Starmont’s Keaton Moeller posted an undefeated season and capped it with his second state title, earning The Gazette’s Wrestler of the Year honors. Decorah Coach Jordan Thompson named The Gazette Coach of the Year.
Vinton-Shellsburg’s Chloe Sanders pretty much did it all this season. She became the state’s all-time wins leader and was the first female wrestler to get over 200 career wins. She won her and her school’s first state title in girls wrestling.
The Gazette sports writer K.J. Pilcher and Iowa wrestling legend Dick Briggs talks Iowa college and high school wrestling
Starmont’s Keaton Moeller dominated. Jesup’s Cooper Hinz came through in the clutch. Both won Class 1A state wrestling titles Saturday night at Casey’s Center in Des Moines.
And then, fittingly, there were two still standing in 2A: Alburnett’s top-seeded Eaghan Fleshman and Solon’s second-seeded Lucas Feuerbach — until Fleshman stuck a takedown in overtime to mine gold, 4-1, Saturday night at the Iowa High School Athletic Association state wrestling meet at the Casey’s Center.
Photos from the Class 1A, 2A and 3A championship matches during the 2026 IHSAA boys’ state wrestling tournament at the Casey’s Center in Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
Iowa City West’s Diego Robertty reached the championship match in his first opportunity and Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Louden Bloxham made a run to the title bout in his last chance. Both finished as state runners-up at the Class 3A state wrestling tournament Saturday at Casey’s Center in Des Moines.
Saturday night at the Casey’s Center, all of that work paid, Parmater outlasted Solon’s second-seeded Anderson Osgood, 4-0, flexing and smiling as the Vikings’ fans showered his with cheers and applause.
Mehlert struck for three near-fall points in the first tiebreaker to beat North Polk’s Charlie Boelman, 7-4, and grasp gold at the Iowa High School Athletic Association state wrestling meet Saturday just as his dad did 26 years ago.
Blake Williams has been blessed with all three as a competitor at Decorah and Wartburg, and a 400-plus win head coaching career at Solon and Cedar Rapids Prairie.
Photos from the Class 1A, 2A and 3A semifinals during the 2026 IHSAA boys’ state wrestling tournament at the Casey’s Center in Des Moines, Iowa on Friday, February 20, 2026.
These wounds matter. These nicks, cuts and abrasions are fully earned. And all Mount Vernon’s top-ranked and unbeaten 157-pound senior needed to do to reveal their deeper meaning was calmly raise his forefinger to indicate there’s merely one more match to win to finally join two of his older brothers as a state champion.
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.
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