There’s only one thing left for the Ankeny girls’ wrestling team to accomplish, and that’s to win a state team title.
Heading into the 2026-27 season, coach Dustin Roland’s squad is looking to capture not just one, but a pair of team crowns.
“I have felt that we have had the potential the last two seasons to win a team title. It has not happened,” said Roland. “Our goal remains the same of winning a state title. With the addition of state duals, we are shooting to win two this season.”
Ankeny is No. 2 in the Class 2A preseason rankings after placing fourth at the state tournament in 2026 and second in 2025. No. 1 ADM/Van Meter/Waukee/Waukee Northwest, which was formerly known as Raccoon River Northwest, is the two-time defending champion.
Ankeny returns a wealth of talent from a team that went 27-3 last year to break the school record for most dual-meet victories in a season. The team’s roster includes about 80 girls.
“Practice to start the year is always slow,” Roland said. “There are so many things to get organized the first week. Having patience, and understanding we are not trying to peak the first week of competition is important for all of us involved.”
Ankeny boasts a pair of returning state champions in senior Lauren Watson and junior Jammie Krah, as well as a former state champ in senior Hayden Bratland. Those three are all ranked No. 1 at their respective weights going into the season.
Watson posted a 37-6 record at 110 pounds as a junior, when she pulled off arguably the biggest upset in Iowa girls’ wrestling history in the finals. She pinned three-time defending champion Katie Biscoglia of Raccoon River Northwest in 43 seconds to win the title, becoming just the second girl ever and the first Iowan to beat Biscoglia.
Watson is a three-time qualifier and a two-time placewinner who owns a career record of 107-28. She will compete at 120.
Both Krah and Bratland will likely join Watson in the career 100-victory club sometime this winter.
Krah posted a combined 79-16 mark in her first two seasons at 145. She placed seventh as a freshman, then went 45-5 as a sophomore and turned in a dominating performance at state, where she recorded a pin and three technical falls to claim the title.
Krah will move down to 140 to accommodate the return of Bratland, who is expected to wrestle at 145. Bratland missed most of her junior season after suffering an elbow injury that required surgery during the Central Iowa Kickoff last November.
After placing third at the state tournament as a freshman, Bratland won a title in 2025. She boasts a career record of 89-5.
“Hayden is primed and ready to go!” Roland said. “She has had a tremendous offseason becoming a Fargo all-American and following that up with a top-eight finish at the Super 32 event (last month).”
Ankeny returns another two-time state qualifier in junior Karlie Kruse. She is ranked No. 5 at 125 after going 41-10 and placing sixth at that weight a year ago.
Aysia Moser, Aliayah Shade and Haley Togba are the team’s other returning state qualifiers. Zoe Sullivan was a state qualifier in 2025.
Togba went 31-15 and placed eighth at 140 as a sophomore. She is ranked No. 2 at 135.
Moser is ranked No. 5 at 190. She went 42-10 and placed seventh at 235 as a junior.
Shade is also back for her senior season after posting a 37-12 record at 170 a year ago. She is ranked No. 9.
Sullivan is ranked No. 12 at 115. Teammate Kaelynn Boston is No. 11 at 130.
“I think we have a few more girls that will find their way into the rankings by season’s end,” Roland said. “Hopefully, those who are in the preseason can perform at a level to stay there.”
Ankeny will open its season on Tuesday by hosting a double dual meet against Valley and Waverly-Shell Rock. The team will then compete in the Central Iowa Kickoff on Saturday at Nevada.
Roland said his squad isn’t the only one with championship aspirations in Class 2A.
“Algona returns two champions, two runners-up and another placewinner while ADM/Van Meter/Waukee/Waukee Northwest returns two champions and three other placewinners,” Roland said. “We return two champions, three placewinners and Hayden Bratland.
“It’s going to be a fun team race,” he added.
