Stories from 10 state champions that define what wrestling in the state of Iowa is about

The 2024 edition of the Iowa boys state wrestling tournament had it all.

Blood, sweat, tears, goosebumps, heartbreak, relief and the emotional highs are just a start of all the things produced in Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Winning a state championship in Iowa is not an easy task. Even some of the greatest wrestlers this state has produced have only one one or two, which is exactly why the four-timer list is so exclusive.

Beyond each of the 42 state title winners is a story. Here are 10 stories that define what wrestling is all about.

Liam Adlfinger - Wilton

Adlfinger had one of the bigger upsets of the finals, defeating Don Bosco's Hayden Schwab. Coming in, Schwab was undefeated and the No. 1 seed while Adlfinger was a double-digit seed in this final. Trailing in the third, Adlfinger got a takedown with 54 seconds left to tie, then used the following 40 seconds to work into a three-point near fall to clinch the win.

Wilton at that point was firmly out of the team race, but his teammates raced to the tunnel where Adlfinger was conducting his interview. They pulled their cameras out, making him feel like a star while cheering him on as he answered question.

Your teammates gassing you up like that is exactly what wrestling is all about.

"They've been supporting me since day one, so it feels great," Adlfinger said.

Koy Davidson - Fort Dodge

It's well documented that Davidson and Waukee Northwest's Carter Freeman know one another quite well as training partners at Sebolt. It showed in this match, tied at one with neither side giving an inch through regulation.

Davidson became a champion and denied history for his good friend, who was on the verge of winning his fourth state title with a win. Even in a moment of immense joy, he took a moment to thank him.

"He's made me who I am now," Davidson said. "We made each other get to the top of the mountain just being practice partners, a lot of credit is due to Carter and I can't thank him enough."

Being humble and appreciative about who helped you succeed is what wrestling is all about.

Bas Diaz - Waverly-Shell Rock

From Florida to Iowa, Diaz now has three state titles.

He moved to Iowa in 2021 and ever since then, it's been his home and he has now won two in Wells Fargo Arena.

"Within the first year at Waverly, it felt like home," Diaz said. "The community there ... the ones that support me and my family ... they really support us all."

Winning titles no matter the place or time is what wrestling is all about.

Tyler Harper - Norwalk

All year long, Harper continued to say the same words 15 times in his head.

I'm the best.

Facing Iowa City West's Alexander Pierce, who beat him in the finals last year, he showed that he's the best in his class. Harper found a way to roll Pierce onto his back twice for back points on his way to a 10-4 result. Now, he's feeling himself after completing his high school wrestling career on a high.

"I believe that I am (the best)," Harper said.

Having and developing supreme confidence is what wrestling is about.

Jacob Helgeson - Johnston

With Helgeson's second title now won, with another potentially coming next year, Jacob can poke fun at his brother Caleb Helgeson. Caleb is a freshman at Iowa State, who has one state title in Iowa to Jacob's two.

"I got him," Jacob Helgeson joked.

Competing against your brother and poking fun at beating him is what wrestling is all about.

Kaiden Knaack - Don Bosco

Three times before, Kaiden Knaack fell short. He made the podium, but could never get that first-place spot on the podium.

That changed in his final high school wrestling match.

"Getting second is probably the worst feeling, knowing that all these people see you lose," Kaiden Knaack said. "It's not a feeling you want to have or want to think about. To be a senior and to go out on top, I worked my butt off for this and it finally paid off."

Getting knocked down but stepping back up to reach your goal is what wrestling is all about.

Timothy Koester - Bettendorf

Koester didn't have much emotion following his second state title. You would have thought he had just won a consolation match at a regular-season tournament rather than a state championship.

For Koester, that's how he approached it.

"That match was another match I had to wrestle," Koester said. "That's how I look at all my matches."

Sticking to who you are no matter how successful you get is exactly what wrestling is all about.

Chase Pearson - Southeast Polk

We talked at length about Southeast Polk's Carter Pearson and his new mindset following his loss to Harper in the semifinals last year. He then turned to golf to work on being mentally strong. He needed that against Bettendorf's Jake Knight, a freshman state title winner the year prior with just one loss on the year in his first season.

Since, Pearson has beaten Knight twice. Once at the state duals tournament and another for a state title.

"It all paid off," Pearson said.

Being mentally strong is what wrestling is all about.

Dreshaun Ross - Fort Dodge

Just two matches before Ross stepped onto the mat for the 215-pound final, his brother Damarion Ross was wrestling his finals match. There, Ross won a 2-1 decision over Carlisle's Asa Hemsted.

Dreshaun was so excited for his brother that he had to totally reset before his match.

"I had to catch my breath before I went out there because I was so amped up about his," Ross said.

Ross would go on to pin Southeast Polk's Holden Hansen in the first period of his finals bout, not looking out of energy at all.

Being ecstatic for those close to you is what wrestling is all about.

Kael Voinovich - Iowa City High

Voinovich left the state of Oklahoma for Iowa City High last summer, following his brother Victor from Oklahoma State to Iowa. In the 157-pound final, he won a state title by defeating Jaxon Miller of Carlisle in a 12-3 major decision.

After the match, Voinovich was animated and fired up following his win.

“When you got a family like (Iowa City High) that backs you up, it’s hard not to get fired up,” Voinovich said.

Finding the right fit for you is what wrestling is all about.

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 10 best stories from Iowa boys state wrestling tournament