Iowa Girls State Wrestling Opening Day Sees Upsets

Defending champions and top seeds advance, but several surprises occur on first day of competition.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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The opening day of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union state wrestling championships saw a mix of expected results and surprising upsets. In Class 2A, defending champion Raccoon River-Northwest leads the team race, while Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont is on top in Class 1A. Several top seeds advanced to the semifinals, but the 190-pound division in 2A saw multiple upsets, including a win by sophomore Eva Jara of Iowa City West over Briar Ludeman from Cedar Falls.

Why it matters

The Iowa girls high school wrestling state tournament is a highly anticipated annual event, showcasing the top talent in the state. Upsets on opening day can shake up the team and individual title races, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the tournament.

The details

In Class 2A, all but one weight class saw the top seed advance to the semifinals, which will be contested on Friday. However, the 190-pound division was home to several upsets, including sophomore Eva Jara of Iowa City West knocking off Briar Ludeman from Cedar Falls, 6-4. In Class 1A, the top seed advanced to the semifinals in all 10 weight classes, with the No. 2 seed doing the same in eight of the 10. Amalia Djoumessi of Waverly-Shell Rock recorded the fastest pin of the day at 10 seconds, while Deliliah Subsin from Ottumwa had a 16-second fall. Abigail Peterson of Denver won her two matches in just 47 seconds, and Greenley Grell from Central DeWitt picked up a technical fall in 1:14 for the quickest of the day.

  • The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union state championships began on Thursday, February 6, 2026.
  • The semifinals will be contested on Friday, February 7, 2026, along with the remaining consolation rounds before the placement matches, including the finals, take place.

The players

Raccoon River-Northwest

The defending champion in Class 2A, currently leading the team race.

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont

The team leading the Class 1A team race.

Eva Jara

A sophomore from Iowa City West who upset the top seed in the 190-pound division in Class 2A.

Briar Ludeman

The top seed in the 190-pound division in Class 2A who was upset by Eva Jara.

Katie Biscoglia

A wrestler from Raccoon River-Northwest who is chasing a fourth state championship, which would make her the first girl to win four official state titles.

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What’s next

The semifinals will be contested on Friday, February 7, 2026, along with the remaining consolation rounds before the placement matches, including the finals, take place.

The takeaway

The opening day of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union state wrestling championships featured a mix of expected results and surprising upsets, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the tournament as wrestlers compete for individual and team titles.