley, Olivia, Coryn, and Jillian – and three grandchildren.