K.J. Pilcher

The third Soldier Salute will be held Sunday and Monday at Xtream Arena in Coralville. The event has grown and improved from the inaugural competition. The men’s and women’s tournament mesh college wrestling with support of Armed Services.

The first half of the high school boys’ wrestling season is complete. Wrestlers have just five weeks before the postseason. Teams and individual performances have highlighted the opening weeks. Here are five notable performances before the holiday break.

The Battle of Waterloo didn’t disappoint and Alburnett left with a runner-up finish to Class 3A power southeast Polk. Iowa State competed at the Collegiate Duals. Cornell, Luther impressed at the Gator Boots Duals in Tennessee and more in the Wrestling Weekend That Was.

The former Solon prep has thrived in his final season with the Bison, earning Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors and being one of the top-three finalists for the Walter Payton Award as the top FCS player.

Strategy pays dividends for Lions, who win the last four weights for 41-35 come-from-behind dual victory over the Trojans. Linn-Mar’s Malik DeBow posts comeback win in battle of state tournament participants.

The Pinning Combination podcast with The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher and hall of fame coach Dick Briggs welcomes University of Northern Iowa Coach Doug Schwab. The trio talks about the Panthers’ strong start to the season, the Panthers’ culture and Schwab’s family experiences. The podcast concludes with a look at the past weekend of college and high school results and the upcoming schedule.

Former West Delaware Coach Jeff Voss will be inducted into the Battle of Waterloo Hall of Fame, while his son, Jake, has taken the reins of the program, competing in a bracket named after the former head coach.

Iowa State has held a notable dual in Humboldt, which is the hometown of head coach Kevin Dresser. This year, they held their Big 12 Conference opener there Sunday. Iowa women crown three champions at North Central Open, Iowa men land a top recruit and an ice storm limited high school action in the Wrestling Weekend That Was.

Mikey Ryan won the only match between ranked wrestlers, helping Mount Vernon beat Clear Creek Amana, 49-24, in a boys’ wrestling dual Thursday at Mount Vernon. The Mustangs’ girls’ wrestling team completed the sweep with a 48-18 dual win over the Clippers.

The Pinning Combination podcast with The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher and hall of fame coach Dick Briggs breakdowns UNI and Iowa State’s performance in Las Vegas and Iowa’s wrestling programs’ dominance in Missouri. They also discuss last weekend’s highlights from the high school season.

Coaches react to some new rules introduced for the 2024-25 high school wrestling season. Mount Vernon crowned four champions at Cardinal Classic in Newton. Jesup off to strong dual start.

Class 1A second-ranked Alburnett had a dual win over No. 3 Wilton when Cooper Franklin took the mat in the finale. He closed the night with a 5-0 decision over No. 2 Gabriel Brisker at 138 pounts Tuesday night at Alburnett. The Pirates won, 38-22.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association announced Tuesday that Sioux City and Carroll will host state baseball tournaments in 2025. Sioux City welcomes Class 4A and 3A, while Carroll will be the site for Class 2A and 1A through 2028.

UNI’s Parker Keckeisen struck more gold, winning his third straight title at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. Iowa men and women dominate in Missouri. Upper Iowa remains unbeaten, standouts from the Dan Gable Donnybrook and more in the Wrestling Weekend That Was.

Rayce Heitman of Williamsburg is the 2024 Gazette area football Player of the Year.