Wheelers and Crusaders Send 4 to State Wrestling Tournament

Audubon and Coon Rapids-Bayard wrestlers qualify for the IHSAA 1A State Tournament

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The Audubon Wheelers and Coon Rapids-Bayard Crusaders both qualified four wrestlers for the upcoming IHSAA Class 1A State Wrestling Tournament after competing in the District #8 tournament at Ridge View High School. Audubon's Leyton Elmquist (113), Lane Meyer (285), Jon Rasmussen (138), and Karter Obermeier (150) all earned state berths, while Coon Rapids-Bayard's Caleb Hoffman (126), Treynor Cose (165), Ethan Bauer (157), and Johnny Cortez (132) also qualified for state.

Why it matters

Qualifying wrestlers for the state tournament is a major accomplishment for these small-town Iowa high school wrestling programs. The state tournament is the pinnacle of the season, and earning a spot there demonstrates the hard work and talent of these student-athletes. Both Audubon and Coon Rapids-Bayard have built strong wrestling traditions, and sending multiple qualifiers to state helps maintain that legacy.

The details

At the District #8 tournament, Audubon's Leyton Elmquist won the 113-pound title, while Lane Meyer was the champion at 285 pounds in his first year of wrestling. Jon Rasmussen (138) and Karter Obermeier (150) both finished as district runners-up for the Wheelers. For Coon Rapids-Bayard, Caleb Hoffman won the 126-pound championship, Treynor Cose took first at 165 pounds, and Ethan Bauer (157) and Johnny Cortez (132) were district runners-up for the Crusaders.

  • The District #8 tournament was held on February 14, 2026.

The players

Leyton Elmquist

A wrestler for the Audubon Wheelers who won the 113-pound district championship.

Lane Meyer

A first-year wrestler for the Audubon Wheelers who won the 285-pound district title.

Jon Rasmussen

A wrestler for the Audubon Wheelers who finished as the district runner-up at 138 pounds.

Karter Obermeier

A wrestler for the Audubon Wheelers who finished as the district runner-up at 150 pounds.

Caleb Hoffman

A wrestler for the Coon Rapids-Bayard Crusaders who won the 126-pound district championship.

Treynor Cose

A wrestler for the Coon Rapids-Bayard Crusaders who won the 165-pound district title.

Ethan Bauer

A wrestler for the Coon Rapids-Bayard Crusaders who finished as the district runner-up at 157 pounds.

Johnny Cortez

A wrestler for the Coon Rapids-Bayard Crusaders who finished as the district runner-up at 132 pounds.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The IHSAA 1A State Wrestling Tournament will be held at the Casey's Center in Des Moines on February 20-22, 2026.

The takeaway

The success of the Audubon Wheelers and Coon Rapids-Bayard Crusaders at the District #8 tournament demonstrates the strength of the wrestling programs in these small Iowa communities. Qualifying multiple wrestlers for the state tournament is a testament to the dedication and talent of these student-athletes, as well as the coaching staffs that have built these programs into consistent contenders.