LINDEN PHETXOUMPHONE OF WEBSTER CITY placed third at state in 2023 at 106 pounds in Class 2A. Phetxoumphone won his ‘Night of Conflict’ match. (DFJ file photo by Tyler Anderson)

After finishing his freshman campaign with a 40-3 record and third place overall in the Class 2A-106 lbs. bracket of the IHSAA State Wrestling Tournament, Webster City’s Linden Phetxoumphone had another chance to showcase his skills.

That opportunity came in the form of IAwrestle’s Night of Conflict, which took place this past Saturday at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center in Cedar Falls.

Representing IAwrestle’s red team, Phetxoumphone faced off against Jesup’s Cooper Hinz among a full slate of 20 matches. Coming off his freshman season, Hinz was fourth in the Class 1A-106 lbs. Bracket with a 35-7 record.

When the horn sounded at the end of the third period, Phetxoumphone came out with a 13-5 victory over Hinz. The major victory from Phetxoumphone helped lift the IAwrestle Red to a 55-26 triumph.

IAwrestle’s Night of Conflict is a semi-annual event that features top ranked wrestlers from the youth and high school levels. In the past, these events included athletes from Iowa and neighboring states and have rotated between several Iowa cities.

The Webster City wrestling program has had a history of sending grapplers to Night of Conflict, with Carson Doolittle taking part in the Sept. 24, 2022, event in Sioux City.

Phetxoumphone, the younger brother of two-time Webster City state champion Camron Phetxoumphone, fell in the quarterfinals at state before reeling off three consecutive victories to secure bronze. He took third with a 13-10 win over Klayten Perreault of Mount Vernon, following a pin of third-seeded Emmitt Newton of Davis County in the consolation semifinals.