The Class 3A regional dual assignments have been announced by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. The regional duals will be held on Feb. 10, beginning at 6 p.m.
The top 24 ranked teams according to January’s IWCOA rankings will compete at eight sites with the highest-ranked teams hosting, if possible. The top-ranked team at each site receives a bye during the first round, then will face the winner of the first-round dual in the final.
Ninth-ranked Ankeny (10-5) will face No. 23 Ottumwa in a first-round dual at Norwalk. The winner will face No. 7 Norwalk in the final.
The Hawks lost to Norwalk in the first round a year ago at Southeast Polk. The two teams also collided at last month’s Bob Sharp Invitational, where the Warriors won the team title and Ankeny finished fourth.
No. 14 Ankeny Centennial (15-6), meanwhile, will face No. 20 Dallas Center-Grimes in the opening round at Waukee. The winner will then face No. 3 Waukee in the final.
Both Ankeny coach Jack Wignall and Centennial coach Jay Groth will have to weigh the benefits and the risks of putting their regular varsity lineups on the mat for the regional duals. Some coaches may opt to rest their wrestlers for the district tournaments three days later while also avoiding the risk of a COVID-19 exposure that could jeopardize the rest of the season.
The regional champions will advance to the state duals tournament on Feb. 17 at Wells Fargo Arena.
