Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Aiden Winkie, Ankeny wrestling

Ankeny’s Aiden Winkie controls Des Moines Roosevelt’s Jameson Jordan during a semifinal match at 138 pounds in the Bob Sharp Invitational on Jan. 17. Winkie recorded a fall in 5 minutes 40 seconds and went on to place second for the Hawks, helping them to a runner-up finish. (Photo by Dan Holm)

Junior Aiden Winkie has helped the Ankeny wrestling team to a 13-6 record, including a 4-4 mark in the CIML Conference. He earned a pair of wins last week at 138 pounds as the 10th-ranked Hawks closed out the regular season with victories over Waukee on Tuesday and Urbandale on Thursday.

Winkie, a two-time state qualifier, has compiled a 23-11 record this season. He has recorded six pins, five technical falls and two major decisions.

Here is some inside info on Winkie:

What has been the highlight of your season thus far?

My highlight was going 4-1 at the Dan Gable Donnybrook (in early December).

Ankeny’s Aiden Winkie stands on the awards podium after placing fifth at 138 pounds in the Jack Mendenhall Invitational on Jan. 10 at Ames. He helped the Hawks to a fifth-place finish. (Photo courtesy of Ashley Rathjen)

There wasn’t much at stake in your final two dual meets, but what did you think of your team’s performances against Waukee and Urbandale?

I thought we wrestled great the last two meets. Part of that is we were super relaxed and loose.

Your team will now face a rematch against Ankeny Centennial in a Class 3A regional dual on Tuesday at Dallas Center-Grimes. Your team won the first meeting at Centennial, 40-28, on Dec. 11. What is your confidence level going into the meet? Do you feel like your team has the edge?

Our goal is to take our momentum from the last week and head into regionals with a first-round win against Centennial.

You dropped a 10-3 decision to Centennial’s Cale Vandermark in the first dual, but Cale has since dropped down to 126 pounds and it appears unlikely that you will face him again. Does it matter to you who you wrestle?

I’ll be ready for whoever Centennial puts out there Tuesday. I think we are in a great spot for this dual.

Ankeny’s Aiden Winkie battles Ankeny Centennial’s Cale Vandermark during a 138-pound match in a dual meet on Dec. 11 at Centennial. Vandermark won by a 10-3 decision, but the Hawks went on to post a 40-28 victory. The two teams will meet again in a Class 3A regional dual on Tuesday at Dallas Center-Grimes, where the winner will then face the host Mustangs for a trip to the state duals on Saturday at Coralville. (Photo by Evan Reiter)

The winner of the dual will then face No. 4 Dallas Center-Grimes for a trip to the state duals on Saturday at Coralville. If your team advances, how do you think you match up against the Mustangs?

DCG would definitely be a tough matchup, but I think we have the edge in a lot of the matches.

I know Dallas Center-Grimes has a ranked wrestler at 138 in No. 11 Blake Forrester. Have you wrestled him before?

I’ve never wrestled Forrester before, but I’m ready.

Coach Wignall told me before the season started that his goal was to win a state duals championship. Do you think this team is capable of getting to the state duals and contending for the crown?

I think when our team wrestles their best we are capable of anything.

Ankeny’s Aiden Winkie tries to turn Waterloo East’s Georvon Tyler onto his back during a first-round match at 138 pounds in last year’s Class 3A state tournament in Des Moines. Winkie, who advanced to the quarterfinals with a 10-9 victory, is a two-time state qualifier for the Hawks. (Photo by Dan Holm)

Your team will host a Class 3A district tournament on Feb. 14 and Dallas Center-Grimes will be among the teams in the field, so you could see Forrester there as well as No. 7 Tegan Ray of Linn-Mar (Marion)–who posted a 4-1 decision over you in the finals of the Bob Sharp Invitational on Jan. 17–and No. 10 Sullivan Baccam of Carlisle. Are you confident that you can earn another trip to state?

I know my district is tough, but I’ve been putting in the work and I think I can earn another trip to state.

Are you planning to wrestle in college?

I’m not currently planning to wrestle in college, but that could change over the next year.