Four Norwalk wrestlers qualified for the state meet by placing in the top three of Saturday’s Class 3A District Tournament at the Norwalk NPECC. Waukee Northwest won the nine-team district with 198 points. Norwalk placed seventh with 77.5.

Junior Victor Esparza placed first at 190 pounds for the Warriors, junior Blake Stanford placed second at 132, senior Asaiah Martinez placed third at 126 and senior Kale Wadle placed third at 150. Norwalk’s only other top-four place-winner was senior Madox Ward, who took fourth at 138.

Esparza went 3-0 at 190 and improved to 35-5 on the season. He will be making his third trip to the state meet and first as a district champion. Esparza trailed Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Louden Bloxham 11-0 in the first period of their championship match before rallying to win 21-15. Louden required injury time following an Esparza takedown late in the first period, and Esparza dominated the remainder of the match.

Stanford went 2-1 at 132 and will take a 36-15 record into his first state meet appearance. He clinched a state berth with his 5-3 semifinal win over Pella’s Brayden Sundby before losing in the championship round.

Martinez went 3-1 at 126 and improved to 25-9 on the season. He will be making his second trip to State. Following a semifinal loss, Martinez responded with a win by technical fall and a 9-0 major decision in his third-place match.

Wadle went 3-1 at 150 and will take a 26-14 record into his state meet debut. Wadle won his final two matches by 15-0 tech fall decisions.

Norwalk’s four state qualifiers will compete at the Casey’s Center in Des Moines, starting on Wednesday. Class 3A first round, second round and second round consolation matches will get underway at 4:00 p.m.