Members of the Union Knights wrestling team pictured with their Class 2A third place team trophy last Saturday evening at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines following the conclusion of the 2024 IHSAA State Championships. The Knights earned five podium finishes this year including two state titles, a runner-up finish, a fifth place finish, and a seventh place finish. Pictured front row (l-r) Knights assistant coach Max Thomsen, Caleb Olson (2A 150 pound champion), Coy Mehlert, Jace Hedeman, Brayden Bohnsack (2A 113 pound champion), Kaydin Jones, and Knights head coach Bart Mehlert. PHOTO COURTESY OF BART MEHLERT/KNIGHTS WRESTLING CLUB

DES MOINES – In the battle for best, Union wrestlers Brayden Bohnsack and Caleb Olson were crowned with championship titles at the 2024 Iowa high school boys’ state wrestling tournament held last Saturday evening at Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines. The two were part of a combined six wrestlers from northern Tama County school districts who earned podium victories at the 2024 tournament.

Following four days of wrestling that culminated in the title rounds Saturday night, Bohnsack, a junior, clinched the Class 2A 113 pound state title after winning the 106 pound title last year, while Olson, a senior, ended his high school wrestling career with a massive exclamation point by winning the Class 2A 150 pound state title.

Teammates joining them on the podium this year included freshman Coy Mehlert who placed fifth at 106 pounds, sophomore Kaydin Jones who placed seventh at 120 pounds, and Jace Hedeman who took runner-up at 126 pounds.

North Tama wrestler Kolt Knaack, a junior, also secured a spot on the podium Saturday evening by placing sixth at 144 pounds.

‘Dreamt of this since I was a little kid’

The 2024 Class 2A State Champion at 150 pounds, Union wrestler Caleb Olson (center) pictured on the podium Saturday evening at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER

Last season, Olson also qualified for state, earning a seventh place finish for his efforts.

During the press interviews following his title win Saturday evening, Olson told reporters his childhood dreams had finally come true.

“[This is] everything I’ve dreamt of since I went out for wrestling in kindergarten. A lot of years put into this. I’ve thought about this moment before I go to bed every night. Getting my hand raised …. [I’m] just happy. A good run. To go out like this.”

Olson also said that last season’s seventh place finish was a significant factor in motivating his run at the state tournament this year.

“It fueled me so much. I got seventh. I was hurt half the [season] last year. … [I thought,] I gotta get one this year.”

The 2024 Class 2A State Champion at 113 pounds, Union wrestler Blake Bohnsack (center) pictured on the podium Saturday evening at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER

Another factor in his motivation, Olson said, was Union assistant coach Max Thomsen, a four-time state wrestling champion from 2012-2015 and a rightful legend among Union High School alumni.

“Watching Max grow up. Him being my coach and training partner. That was the biggest role model of my life.”

Olson ended his comments to the press with a “Go Peacocks!” shout-out to Upper Iowa University where he plans to wrestle collegiately next season.

Olson’s teammate Brayden Bohnsack was equally as enthusiastic during his press interview following the 113 pounds title bout during which he earned his second state championship in as many years.

When asked if the second time around was any easier, Bohnsack replied, “Honestly, I was hardly nervous this year at all.”

The 2024 Class 2A State Runner-up at 126 pounds, Union wrestler Jace Hedeman (fourth from left) pictured on the podium Saturday evening at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER

Bohnsack said he had been preparing all season for a chance to wrestle in the finals and now that it was done, he felt good; but, a reporter asked, was it harder to win this time around as a reigning state champion?

“No matter who you are, they want to beat you,” he answered.

When told that his second state title also secured his team a third place trophy, Bohnsack said that was another goal accomplished for him and his Knights teammates.

“It’s pretty important. We haven’t done that since 2020. … It’s been a goal of ours all season.”

Olson’s and Bohnsack’s teammate Jace Hedeman was also vying for a state title Saturday evening in the finals. He earned runner-up this year at 126 pounds after finishing first at 106 pounds in 2022 and 113 pounds in 2023.

Union wrestler Coy Mehlert (second from right) pictured on the podium Saturday evening at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER

Following his semifinal match win on Friday which secured his spot in the 2024 finals, Hedeman told reporters his steady progression through the weight brackets was “just natural body growth” and that he felt “strong” and “quick” at 126.

Like his teammates, Hedeman also praised assistant coach Thomsen.

“He’s as smart as it gets. He likes working with us. He’s got some motivational speeches all the time. … Before every match, he makes sure I’m locked in and ready to go. … He helps me with my mental space.”

Hedeman equally gave praise to his younger teammates Coy Mehlert and Kaydin Jones who both medaled in their first state appearances.

He said of Jones, who took down No. 1 seed Kaden Weber in the consolation rounds: “KJ is my dog. He is something. I’m so proud of him [for] placing.”

Knights wrestler Coy Mehlert receives a hug from his dad and head coach Bart Mehlert during the 2024 IHSAA State Wrestling Tournament held in Des Moines last week Wednesday through Saturday. PHOTO COURTESY OF KNIGHTS WRESTLING CLUB

Of Mehlert, Hedeman declared: “Coy, that’s a little stud. He’s little, but he’s exciting to watch.”

When asked to comment on being one of the best wrestlers in Class 2A this season, Hedeman said, “I work hard. I’ve got one more year to prove it. … I’m just going to wrestle my match.”

Both Union’s and North Tama’s state qualifier finishes are detailed below.

Congratulations to all six of our area wrestlers who medaled at the 2024 state tournament, and to all seven who qualified including Redhawk wrestler Max Monat.

MATCH RESULTS

Union’s Coy Mehlert (42-10) placed 5th at 2A 106

Opening Round: Received a bye.

Round 2: Won by major decision 11-0 over Sioux Center’s Bryce Oostenink.

Quarterfinal: Lost by decision 3-2 to Fairfield’s Cael McCabe.

Consolation Round 4: Won by decision 7-4 over Garrett Pumphrey of Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont.

Consolation Round 5: Won by decision 5-4 over North Polk’s Charlie Boelman.

Consolation Semifinal: Lost by major decision 9-0 to Ballard’s Easton Enyear.

5th Place Match: Won by fall over Decorah’s Gavin Knutson in three minutes, 12 seconds.

Union’s Brayden Bohnsack (42-4) placed 1st at 2A 113

Opening Round: Received a bye.

Round 2: Won by fall over Waukon’s Jayden Mara in 45 seconds.

Quarterfinal: Won by major decision 12-4 over Jayce Curry of Sergeant Bluff-Luton.

Semifinal Round: Won by decision 8-3 over Carter West of Burlington Notre Dame.

Championship Match: Won by decision 4-2 over Webster City’s Linden Phetxoumphone.

North Tama’s Maxon Monat (32-10) did not place at 1A 113

Opening Round: Lost by fall to Clayton Ridge’s Kenny Colsch in five minutes, 56 seconds.

Consolation Round 1: Received a bye.

Consolation Round 2: Lost by fall to South Winneshiek’s Aiden Feickert in one minute, 18 seconds.

Union’s Kaydin Jones (42-7) placed 7th at 2A 120

Opening Round: Won by decision 6-4 over Humboldt’s Owen Mayall.

Round 2: Lost by fall to Davis County’s Emmitt Newton in one minute, 46 seconds.

Consolation Round 2: Won by decision 7-6 over Spencer Fink of Harlan Community.

Consolation Round 3: Won by decision 4-3 over Tanner Paustian of Woodward-Granger.

Consolation Round 4: Won by decision 8-7 over Nevada’s Kaden Weber.

Consolation Round 5: Lost by decision 5-0 to Creston’s Christian Ahrens.

7th Place Match: Won by decision 5-2 over Owen Mayall of Humboldt.

Union’s Jace Hedeman (44-2) placed 2nd at 2A 126

Opening Round: Received a bye.

Round 2: Won by fall over Harlan Community’s Tytan Frohlich in 40 seconds.

Quarterfinal: Won by decision 6-0 over Humboldt’s Tyce Clarken.

Semifinal Round: Won by decision 8-1 over Landen Davis of Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont.

Championship Match: Lost in sudden victory-1, 3-1 to Webster City’s Carson Doolittle.

North Tama’s Kolt Knaack (46-3) placed 6th at 1A 144

Opening Round: Received a bye.

Round 2: Won by fall over Isaiah Malm of Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire in two minutes, 41 seconds.

Quarterfinal: Lost by fall to Lisbon’s Tiernan Boots in three minutes, 11 seconds.

Consolation Round 4: Won by fall over Sibley-Ocheyedan’s Dawson Beyer in one minute, 8 seconds.

Consolation Round 5: Won by fall over Pleasantville’s Zane Mullenix in 43 seconds.

Consolation Semifinal: Lost by fall to South Winneshiek’s Collin Holm in five minutes, 47 seconds.

5th Place Match: Lost by fall to Wilton’s Jordan Dusenberry in four minutes, 40 seconds.

Union’s Caleb Olson (47-1) placed 1st at 150

Opening Round: Received a bye.

Round 2: Won by major decision 11-3 over Williamsburg’s Nile Sinn.

Quarterfinal: Won by decision 3-0 over Ballard’s Tucker Vitzthum.

Semifinal Round: Won by decision 3-0 over Algona’s Tate Slagle.

Championship Match: Won by decision 3-0 over Lucas Kral of Garner-Hayfield/Ventura.

Redhawk wrestler Kolt Knaack (second from left) pictured on the podium Saturday evening at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER

Union wrestler Kaydin Jones (far right) pictured on the podium Saturday evening at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER