Fareway Stores, Inc., IAwrestle, and Iowa Corn present the Dan Gable Ms. and Mr. Wrestler of the Year awards in coordination with the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (IWCOA).

The IWCOA accepted nominations from high school coaches for student-athletes in each of the three state wrestling classes for the men (1A, 2A, and 3A) and two classes for the women’s award (1A and 2A) regardless of their year in school and weight class. A committee selected by the IWCOA recently provided IAwrestle with a list of 15 finalist candidates for public input.

Solon senior Kara VeDepo is a Class 1A contender.

Fans can vote once per list at Facebook.com/IAwrestle for their favorite wrestler in each category now through Sunday, Feb. 9, when the list will be narrowed to the top-seven. The next round of voting, from Monday, Feb. 10-Sunday, Feb. 23, will determine the top-three finalists, with the winner announced at the banquet on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 11:30 a.m.

The fan vote will count as ONE vote toward the IWCOA’s committee votes in EACH round. For example, Wrestler A received enough fan votes to place second in the poll, but that does not guarantee them to move on to the next round. IWCOA has selected 12 coaches and officials to serve on the committee. The fan vote is the 13th vote.

Dan Gable, Mark Ironside, and Alex Marinelli will be our special guests handing out awards.

The two runner-up students in each class will each receive finalist award plaques. A duplicate Wrestler of the Year trophy and duplicate Wrestler of the Year runner-up plaques will be provided to each high school where finalists attend for permanent placement in the high school trophy case.