Oskaloosa Wrestlers Send Three to State After Strong District Showing
The Oskaloosa boys wrestling team competed Saturday at the Class 3A District 8 tournament in Norwalk and came away with three state qualifiers. Colton Shaffer, Matthew Phillips, and Parker Jordan all earned spots in the State Wrestling Tournament, which begins at 4 p.m. Wednesday for Class 3A. The tournament decided who moves on to state and marked one of the most important meets of the season.
Shaffer led the way at 157 pounds and won a district title with a dominant performance. He opened with a technical fall win, then pinned his semifinal opponent. In the championship match, Shaffer secured another fall to finish first and improve his record to 42-1. His quick finishes gave Oskaloosa a major boost in team points.
Phillips also captured a district championship at 165 pounds. He recorded a fall in the quarterfinals and a technical fall in the semifinals before winning the title match by major decision. Phillips advanced with a 41-10 record and showed steady control through all three rounds.
Jordan qualified for state at 215 pounds by placing third. He opened with a fast pin in the quarterfinals and battled through the consolation bracket after a semifinal loss. Jordan answered with two more falls to secure his spot at state, finishing the day 39-3.
Several other Oskaloosa wrestlers added team points and competed deep into the bracket. Emmett Dye placed fourth at 106 pounds after earning two falls during the day. Sam Nelson at 120 pounds and Jamison Ruby at 132 pounds each scored team points with early-round wins. Trey Parks, Brock Beerbower, and Kyron Smith also picked up victories in consolation matches.
The district tournament featured strong competition from schools across central Iowa, including Valley, Waukee Northwest, Prairie, ADM, Pella, and Ottumwa. Every match carried weight because only top finishers advance, making each round critical.
Oskaloosa now turns its focus to the state tournament, where Shaffer, Phillips, and Jordan will represent the program on the biggest stage of the season. Wrestling begins Wednesday afternoon as the team looks to continue its momentum against the top qualifiers from across Iowa.
