North Tama’s 2025 boys wrestling state qualifiers pictured on Saturday, Feb. 15, in Jewell at South Hamilton High School following the completion of the Class 1A District 9 tournament including (from left) runner-up Max Monat (113) and district champion Kolt Knaack (150). Knaack is now North Tama’s first four-time state wrestling qualifier. PHOTO COURTESY OF KOLT KNAACK

JEWELL – For the second-consecutive year, North Tama’s Kolt Knaack and Max Monat qualified for the boys wrestling state tournament with top-two finishes at the Class 1A District 9 meet at South Hamilton High School in Jewell last Saturday.

It was a particularly exceptional day for fourth-ranked Knaack who not only celebrated his birthday on Saturday but also set a new North Tama record.

“It was a good 18th birthday gift for Kolt to win the district tournament and become North Tama’s first four-time state qualifier,” head coach Andrew Knaack told the newspaper of his senior student-athlete and eldest son.

Knaack triumphed as the 150-pound champion by pinning Pocahontas Area’s William Lawson, ranked 10th, in 56 seconds to return to the state meet at 44-0.

Monat, a junior, was the runner-up at 113 pounds, losing by fall in the title match to top-ranked Hendrix Schwab of Don Bosco but advancing to state by rule with no wrestleback.

“I am happy for those two guys who have the chance to reach their goals,” Coach Knaack said. “Max is making his second trip with plans to be on the podium this time around.”

While reveling in the success of his two returning state qualifiers, Coach Knaack made sure to mention those Redhawk grapplers who also put in the work but came up just short including junior Drayke Dvorak and senior Gavin Rausch; both finished third at 126 and 144 pounds, respectively.

“It is a day of weddings and funerals. Heartbroken and proud of Gavin! The kid dislocated his elbow four weeks ago. He went out there and competed with little practice and got third. Proud of him – that took guts,” Coach Knaack said. In regard to Dvorak, he added, “Drayke also got third and wrestled well in a tough bracket.”

As a sophomore, Knaack placed fifth at the 2023 state tournament, while taking sixth last year as a junior. Earlier this month on Saturday, Feb. 8, he won Iowa Star Conference gold at the conference meet held at Rockford High School.

The 2025 IHSAA State Traditional Tournament is scheduled to begin this Wednesday and last through Saturday, Feb. 22, at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines with the finals for all classes set for Saturday evening beginning at 5:15 p.m.

Knaack begins his final state tournament seeded fourth with a first-round bye, and is set to take on either Lawson or Westwood’s Jeremiah Berg in a second-round match Wednesday afternoon.

Also on Wednesday, Monat is set to face Central Springs’ Lane Knudson in a 113-pound first-round match.

The Telegraph will feature coverage from the state tournament in next week’s edition.