Washington junior Trey Van Weelden (left) hand fights Mount Pleasant’s James DeMeyer during a Southeast Conference grapple January 14. Photo by KCII’s Nate Gonner.

Fresh off qualifying the team for the state dual tournament, 10 members of the No. 7 Washington Demon wrestling tried to clinch a spot in this week’s. The Demons were paired in the Class 2A District 4 tournament at Clear Creek Amana High School Saturday afternoon against wrestlers from Mid-Praire, Columbus-Winfield-Mount Union, Benton, Center Point-Urbana, Clear Creek-Amana, Fairfield, Mediapolis, Vinton-Shellsburg, West Burlington/Notre Dame/Danville, and Williamsburg.

A trio of juniors and one freshman have qualified to grapple on the state’s biggest stage as individuals, including Andrew Waite (JR;126), Austin Hazelett (JR; 138), Trey Van Weelden (JR; 152), and Tristan Westphal-Edwards (FR; 160). Waite and Van Weelden made the state tournament last season, while Hazelett and Westphal-Edwards clinched spots for the first time.

Waite won his semifinal match by decision (2-1) versus Vinton-Shellsburg’s Navon Dunlap. He dropped the district championship match by fall (1:08) against Center Point-Urbana’s Brock Rathbun, who is undefeated in 44 bouts this season.

Hazelett won his district opening match by decision (14-12) over Center Point-Urbana’s Alex Crandall. He dropped the championship match to Mediapolis’s Brendan Swafford by fall (1:08).

Van Weelden won his semifinal bout by major decision (11-0) versus Clear Creek Amana’s David Jensen. For the third time in a week, he conquered Williamsburg’s Colton Lewis to a decision win (6-1) in the championship match of the 152 pound weight class.

Westphal-Edwards battled Williamsburg’s Cavin Malloy for nearly three periods before winning their semifinal bout by fall with six seconds remaining in the match. Washington’s freshman won a 4-3 decision versus’s Malloy in the final match of Tuesday’s regional dual championship. Westphal-Edwards dropped the title match by sudden victory (5-3) versus Union-LaPorte City’s Isaiah Vaughan.

Freshman Garrett Ikerd (106), junior Kyle Anderson (132), senior Michael Ellingson (145), and junior Karlton Skuball each finished the district tournament in third place. Freshman David Hora (120) and sophomore Mitchell Huseinga (285) also qualified for the district tournament, taking fourth place in their weight classes.

The four state qualifiers will participate in Thursday’s opening round of the 2016 Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.