K.J. Pilcher

Iowa City West Diego Robertty and Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Louden Bloxham were victorious in semifinal bouts at the Class 3A state wrestling tournament Friday night at Casey’s Center in Des Moines.

Jesup’s Cooper Hinz waited a whole year to overturn an obstacle that turned him away a year ago. The four-time state medalist advanced to his first finals match, beating West Lyon’s Ryan Bahnson in the 132 semifinal of the Class 1A state tournament Friday at Casey’s Center.

Cascade’s Bryce Carroll beat Fort Dodge St. Edmond’s Matthew Crimmins in the 144-pound quarterfinal to earn his first medal Friday at the Class 1A state wrestling tournament. He has been inspired by his dad, Bob, who was diagnosed with cancer last year.

Lisbon senior advanced to the 126-pound semifinals, securing his first top-six finish at the Class 1A state wrestling tournament Friday at Casey’s Center.

Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Louden Bloxham suffered a leg injury that kept him off the mat up to a month of the state tournament. He turned the hurt into hardware with a win in the 190-pound quarterfinal of the Class 3A state wrestling tournament Thursday at Casey’s Center ini Des Moines.

Starmont’s Keaton Moeller won a state title two years ago but missed his junior season due to injury. He has waited two years for a chance at another title and opened the Class 1A state wrestling tournament with a pin Thursday at Casey’s Center in Des Moines.

Iowa City West freshman Diego Robertty needed just 43 seconds for a pin in his Class 3A state wrestling tournament debut Wednesday at Casey’s Center in Des Moines. He has carried on the family tradition that includes two Olympian parents.

The Gazette sports writer and Iowa wrestling legend Dick Briggs talk about Iowa wrestling from college to high school

Alburnett’s Eaghan Fleshman experienced the death of his father, Michael, in November. He carries a shirt with him that his dad wore to remind him of the lesson he learned from his dad. Fleshman has handled the adversity and is the top-seeded heavyweight in Class 2A state wrestling tournament.

Iowa City West’s Alexander Pierce won a state tournament as a freshman and back-to-back runner-up finishes the last two seasons. He is the No. 2 seed at 126 pounds and will attempt to become a four-time state finalist at the Class 3A state wrestling tournament in Des Moines.

Here are five storylines to follow during the 2026 Iowa High School Athletic Association traditional state wrestling tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Here is a breakdown, including top qualifiers, synopsis and predictions, of each class at the Iowa High School Athletic Association state wrestling tournament Wednesday through Saturday at Casey’s Center in Des Moines.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association state wrestling tournament is Wednesday through Saturday at Casey’s Center in Des Moines. Action starts with Class 3A Wednesday afternoon and 1A and 2A will begin Thursday.

The brackets have been released and here are the first-round pairings for Gazette area wrestlers in all three classes. The Class 3A state tournament begins Wednesday, while 1A and 2A start Thursday at Casey’s Center in Des Moines.

Seventh-ranked Iowa won eight matches, receiving a technical fall from Drake Ayala and a pin from Harveey Ludington, and defeated Purdue, 32-6, in its conference dual finale Sunday in West Lafayette, Ind.