K.J. Pilcher

Paustian’s effort has paid dividends in his first two weeks of high school competition. Paustian remained unbeaten, pinning Marion’s Lucas Stearns for the 150-pound title Saturday at the Mount Vernon Invitational.

University of Iowa won 16 of 20 matches and dominated University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, 37-6, and Utah Valley, 33-7, in Journeyman Wrestling’s “Uncivil War” on Friday night at Hannibal, Mo.

K.J. Pilcher talks with Dick Briggs about the Iowa wrestling from High School to college

Dean Peterson was a three-time NCAA qualifier for Rutgers. He transferred to the University of Iowa for his final season and has made an immediate impact at 125 pounds for the Hawkeyes.

Alburnett has been a power in Class 1A but has moved to 2A this season. The Pirates have competed with programs from all classes in recent years and will apply the same approach to this season.

Here are The Gazette’s initial 2025-26 area high school boys’ wrestling individual rankings.

Iowa State leads three state programs in the top 15 of the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association Coaches Poll. The Cyclones are third, Iowa is No. 4 and University of Northern Iowa is 15th.

Iowa State, University of Northern Iowa won tournaments last weekend. Iowa had four champions in Wisconsin. Competition for the boys’ high school season has started, while the girls’ season has hit full throttle, including the annual Dan Gable Donnybrook.All this and more in the Wrestling Weekend That Was.

Independence crowned three champions, receiving titles from Braylen Bieber and Carter Eddy to along with Carey’s 126-pound championship and the Mustangs finished third in the team race with 307 points Saturday at home.

Rettig’s persistent pursuit of peak production made him invaluable part in Iowa City Liberty football reaching new heights, advancing to the Class 5A state finals for the first time in school history.

Joe Hirsch placed fifth at the Class 3A state wrestling tournament last season. He entered this season with high expectations and is known for being all gas and no brakes. Hirsch opened the season in dominant fashion helping the Bobcats to a 46-34 win over Cedar Rapids Xavier.

Gazette sports writer K.J. Pilcher talks with Dick Briggs about the Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Iowa State match, the upcoming 2025-2026 season for Iowa, Iowa State and UNI as well as the upcoming 2025-2026 Iowa High School girls’ and boys wrestling season.

Starmont’s Keaton Moeller won the Class 1A 150-pound state title in 2024, but a torn ACL sidelined him last season. He has recovered and is ready for his senior campaign.

Here is a list of 20 wrestlers and seven teams to keep an eye on for the 2025-26 boys’ wrestling season.

Yonger Bastida provided the spark, Evan Frost and M.J. Gaitan fanned the flames and Rocky Elam closed Iowa State’s 20-14 victory over Iowa in the 89th meeting of the Cy-Hawk Series men’s wrestling dual Sunday at Hilton Coliseum in Ames.