K.J. Pilcher

The Cougars claimed 10 weights and defeated Iowa City Liberty, 54-21, in a boys wrestling dual Thursday night at Kennedy. Liberty won the girls’ dual, 62-18.

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

The Battle of Waterloo has been a marquee regular-season dual tournament and this year is no different with 21 ranked teams and 134 ranked individuals.

The Gazette sports writer K.J. Pilcher and Iowa wrestling legend Dick Briggs talk about all things Iowa high school and Iowa universities/colleges wrestling

Iowa State and Iowa remained at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, and UNI climbed to No. 12 in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association NCAA Division I dual rankings. American Rivers Conference well represented in NCAA D-III poll.

University of Northern Iowa dumped Missouri, proving that the McLeod Center is becoming a tough place for visitors to win. Upper Iowa’s Ethan Doty placed at the Midwest Classic. Seven Kohawks place at the North Central Invitational and high school results in the Wrestling Weekend That Was.

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.