The Gazette’s 2025-26 All-Area boys wrestling team

Keaton Moeller waited in the tunnel off the Casey’s Center arena floor.

The Starmont senior paced lightly as he prepared to take the mat for his final high school match. Moeller looked up, flashing a giant smile when he spotted his image on the overhead video board.

The moment embodies the perpetual positivity Moeller applies to every task in his life.

“I always tell people if you’re not smiling, you’re not living — not living in the moment,” Moeller said. “Just appreciating everything that you have.”

As fitting as his pre-match grin was, his celebration was just as apropos. It was simple and subtle, displaying his humility and gratitude.

“I’m going to hug my family,” said Moeller, who embraced his parents, Ian and Kristi, after his championship performance. “That’s it.”

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Moeller’s determination and faith-based optimism helped him produce one of the best careers in school history. He overcame devastating injury and closed his career with the perfect season, dominating his way to the Class 1A 190-pound title at the boys wrestling state tournament last week. Moeller was named The Gazette’s Boys Wrestler of the Year.

“I was telling (Starmont Coach) Jake (Munger) right before I walked out you live for moments like these,” Moeller said after his 21-6 technical fall over Nodaway Valley’s second-seeded Caleb Christensen. “If you’re going to be in the moment, regardless, you have to decide whether you’re going to capitalize on that and take is as a good or stress out to the max and want it to be over.

“I’m just so grateful for, not even just the outcome but, the chance to be here, toeing the line and giving God all the glory.”

He became the third Starmont wrestler to win multiple state titles and the first since Kent Streicher won his third crown in 1989. He isn’t concerned with entering elite company or awards. He aspires to have an influence beyond wins and losses.

“I’m going to be honest,” said Moeller, who signed to wrestled for University of Northern Iowa and Coach Doug Schwab. “I could care less about who I’m joining or what accolades I have. I think everybody’s given a platform of some sort and I want to use my platform to make an impact, to make a difference.

“I want to be the good everybody wishes to see in the world. I want to be kind. I want to love because why not?”

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Moeller has made an indelible impact on the Stars program and the school, in general. He is well-rounded, standing out in wrestling, football and track. Moeller also serves as Student Body President, is a mentor to younger students and was the recipient of the Iowa Bankers Association’s Student Athlete Achievement Award for excelling in athletics, academics and community service.

“We’re a small school in the middle of corn fields in the middle of nowhere,” Munger said. “The image he left for our young kids. He talked to them for 20 minutes (Thursday) about believing in your dreams. He’s mature beyond his years with the way he talks to people and his way of thinking.”

Munger said three words that describe Moeller are love, loyalty and leadership. He said Moeller showed true affection for his community, school, teammates, coaches and classmates. Munger admitted he could have transferred to bigger programs but remained to achieve his goals. Others gravitate to Moeller’s personality, making him a natural leader.

“He’s a role model to everybody,” Munger said. “It’s hard to describe it.”

Moeller endured the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, scaling the peaks of success and emerging from the valley of disappointment.

The three-time state medalist placed third as a freshman and claimed the 150-pound title as a sophomore. But he had to wait about two years before getting another shot.

Moeller missed all last season due to an injury suffered in the opening game of his junior football season. The torn anterior cruciate ligament caused him to miss the rest of football and his entire wrestling season.

The reality was hard to accept at first, hitting him hard. He started to accept the situation and devoted his effort to make the best of the situation, which led him back to the top of the state podium.

“I’m beyond grateful,” Moeller said. “The more grateful I can be the more abundance I have.”

Moeller settled to help teammates as he rehabbed his knee. He stayed involved and shared his knowledge but it stung being a supporter and not a competitor in 2025.

“It lights a fire under you to see kids here that you beat, getting that chance and you’re not,” Moeller said. “You have to trust God’s plan than more than you trust your own plan because He knows a lot better than we do ourselves.”

Opponents paid for it this season. Moeller manhandled foes, going 43-0 with 20 pins, 15 technical falls and 1 major decision. His relentless attack yielded 151 takedowns without surrendering a single offensive point.

His aggressive and dynamic ability on the mat with his humility and mild-manner behavior off it create a unique duality. Munger described him as vicious in competition but a caring and genuine person otherwise.

“He’s the ultimate competitor,” Munger said. “It doesn’t matter what he does. You don’t see that every day.”

Moeller’s state tournament run consisted of two pins and two technical falls, lasting a total of 5:52. He outscored those opponents by a combined 60-16.

“I can give a lot of credit to my coaches for putting me in a position that they have,” Moeller said, “giving me the faith and confidence in myself that if we’re dropped (in) deep (water) that I can swim.”

Moeller finished with a 128-4 record, ending with a 79-match win streak. He won 93 of his last 94 bouts. He faced adversity and returned stronger than ever.

“I think he really grew as a person and how much the sport really means to him after missing it for a year,” Munger said. “True gratefulness, loving and embracing the grind because it can be taken away from you in an instant. I think that really hits home with him. He took advantage of every opportunity he had, whether it was extra hard at night at home on his own or pushing extra hard in practice.

“He set little goals every day and achieving them gave him confidence to do what he did this season.”

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Coach of the Year: Decorah’s Jordan Thompson

Jordan Thompson’s vision didn’t necessarily include coaching.

He wanted to remain connected to wrestling and pay forward all the skills and lessons he learned during his life competing in the sport. Just so happens, coaching turned out to be the perfect avenue to do it.

“Being a part of the sport and giving back to the sport that has given me so much was something I absolutely knew I needed to do,” Thompson said. “It’s something that I am passionate about and that I love. Coaching is a way I’ve found I’m best at doing that.”

In his attempt at giving back, Thompson has helped provide Decorah with its first state team title and first State Duals runner-up finish since 1996. Thompson was named The Gazette’s Boys Wrestling Coach of the Year.

“It was a big season for the guys,” Thompson said. “It was huge to bring something home for the wrestling community here in Decorah. Hopefully, keep them alive for next year.”

Thompson is an Alabama native, who arrived in Decorah to wrestle at Luther. He entrenched himself in the area after graduation, serving as head coach for the Vikings girls’ program for one year. He is in his third season, leading the boys program.

His approach has been a convergence of fierce and fun. Making things hard enough for the wrestlers to embrace the grind of wrestling and finding the proper moments to appreciate the effort. The goal is to instill toughness, so the end of the season is as easy as possible.

“It’s a long sport, a hard sport (and) a sport that beats your body down,” Thompson said. “It’s a good mix of hard work and finding a way to enjoy that hard work.”

Thompson has benefited from successful coaching influences. He wrestled for longtime Norse Coach Dave Mitchell and coached with former Decorah state champion and head coach and former Iowa Hawkeye Lee Fullhart.

“Dave Mitchell is a fantastic guy and wonderful coach,” Thompson said. “He’s a wonderful human. He’s a good person and a good coach. He’s helped me a lot, starting my career.

“Lee’s been invaluable to be able to call upon and ask questions of someone with his level of wrestling knowledge.”

Coaching is not a one-man endeavor. Thompson was quick to praise his assistants, including lightweight coach Lee Meirick and upper weight coach Logan Kennedy, who also managed trackwrestling.com for the program, allowing Thompson to focus on other coaching duties.

The school devoted more to the staff, growing to three full-time assistants and three part-time coaches.

“They’ve been fantastic,” Thompson said. “Having those assistants in the right place doing the right things was great.”

The Vikings finished the season with a 22-4 dual record, reaching the Class 2A State Duals finals for the first time in 30 years. Decorah followed that up with 11 qualifiers and seven state medalists at the 2A traditional state tournament.

William Fullhart led the way with a runner-up finish at 165 pounds. Senior Thomas Sexton (190) was third, while Mason Avila (132) and Grant Knutson (150) placed fourth. Kasen Tyler (175), 138-pounder Will Larson and Edisen Fullhart (106) were fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively.

The Vikings amassed 131 points, tying Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont for the team title. It was their best traditional state finish since a 3A runner-up finish since 1999.

“We had a good idea this was going to be a good team and we were going to have good teams coming up after this. We kept building on it and kept pressing.

“We knew if we put in the right amount of work, stayed healthy and did all the right things we would have a pretty good end of the season.”

2025-26 Gazette All-Area Boys Wrestling Team

106 pounds — Jackson Parmater, soph., Vinton-Shellsburg: Won the school’s second state title, claiming the Class 2A title with a 38-2 record with 30 bonus-point wins including 22 pins.

co-113 — Coy Mehlert, jr., Union Community: Became a three-time state medalist, earning 2A crown with a 47-3 record; Diego Robertty, fr., Iowa City West, finished second in 3A with a 38-2 mark with 25 pins and 10 technical falls.

120 — Ayden Bergman, sr., Jesup: Placed third in 1A, becoming a three-time state medalist, posted 50-3 record with 37 pins and eight technical falls.

126 — Alexander Pierce, sr., Iowa City West: Placed third place in 3A with 49-1 record, 24 pins, 15 technical falls and two majors, four-time state medalist and three-time finalist and 2023 state champion.

132 — Cooper Hinz, sr., Jesup: Captured 1A state title with a 55-1 mark, finished with 29 pins and 11 technical falls, amassed 159 career victories, University of Michigan signee.

138 — Tegan Ray, sr., Linn-Mar: Placed fifth in 3A with 42-5 record, tallied 21 pins, nine technical falls and four major decisions, Mississippi Valley Conference champion.

144 — Owen Henriksen, soph., Alburnett: State runner-up in 2A with a 51-4 record, 26 pins, nine technical falls and four major decisions, two-time state medalist.

150 — Chance Hoyt, jr., Iowa Valley: State runner-up in 1A, two-time state medalist, finished with 48-6 record, tallying 32 pins and four major decisions.

157 — Mikey Ryan, sr., Mount Vernon: 2A state runner-up, Mustangs’ all-time wins leader with 182, third four-time state medalist in school history, went 47-1 with 23 pins, seven techs and seven majors.

165 — William Fullhart, jr., Decorah: State runner-up in 2A with 41-7 mark, posted 36 bonus-point wins with 18 pins and 14 technical falls, two-time state medalist, placing third as a sophomore.

175 — Barrett Mieras, jr., Linn-Mar: Finished third in 3A with a 31-3 record, amassed 19 pins, six technical falls and three major decisions, MVC champion.

190 — Keaton Moeller, sr., Starmont: Captured 1A state crown with 43-0 mark, 20 pins and 15 technical falls, three-time state medalist, two-time state champion, won his last 79 matches, UNI signee.

215 — Braxton Plants, sr., Montezuma: Finished third in 1A with a 59-2 record, set a school single-season record for wins, notched 39 pins and four technical falls, South Iowa Cedar League champion.

285 — Eaghan Fleshman, soph., Alburnett: Claimed 2A state championship with a 55-2 record, posted 36 pins, two technical falls and one major, two-time state medalist.

Wrestler of the Year — Moeller, Starmont

Coach of the Year — Jordan Thompson and staff, Decorah

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com