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Sports Illustrated Unveils Iowa High-School Wrestling 2024-25 District Assignments

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Saturday, November 22nd 2025 at 21:38 GMT by Sports Illustrated

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Iowa High‑School Wrestling: District Assignments Unveiled for the 2024‑25 Season

In the world of Iowa wrestling, the announcement of district assignments is always a highly anticipated event. This year’s reveal, published by Sports Illustrated’s high‑school section, detailed the new geographic and enrollment‑based groupings that will shape the state’s wrestling landscape for the 2024‑25 season. The release, coming in late September, coincides with the first day of practice for many teams and sets the stage for the district competitions that feed directly into the Iowa State Championships.

How the Districts Are Structured

Iowa’s wrestling districts are determined by a combination of school enrollment and geographic proximity. The Iowa High School Wrestling Coaches Association (IHSWCA) uses a tiered system: District I, District II, etc., with each district hosting a cluster of schools that play each other in a round‑robin format. The top finishers in each district advance to the district championships; the top teams then qualify for the state tournament.

The 2024‑25 assignments include 21 districts, covering all 800‑plus high schools in the state. In many cases the same schools have remained in their traditional districts, preserving the longstanding rivalries that define Iowa wrestling. However, several schools have been shifted to new districts in response to changes in enrollment numbers, school consolidations, or a desire to balance competition more evenly.

Highlights of the Shifts

• Des Moines‑Area Schools: The city’s dominant wrestling powerhouses—Des Moines High School, Roosevelt, and North High—remain in District II. However, the newer schools of Westwood and Eastview, which grew significantly in the past two years, have moved into District III to balance the size of the district.

• The Upper Mississippi Valley: The long‑time rivals of Davenport and Muscatine now share District IV, a move that brings them closer together on the court. Coach Dan Searle of Davenport remarked, “It’s exciting to see the classic rivalry resume with the same intensity we’ve always had, and the travel will be easier for the students.”

• The Southwest: A notable change occurred in District X, where the small school of Clarinda joined forces with the larger community of Pella. The IHSWCA noted that this pairing will offer Clarinda’s wrestlers more exposure to higher‑level competition without a drastic increase in travel time.

• The Central District: The University‑town cluster, including Iowa City, Ames, and Cedar Falls, stayed in District VII. Yet, due to enrollment growth at Cedar Falls, the district’s top‑ranked team will now face more evenly matched opponents.

• The Rural Frontier: Many of the more remote schools—such as the small towns of Le Mars, Glenwood, and Spencer—remain together in District XV. The IHSWCA reaffirmed that district assignments in these areas will be carefully monitored for any future adjustments, as travel can become a burden for student‑athletes.

Impact on the Season

The district assignments are more than just geographic labels. They determine the schedule, the level of competition, and the pathway to the state tournament. Each district hosts a mini‑tournament where the top two teams qualify for the state competition, and for certain weight classes, even third‑place finishers may advance, depending on the number of schools in the district.

Coach Linda Morales of Ames reflected on the upcoming season: “Knowing where we stand in the district helps us plan our practice blocks, scout our opponents, and keep our athletes motivated. The new assignments bring fresh challenges, but the fundamentals of Iowa wrestling—discipline, technique, and teamwork—remain unchanged.”

Where to Find the Full List

The Sports Illustrated article links directly to the IHSWCA’s official district assignment page. There, readers can download a PDF detailing every school’s new district, including enrollment figures and the geographic boundaries. The site also offers interactive maps that show the location of each district and a searchable database where coaches and fans can look up specific schools.

The Road to the State Championships

While the district assignments set the stage, the real drama of Iowa wrestling unfolds at the state championships, traditionally held at the University of Iowa’s O’Brient Gym in Iowa City. The article highlighted that the state tournament will feature 44 teams—two from each of the 21 districts, plus the host team and the state champions of the previous year. Coaches and wrestlers alike view the state as the pinnacle of the high‑school wrestling season, and the district assignments serve as the gateway to that ultimate prize.

Final Thoughts

Iowa’s wrestling community has always valued precision, tradition, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. The latest district assignments are a testament to that ethos—balancing fairness, competition, and logistical realities. For the athletes, the coaches, and the families involved, the release marks the beginning of a season that will test skill, strategy, and spirit. As the first day of practice approaches, the new district maps will guide every drill, every match, and every championship dream in Iowa’s storied wrestling culture.