Iowa high school state wrestling 2026 notes: Iowa City West’s Alexander Pierce attempts to become 4-time finalist

Iowa City West’s Alexander Pierce is made for big moments.

He just needed a little time to realize he belonged under the brightest spotlight. Oddly, Pierce has been a fixture on Iowa wrestling’s biggest stage, competing for a state title each of his first three years.

“I'm not scared of the spotlight,” Pierce said. “I want the big matches. Last year, and years before, I feel like I've been shy for those big matches and a little bit nervous. Almost not believing in myself, like made the moment too big, but I've grown my confidence since last year.”

Pierce is attempting to join select company at West, and in Iowa, with a chance to become a four-time finalist at the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 3A state wrestling tournament, beginning Wednesday at Casey’s Center in Des Moines.

"I'm excited,” Pierce said. “I got but two more matches guaranteed. Just going to take it one day at a time, but I'm super excited.”

Pierce (45-0) is the No. 2 seed at 126 pounds and earned a first-round bye, facing the winner between Norwalk’s No. 15 Asaiah Martinez-Ruiz and Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln’s No. 18 Gabe Showers. He has a chance to become Iowa’s 81st fourth-time state finalist and the fourth from West, joining Trojans Coach Nate Moore, four-time state champion Nick Moore and current Stanford All-American Hunter Garvin. Robert Avila was a four-time finalist, wrestling his final season at West.

“He's a competitor and we were all competitors,” Nate Moore said. “We just loved it. I think that's one of the biggest things with Alex is that he loves wrestling and he's a student of the sport. It's not just about winning a state title, or it's not just about this year's state title, this is just another step in his journey.”

Moore added, “If you’re wrestling Saturday night all four years of your high school career, you're pretty dang good. That's not common.”

The one that had the hardest time believing it was Pierce. He won the 106-pound title as a freshman but that wasn’t enough to convince him, even though he still managed runner-up finishes at 113 the last two seasons.

“Definitely a little bit of doubt,” Pierce said. “I got my hand raised in my fresh year. I got what I wanted, but my mentality was a little bit timid and nervous.

“I'm not going to go into this state tournament like this. I know how good I am and I just want to show everyone else.”

Moore said Pierce may have benefited from not knowing what to expect that first year. The pressure to defend a title may have had an impact as a sophomore. Last year, Pierce couldn’t find his offense in the final.

Pierce has had no issues with his aggressiveness and offense this season. He has posted bonus-point victories in all but two matches this season and only four total matches have lasted the full six minutes. Pierce has recorded 23 pins and 13 technical falls.

“I feel I’ve grown in my mentality and the way I treat every match,” Pierce said. “I feel like back then I was OK with winning by a few points or just getting my hand raised, but now I want to dominate people. I want maul people.”

Moore points to the details Pierce has addressed this season. The intricate aspects off the mat have made him even better on it. A sign of his dedication to being his best.

“His diet is on point,” Moore said. “This year was big with getting his sleep. Every little thing that you can dissect, he's starting to dissect.”

Pierce, who has signed with Northwestern University and plans to study business, isn’t content with just returning to state or wrestling on Saturday night again. He is focused on one step at a time, hoping it leads to the podium’s top step again.

“To win it you’ve got to get there first,” Pierce said. “I got to win my first match, then win my second one and got to win my third. I’m not going to be satisfied if I just make the finals. The goal is to dominate everyone through and through.”

Rate state combo for Zachar

Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Timmy Zachar qualified for the 3A state tournament at 190. The sophomore earned a runner-up finish at district hosted by Iowa City High. Zachar has won 16 matches and will wrestle Western Dubuque’s No. 10 Chase Brunscheen (27-6) in the first round.

Zachar might be one of a kind when it comes to his combination of all-state honors. In addition to securing his first state berth, he is a two-time all-state violinist, placing in the elite Violin I section of the Iowa High School Music Association all-state orchestra.

Kennedy Coach Nick LeClere said Zachar continues to improve.

“He snuck in half a season on JV (junior varsity) and then we took him to the Fort Madison tournament,” LeClere said. “He beat a guy on our team last year, who was our varsity guy, and then beat our varsity guy, actually. We’re like maybe we should be a little more serious with him.

“He’s got some freakish strength. He doesn’t show it, yet. He has amazing hips and he’s very strong.”

Lansing earns Springville’s 1st berth

Springville senior Luke Lansing won a district title Saturday at Lisbon and qualified as the No. 9 seed at 190 in 1A. The feat was notable because he became the Orioles very first state participant.

According to Activities Director Joe Martin, Springville had a program from the 1995-96 through the 2010-11 seasons. During that time, one wrestler qualified for district but never state.

The school shared a program with Central City and then Anamosa for a few years when they had students that wanted to wrestle.

The school reinstated its own program for the 2022-23 school year, which was Lansing’s freshman year.

Lansing owns a 34-12 record and opens South Hamilton’s No. 24 Parker Stuck. The winner will wrestle Central Springs’ No. 8 Lincoln Blickenderfer (36-6) in the second round.

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