Honestly, if you aren't paying attention to the mat right now, you're missing the best part of the winter. Iowa high school wrestling is basically a religion in this state, and January is when the pews start getting crowded. We just hit the mid-month mark of 2026, and the Iowa high school wrestling results coming in are shaking up every "expert" bracket from Council Bluffs to Dubuque.
Everyone talks about February. The lights at Wells Fargo Arena. The grand march. But the real work? It’s happening in humid gyms on Tuesday nights where a random 120-pounder pulls off an upset that changes the entire seeding landscape for the postseason.
The Power Shifts in the January Dual Rankings
The IHSAA just dropped the second edition of the 2025-26 dual team rankings on January 13, and let’s just say some people are going to be salty. In Class 3A, Southeast Polk is still sitting on the throne. No surprise there. They’ve been a machine. But look at the movement behind them. Dowling Catholic and Indianola are breathing down their necks at No. 2 and No. 3.
Waukee Northwest has stayed steady at No. 6, but they’ve got a target on their back after some tight duals. You've seen the scores; these aren't blowouts anymore.
Over in Class 2A, things are even more chaotic. Decorah has taken the top spot, leapfrogging Clarion-Goldfield-Dows. It’s a razor-thin margin. If you’re following the 2A Iowa high school wrestling results, you noticed that Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont and Independence are lurking in those 3 and 4 spots. One bad night for the leaders and the whole deck gets reshuffled.
- Class 3A Leader: Southeast Polk
- Class 2A Leader: Decorah
- Class 1A Leader: Don Bosco
Don Bosco is... well, Don Bosco. They are currently the No. 1 team in Class 1A, followed by Jesup and Woodbury Central. It feels like a three-horse race, but 1A always has a way of throwing a wrench in the gears during the regional duals.
💡 You might also like: Why Isn't Mbappe Playing Today: The Real Madrid Crisis Explained
The Individual Monsters: Who is Unstoppable?
Let’s talk about the kids making everyone look silly. Dreshaun Ross from Fort Dodge. He’s a junior now, and honestly, the kid is a freak of nature. He’s ranked No. 1 at 285 in Class 3A and is a top-five recruit nationally for the class of 2026. Watching him work is like watching a grown man wrestle middle schoolers sometimes.
Then you’ve got the lower weights. Amir Newman-Winfrey is a freshman at Southeast Polk and he’s already the No. 1 ranked 106-pounder. Think about that. You're 14 or 15 years old and you're the best in the state in the biggest class.
Class 3A Top Dogs (Current Rankings)
- 106: Amir Newman-Winfrey (Southeast Polk)
- 120: Kipton Lewis (Waverly-Shell Rock)
- 165: Mac Crosson (Indianola)
- 285: Dreshaun Ross (Fort Dodge)
In Class 2A, Blake Fox from Osage is the name everyone is circling. He’s at 150 pounds and was recently named the Hupke Wrestling Productions Wrestler of the Year. He’s a technician. He doesn’t just win; he dismantles people.
And don't sleep on the girls' side. We just saw Sophia Hazen from the ATU (AHSTW, Tri-Center, and Underwood) co-op go 3-0 in a Glenwood quad on January 13. She’s now 30-1 on the season. That’s a workload that would break most people, and she’s just pinning her way through the calendar.
Why the Regional Duals Matter More Than You Think
People keep asking when the "real" season starts. It’s now. The Iowa high school wrestling results from this week determine who hosts the regional duals on February 3.
📖 Related: Tottenham vs FC Barcelona: Why This Matchup Still Matters in 2026
If you're a coach, you want that home-mat advantage. You want your fans screaming in a tiny, loud gym rather than busing two hours to sit in a visitor's section. The final dual team rankings come out January 27. That’s the "Selection Sunday" for Iowa wrestling.
"It's not just about winning the match; it's about the bonus points. A tech fall instead of a decision can be the difference between a state trip and a long bus ride home." - Common coaching mantra across the I-80 corridor.
Misconceptions About the Rankings
A lot of folks think the rankings are the gospel. They aren't. They’re a snapshot.
For example, look at Alburnett in Class 2A. They’re ranked No. 6 in duals, but they have individual hammers like Eaghan Fleshman at 285 who can swing a whole meet by himself. In a dual, one pin can wipe out three close decisions. That’s why the Iowa high school wrestling results from January tournaments like the Soldier Salute or the recent quads are so misleading if you only look at the team score. You have to look at the matchups.
The Road to Coralville and Des Moines
We are officially in the "grind" phase. The two-pound growth allowance kicked in back in December, so kids are settled into their weights.
👉 See also: Buddy Hield Sacramento Kings: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
- January 29, 2026: Last day for body composition assessments.
- January 30, 2026: Girls Regional Competitions.
- February 3, 2026: Boys Regional Duals.
- February 5-6, 2026: Girls State Tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville.
- February 18-21, 2026: Boys Traditional State Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena.
The girls are heading to Coralville this year, and the energy there is going to be electric. The IGHSAU has done a killer job growing the sport. If you haven't seen a girls' state meet yet, you're missing out on some of the most aggressive, high-scoring wrestling in the country.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Parents
If you're trying to keep up with the flurry of Iowa high school wrestling results, don't just refresh Twitter (or X, whatever).
First, get familiar with TrackWrestling. It’s the Bible for live scores. If a meet is happening in a barn in the middle of a cornfield, there’s a 90% chance someone is entering scores into TrackWrestling in real-time.
Second, watch the IAwrestle and Hupke Wrestling Productions rankings. They often differ from the official IHSAA rankings because they look more at head-to-head individual results rather than just team dual records.
Third, pay attention to the "unattached" results. Some of these kids are wrestling in open tournaments to see better competition, and those results often dictate how they’ll perform when they get back into the high school circuit.
The next few weeks are going to be a blur of sweat, headgear, and controversial stalling calls. Enjoy it. This is the best wrestling state in the world for a reason.
Next Steps for Following the Season
- Check the IHSAA website on January 27 for the final dual team rankings and regional assignments.
- Bookmark the TrackWrestling "Tourney Hub" for the upcoming regional duals on February 3.
- If you're following the girls' circuit, clear your schedule for February 5-6 for the state tournament at Xtream Arena.
- Monitor the 150-pound and 285-pound weight classes in all divisions, as these currently hold the deepest talent pools and the most potential for state-final upsets.