Redhawks wrestlers, freshman Kolt Knaack (132), sophomore Case Monat (106), and senior Aiden Zook (170) are pictured together following the Class 1A District 4 wrestling tournament in Jesup where each qualified for the state wrestling tournament by grappling their way to second place finishes thereby ending a 20-year school drought. Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker

The drought at North Tama Schools is officially over.

It’s been two decades since North Tama wrestling sent anyone to the state tournament in Des Moines but all that came to a halt this past Saturday afternoon in Jesup at the Class 1A District 4 tournament when not one, not two, but three Redhawk wrestlers – freshman Kolt Knaack (132), sophomore Case Monat (106), and senior Aiden Zook (170) – each became state qualifiers by grappling their way to second place finishes and into the Traer history books.

The last Redhawk wrestler to qualify for state was Ryan Morris of Clutier in 2002.

“This is what we’ve been working for all season, sending the guys to state,” head coach Andrew Knaack said following the tournament, a broad smile taking up all the real estate on his bearded face.

North Tama sent five wrestlers total to the district tournament on Saturday. In addition to the state qualifying trio, sophomore Christian Dronebarger (120) and senior Logan Rausch also qualified for districts.

Thumbs up from Aiden Zook ahead of Saturday's Class 1A District 4 wrestling tournament in Jesup. Zook – the district runner-up in 170 pounds – is one of three North Tama wrestlers who are now officially statebound, breaking a 20-year school drought. Photo by Soren M. Peterson

Both Dronebarger and Rausch placed fourth in their respective weight classes.

Dronebarger lost to Wapsie Valley’s fifth-ranked Dawson Schmit in the semifinal and Edgewood-Colesburg’s Dawson Bergan in the third place match, while Rausch was defeated by Starmont’s fourth-ranked Bowen Munger and Tripoli’s Giles Cowell.

Shortly before Dronebarger took the mat for the third place match, junior high/assistant coach Rick Samuelson was overheard telling him, “You have nothing to lose – this is fun.”

Dronebarger ultimately lost the match by decision but ended his 2021-2022 season as a district qualifier. Donrebarger should have two more seasons ahead of him to try again.

As a senior, Rausch wrestled for the last time on the mats in Jesup.

Redhawks head wrestling coach Andrew Knaack (left) and JH/asst. coach Rick Samuelson (right) congratulate Case Monat (106) following the news he wouldn't have a wrestleback for true second at 106 pounds and he was state wrestling bound. Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker

“The guys that didn’t make it, you feel bad for them,” coach Knaack said as he stood on the empty Mat No. 2 Saturday afternoon in the Jesup gym waiting for the final heavyweight match to finish and the award ceremony to begin. “They earned it, too.”

This is coach Knaack’s fourth season with the North Tama team which entered districts with Knaack, Monat, and Zook all ranked in Class 1A by IAwrestle – the first time coach Knaack has had any wrestlers ranked, he said.

In the week leading up to the district tournament, North Tama’s wrestling drought was clearly on every Redhawk wrestler’s mind as they prepared for Saturday’s matches.

“I think about it all the time,” Monat said of the drought during a pre-district interview on Wednesday afternoon in the North Tama wrestling room. “My dad [Scott Monat] never made it to state, but he was close, so I want to do that for him.”

Kolt Knaack expressed sentiments similar to Monat – his dad, coach Knaack, was a two-time state wrestling qualifier, taking fifth in Class 2A at 140 pounds for the combined Gladbrook-Reinbeck North Tama team in 2000.

North Tama sophomore Case Monat raises his hand after winning his semifinal match in Jesup during the Class 1A District 4 wrestling tournament on Saturday, Feb. 12. Monat is the district runner-up in 106 pounds and as such is now a state qualifier. Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker

Zook is actually a returning state wrestling qualifier this year – he wrestled for Hudson his freshman year, coach Knaack said, placing seventh in 160 pounds.

During their district matches on Saturday – which were mostly a repeat of the sectional matches from the weekend prior – all three North Tama athletes entered the tournament as sectional runners-up and were clearly ready to end the drought.

They wrestled well and smart against the formidable No. 1 Don Bosco Catholic team which ended the day qualifying a whopping 13 of their 14 wrestlers for the state tournament.

For North Tama, Monat was the first to qualify by placing second without a wrestleback in the 106 pounds weight class. He began the day by facing Steel Rolinson of Jesup in the semifinal match – winning by fall in 3:32.

In the championship match, Monat lost to the Dons’ first-ranked Caleb Coffin.

North Tama freshman Kolt Knaack raises his hand after winning his semifinal match in Jesup during the Class 1A District 4 wrestling tournament on Saturday, Feb. 12. Following a wrestleback for true second, Knaack became the district runner-up in 132 pounds and as such is now a state qualifier. Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker

In his first round state tournament match on Thursday this week, the eighth-ranked

Kolt Knaack had the most circuitous route to qualifying for state of the three North Tama wrestlers as he had to grapple his way through a wrestleback for true second place in the 132 pounds weight class.

Knaack won by decision 9-3 over Wapsie Valley’s Gavin Leistikow in the opening semifinal round before losing by fall in the championship match to the Dons’ second-ranked Garrett Funk.

Knaack faced a wrestleback at that point for true second which he won by major decision 16-4 over Jesup’s Dawson Bell. After winning his match – and securing his ticket to state – Knaack’s dad and coach – who had spent most of the match on his feet – congratulated his son with a well-earned handshake.

Knaack is ranked sixth ahead of the state tournament where he is set to face Denver’s fifth-ranked Joe Ebaugh who he lost to by fall earlier in the season. Sitting atop the 132-pound bracket is undefeated Gable Porter of Underwood.

North Tama wrestling cheerleaders wave to the crowd following Kolt Knaack's wrestleback win in Jesup on Saturday, Feb. 12. Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker

Zook was the second North Tama wrestler to learn he had qualified for the state tournament while Knaack waited for his wrestleback.

After winning by fall over Wapsie Valley’s Chase Ackerman, Zook faced the Dons’ No. 1 Cade Tenold who he previously faced the Saturday prior during the sectional championship match, barely losing to in sudden death overtime.

Tenold also happens to be the reigning 170-pound state wrestling champion.

This time around Zook was hot from the start, matching Tenold strength for strength and leading the Don Bosco wrestler 4-3 in the final period before giving up the go-ahead takedown in the closing seconds of the final period.

Tenold won by decision 5-4 to which the Don Bosco crowd reacted by erupting into an ear-splitting roar.

Zook, who is ranked fifth by IAWrestle, is set to face seventh-ranked Kolby Scott of Maple Valley-Anthon Oto (MVAOCOU) in his first-round state tournament match on Thursday. Zook and Tenold should gain a bit of breathing room from each other as they begin the state tournament on opposite sides of the 170 bracket.

Following the district tournament on Saturday, Zook said he was feeling good about how things ended and was already formulating what he needed to work on ahead of his trip to state.

“I have some things to work on obviously. I have to finish when I get into position.”

Zook also said as much as he likes the energy coming from the spectators – including the frenetic-at-times Don Bosco fans – he said he needs to work on not letting “the crowd into the match” so much.

This season was the first time coach Knaack was able to work with Zook as his head coach and it was smooth from day one, the coach said.

“I knew [Zook] from when he was little. He’s originally from Traer. We have a good dynamic… He responds well to me,” coach Knaack said.

Knaack said Zook is a big reason the team qualified any athletes – let alone three – for the state tournament this year.

“He’s the first one to step up and support the team. You have a guy like [Zook] come in and it sets the pace. He just goes hard all the time.”

Both Zook and coach Knaack expressed a desire to face Tenold again at the state tournament. Zook almost beat him twice in the last two weeks – the third time might be the charm to cap off an amazing senior season with the Redhawks, opening the floodgates for good on that 20 year drought.

“The plan is to make it to the Saturday [championship round],” coach Knaack said. “[Zook’s] going to take that kid [Tenold]. I hope it comes down to Saturday night – Zook and Tenold – in the championship.”

The Iowa High School Individual State Wrestling Tournament begins this week on Thursday, Feb. 17, in Des Moines at Wells Fargo Arena. Class 1A first-round is set to begin at 6:00 p.m.

The Class 1A Quarterfinals are set for Friday, Feb. 18, beginning at 2:30 p.m.

Saturday’s state semifinals and finals wrestling action begins at 10:00 a.m. for all classes with the awards ceremony set for 5:45 p.m.

Freshman wrestler Kolt Knaack pictured during his wrestleback for true second with Jesup’s Jesup’s Dawson Bell during Saturday's Class 1A District 4 wrestling tournament in Jesup. Photo by Soren M. Peterson

Kolt Knaack's father and head coach Andrew Knaack claps following the younger Knaack's wrestleback win for true second in Jesup on Saturday, Feb. 12. Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker

Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker

Case Monat speaks with his dad Scott Monat in the Jesup bleachers following the news the younger Monat would be moving on to the state wrestling tournament. Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker

Sophomore wrestler Case Monat pictured during his opening semifinal match with Steel Rolinson of Jesup during Saturday's Class 1A District 4 wrestling tournament in Jesup. Photo by Soren M. Peterson

Aiden Zook proves why he is now state-wrestling-bound as he works to flip No. 1 Cade Tenold of Don Bosco. Zook ultimately lost to Tenold by decision in the 170-pound champion match after leading going into the final seconds. Following the tournament, Redhawks head coach Andrew Knaack said if Zook faces Tenold again in the state tournament, the outcome is going to be different. Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker

Photo by Soren M. Peterson

Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker

Photo by Soren M. Peterson

Logan Rausch. Photo by Soren M. Peterson

Christian Dronebarger. Photo by Soren M. Peterson

North Tama wrestlers Christian Dronebarger (left) and Case Monat (center) watch as their teammate Kolt Knaack (not pictured) wrestles his way to true second and a trip to the state wrestling tournament during the 132-pounds district wrestleback on Saturday, Feb. 12 in Jesup. Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker