K.J. Pilcher

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.

Iowa has won the last 20 meetings and has a 19-0 record in the Cy-Hawk Series under Coach Tom Brands. Iowa State’s last win in the rivalry was 2004 and has never won the Dan Gable Traveling Trophy in 14 tries.

The 89th meeting between Iowa and Iowa State wrestling will be Sunday at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, beginning at noon on ESPN. The Hawkeyes are ranked third, while the Cyclones are sixth.

Coe advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time since 2016 and return to Bethel for the second straight year. Wartburg opened with a bye and hosts Wheaton. Drake gets rematch with South Dakota in the FCS playoffs and more. Here are five small college football storylines.

University of Northern Iowa’s Wyatt Voelker has made the jump from Big 12 Conference champion and NCAA qualifier at 197 pounds last season to starting heavyweight this season.

Iowa and Iowa State are set to meet for the 89th time Sunday at Hilton Coliseum in Ames. Here is a crude list of results from the first meeting during the 1911-12 season.

Iowa’s Gabe Arnold made the most of his opportunity in Iowa’s win over Pittsburgh. University of Northern Iowa squashed North Dakota State in its home opener Sunday. Coe crowned five champions at its annual Turkey Invitational and more in the Wrestling Weekend That Was.

Coe received two touchdown passes from Brady Kelly and two rushing scores from Tre’Sean Cunningham to dominate Concordia University of Wisconsin, 44-7, in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs Saturday at Mequon, Wis.

Iowa 197-pounder Massoma Endene posted a thrilling 5-4 win over Pittsburgh’s No. 4 Mac Stout and the Hawkeyes blanked the Panthers, 36-0, in a dual Friday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.

Coe has set a program record with three straight postseason appearances. The Kohawks open the NCAA Division III football playoffs at Concordia University on Saturday in Mequon, Wis.