High School Wrestling

Championship Saturday has a way of bringing out the best in the competition and southeast Iowa provided their absolute best for the 2025 Iowa Boys’ State Wrestling Tournament with 13 wrestlers finishing 3rd through 8th place, one wrestler claiming runner-up, and three champions being crowned. Here are some of the highlights.

The Southeast Conference had two wrestlers finish with the bronze medal as Fairfield’s Cael McCabe finished with a 7-1 decision victory over Kolbe Hanson in the 113-pound weight class and Aaron Boone of Washington grabbed a victory over Kaiden Parker of Oskaloosa with a 4-1 decision win. 

The Nikes had four wrestlers claim points in the early session with Blake Wilson claiming 4th place in the 165-pound weight class. 

The championship matches proved to be the most entertaining, starting with Class 1A’s 106-pound weight class’ WACO’s Ian Maize facing off against the #1-seed Kaiden Belinsky of Don Bosco as the freshman forced overtime against the Don. Unfortunately, Belinsky would claim the sudden victory as Maize finished the season with the silver and a 37-4 record.

In the 190-pound weight class, Louden Huisenga of WACO watched Gatlin Rogers of Wilton rattle off five consecutive points to take a 5 to 3 lead into the third period. Exhausted, the Warrior scored an escape and a late takedown to survive with a 7-6 decision victory. He finished his senior campaign with a 42-0 record and as a state champion.

In Class 2A, Burlington Notre Dame had two wrestlers competing for both an individual and a team championship. CJ Davis in the 126-pound weight class and Kaiden Dietzenbach of the 138-pound weight class each collected last second takedowns to win their respective state titles. The point totals allowed the Nikes to hoist their second team title in program history.

If you would like to see a full breakdown of all championship Saturday action, the follow the links below:

Morning and Afternoon Session: 3rd through 8th Place

Evening Session: Finals 

High School Boys’ Postseason Basketball

For Class 3A Substate 6, #8 Mt. Pleasant will hit the road to take on the #1-seed #3 Knoxville and #7 Fairfield will travel to #2 Mt. Vernon for their first round of postseason action tonight at 7 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call for the Panthers game with the pregame show at 6:45 pm.

For Class 1A Substate 4 District 8, Holy Trinity Catholic will face off against #10 Burlington Notre Dame for the district championship tomorrow, February 25th, at 7 pm at Central Lee. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 6:45 pm. Crusader head coach John Hellige discussed the upcoming matchup with the Nikes,

“We’re excited to play Notre Dame. It’s always a battle every year. This year we get to battle them three times, so you know, we’ll have the kids ready. Have them jacked up and see what happens down at Central Lee.”

For Class 2A Substate 5: District 9, #10 West Burlington will compete against Mid-Prairie for the district championship tomorrow at 7 pm at Mt. Pleasant High School.

High School Girls’ Postseason Basketball

In Class 2A Region 2, Danville will compete against #2 Regina Catholic on Wednesday, February 26th, at 7 pm at Muscatine High School for the regional championship. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 6:45 pm.

In Class 4A Region 4, Keokuk had Kendra Boatman put up 25 points as the team grabbed 12 steals but it was not enough to beat Clear Creek Amana, losing 65-60. The Chiefs finished the season with an 18-5 record. 

In the top half of the bracket, Burlington was outpaced by Central DeWitt 63-45. The Grayhounds ended the season with a 16-6 record. 

High School Bowling

The state bowling tournament will begin today in Waterloo. On the girls’ side, Keokuk will be competing as a team today, while Mt. Pleasant’s Madalyn Millard and Bethany Drury will bowl individually tomorrow, February 25th.

Southeastern Community College                                                     

The men’s basketball team will travel to Sauk Valley Community College on Wednesday, February 26th, at 7 pm.

College Basketball

The #8 Iowa State men’s team were unable to knock off #5 Houston over the weekend, losing 68-59. Milan Momcilovic scored 16 points in the losing effort. The Cyclones will play Oklahoma State tomorrow, February 25th, at 7 pm on the road.

The Iowa men’s team pulled away in the second half over the weekend to down Washington 85-79. Payton Sandfort put up 27 points as he drained 12 free throws to secure the win. The Hawkeyes will travel to Illinois tomorrow at 8 pm.

Two top ten opponents and two gut wrenching losses, as the Iowa women’s team fell to #3 UCLA yesterday 67-65. Lucy Olsen led the scoring effort with 17 points. The Hawkeyes will square off against Michigan on Wednesday, February 26th, at 6 pm on the road.

The Iowa State women’s team lost to #19 Baylor 67-52. Audi Crooks was the only Cyclone to finish the night in double figures with 14 points. Iowa State will take on UCF on the road tomorrow at 6 pm.

This Day in Sports History

1978 – Kevin Porter, NJ, sets a then-NBA record with 29 assists in a game.

1987 – LA Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scores his 36,000th NBA point in a 97-93 win over the Suns in Phoenix.

2013 – 55th Daytona 500: Jimmie Johnson wins his second Great American Race; Danica Patrick is the first female driver to start from pole position; also best-ever finish by a woman at Daytona (8th).

Des Moines, IA- Championship Saturday brings out the best in everyone and even your best might not be enough in an environment that the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines provides. Sometimes you just have to be clutch. Here’s how our local wrestlers competed.

Class 1A

106-Pound

What a match between WACO’s #7 Ian Maize and undefeated junior #1 Kaiden Belinsky of Don Bosco for the state championship. Belinsky drew first blood with a first-round takedown, but Maize would not be deterred, scoring himself a takedown a few minutes later.

The match slowed its pace as the two wrestlers jockeyed for position with Belinsky unable to escape Maize’s clutches, but the Warrior equally struggling to accomplish anything through the third period.

Therefore, the two had to battle it out in overtime, where Belinsky, as if he was shot out of a cannon, took Maize down to claim the sudden victory and the gold medal.

The freshman capped off an incredible season as the runner-up in the 106-pound weight class and a 37-4 record.

190-Pound

Only one loss over the past two years for WACO’s #1 Louden Huisenga, unfortunately, that one loss occurred at the state championship match last year. He had a chance to avenge that loss from a year ago, but #3 Gatlin Rogers of Wilton was not going to make it easy.

The Warrior started the scoring off with a takedown of Rogers for a 3 to 0 lead, but the Beaver went on a 5 to 0 run to claim a 5 to 3 lead to start the third period. The two were clearly exhausted after the first two periods, yet the two were prepared to go as long as it took to decide a champion.

Rogers appeared to be in control in the third round after a flashy slam, but Huisenga was able to wiggle out for a one-point escape to set the score 5 to 4 still in favor of Rogers. Running out of time and energy, Huisenga shot the leg of Rogers and took him down with just 17 seconds to go in the third period.

Rogers took 11 seconds too long to escape and Huisenga was able to stall to claim the gold with a 7-6 decision win.

Huisenga finished his senior campaign with a championship and a perfect 42-0 record.

Class 2A

126-Pound

#2 CJ Davis of Burlington Notre Dame finished in 4^th place last season and was hoping to provide some fireworks to end out his senior campaign. Entertainingly, there were fireworks in his match against #4 Carter Schmauss of Crestwood.

The underdog kicked off the scoring with a takedown and was able to extend his lead throughout the match with Davis lagging in the points department. As time continued draining from the third period clock, Davis found himself down 7 to 5.

Yet, it felt like the Nike was just waiting for the perfect time to strike and that was with 20-seconds remaining in the match as he managed to take down Schmauss and added a few more points to win by a 12-7 decision.

Davis provided a bit of flair after the match with a backflip to commemorate the state championship and provide an exclamation mark on his senior campaign. He ended the season with a 50-4 record.

138-Pound

It was the predicted outcome if you based your picks on the highest seeds, as #1 Landen of Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont was paired up with #2 Kaiden Dietzenbach of Burlington Notre Dame for the state championship.

Dietzenbach with a mantle full of medals as he has claimed 4^th place, 3^rd place, and 2^nd place in past tournaments was aiming for the one medal that has eluded his grasps. Davis certainly had a claim for it as well, losing only one match this year against Mt. Vernon’s Jase Jaspers, who won the title in Class 2A’s 144-pound weight class.

It was contentious match throughout as the two were scoreless through the first two periods. Davis broke the seal early in the third period, earning a point off an escape.

Yet, the Nikes must drill what to do in the clutch constantly as Dietzenbach nabbed a takedown of Davis with just 17 seconds in the period. The Rocket was able to grab a quick point with another escape, but Dietzenbach was able to stall for the final seconds and claim the gold on a 3-2 decision.

The senior finished the season as the state champion and with a 46-1 record for the season.

Full List of State Champions

Class 3A

106: Eddie Woody of Southeast Polk

113: Nico DeSalvo of Southeast Polk

120: Jake Knight of Bettendorf

126: Christian Castillo of Ames

132: TJ Koester of Bettendorf

138: Mac Crosson of Indianola

144: Justis Jesuroga of Southeast Polk

150: Justin Avila of Iowa City, West

157: Maximus Dhabolt of Ankeny Centennial

165: Jaxon Miller of Carlisle

175: Jacob Helgeson of Johnston

190: Asa Hemsted of Carlisle

215: Dreshaun Ross of Fort Dodge (3^rd in three years)

285: Cooper Martinson of Southeast Polk

Class 2A

106: Dylan Williamson of Van Meter

113: Urijah Courter of West Marshall

120: Brayden Bohnsack of Union

126: CJ Davis of Burlington Notre Dame

132: Jace Hedeman of Union

138: Kaiden Dietzenbach of Burlington Notre Dame

144: Jase Jaspers of Mt. Vernon

150: Shane Hanford of West Marshall

157: Brent Dennhardt of Greene County

165: Bo Koedam of Sergeant Bluff-Luton

175: Zayvion Ellington of Sergeant Bluff-Luton

190: Austin Scranton of Anamosa

215: Mason Koehler of Glenwood

285: Jaydn Cooper of Winterset

Class 1A

106: Kaiden Belinsky of Don Bosco

113: Hendrix Schwab of Don Bosco

120: Hayden Schwab of Don Bosco

126: Gavin Landers of Denver

132: Jayden Rinken of Nashua-Plainfield

138: Dawson Youngblut of Don Bosco

144: Blake Fox of Osage (3^rd in three years)

150: Corbin Reisz of Logan-Magnolia

157: Boden White of Denver

165: Kaiden Knaack of Don Bosco (3x Champ)

175: Kanen Decker of Wapsie Valley

190: Louden Huisenga of WACO

215: Ashton Honnold (2x Champion)

285: Trenton Warner of Nodaway Valley

Top Three Team Results

Class 3A

1. Southeast Polk: 259.5
2. Bettendorf: 142.5
3. Indianola: 127.5

Class 2A

1. Burlington Notre Dame: 129 (Second team title in four years)
2. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont: 107.5
3. Union: 103.5

Class 1A

1. Don Bosco: 225.5
2. Alburnett: 144.5
3. Wilton: 109

More

This wraps up KILJ’s coverage of the 2025 Iowa Boys’ High School State Wrestling Tournament and we would like to thank our sponsors for allowing us to cover all our local wrestlers!

Des Moines, IA- It’s championship Saturday for the 2025 Iowa Boys’ High School State Wrestling Tournament, a sacred day for many in the state of Iowa and a packed day of competition as the top eight for all 14 weight classes for the three classes are decided. Here’s a look at how our local wrestlers competed.

Class 3A

106-Pound

Burlington’s #2-seed Braxton Hutchinson started the day with a match against #4 Chase Watkinson of Prairie in the consolation semifinals and the Grayhound exited with the victory by a 6-2 decision, throwing him into the third-place match.

Hutchinson was presented a rare opportunity, a rematch against #7 Abe Heysinger of Dubuque Hempstead—the wrestler who knocked him into the consolation bracket. Unfortunately, the result was congruent with the first, a 1-0 decision win for Heysinger.

The Grayhound ended the year with a 42-6 record and 4^th place overall.

Class 2A

Burlington Notre Dame’s #6 Kohen Dietzenbach had the tough draw of facing off against #1 Coy Mehlert of Union in the consolation semifinals and was unable to execute the upset, losing by technical fall and being sent to the fifth-place bout.

Similarly, the Nike was unable to displace #2 Charlie Boelman of North Polk, falling by technical fall to take home 6^th place. Dietzenbach finished the year with a 44-7 record.

113-Pound  

In a local matchup, Fairfield’s #2 Cael McCabe was paired up #8 Rowan Berndt with the winner advancing to the bronze medal match. The Trojan would thump Berndt by technical fall to advance.

McCabe would parlay that victory into a 7-1 decision win over #7 Kolbe Hanson of Iowa Falls-Alden to claim 3^rd place. He ended the year with a 37-3 record.

Berndt was able to avenge his loss with a 10-4 decision victory over Bryce Oostenink of Sioux Center to take 5^th place. He ended the year with a 50-8 record.

120-Pound

Burlington Notre Dame’s #6 Colt Boyles competed against #4 Mitchell Schmauss of Crestwood in the consolation semifinals and fell to Schmauss by major decision, sending the Nike to the fifth-place match.

Awaiting him there was #5 Jon Gonzalez of West Marshall and Boyles did not miss out on his opportunity, winning by a narrow 5-3 decision to claim 5^th place. Boyles finished the season with a 46-9 record.

132-Pound

Washington’s #2 Aaron Boone was not going to let anyone stand in his way as he started off the day with a pin of #4 Steele Diercks of Assumption in the consolation semifinals. Boone only had #5 Kaiden Parker of Oskaloosa left to beat for third place.

In a difficult match, Boone was able to stave off Parker to pick up a 4-1 decision win and the bronze medal, collecting a 50-4 record for the season.

150-Pound

Burlington Notre Dame’s #7 Kael Cook had one match on the day, and it was a high-scoring affair that needed overtime to decide against #9 Aiden Hippen of Clear Lake. Aptly, the #7-seed Cook was the one who grabbed the sudden victory (15-12) to grab 7^th place for the tournament.

He ended the season with a 45-8 record.

157-Pound

#3 Cason Miller of Fairfield tangled #16 Hayden Schafer of Eagle Grove for 7^th place and it was the Trojan who grabbed the decisive victory by an 11-2 decision to finish the year with a 39-4 record.

165-Pound

Burlington Notre Dame’s #5 Blake Wilson paved his path to the third-place match after pinning #6 Degan Miller of Greene County within the first minute of the match. However, the battle for the bronze would not prove so easy.

#4 William Fullhart of Decorah pulled out with the 16-10 decision victory over the Nike. Wilson finished the year with a 44-7 record and 4^th place.

175-Pound

Lastly, #4 Kyler Crow of Mediapolis was unable to pick up the pieces after losing his semifinal matchup as he fell #2 Brock Mulder of Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley by technical fall in the consolation semifinals and #9 Braylen Bieber of Independence by a 12-8 decision to claim 6^th place.

The Bulldog finished his senior season with a 40-3 record.

Class 1A

120-Pound

#5 Gage Samo of WACO unfortunately finished the day 0-2 as he fell by two narrow decisions: 6-3 versus #11 Owen Henriksen of Alburnett and 3-0 against #3 Brock Shaha of Mount Ayr.

Samo finished the year in 6^th place and with a 38-5 record.

138-Pound

For his senior season and fourth trip to the state tournament, New London’s #13 Gage Burden wanted to finish in the top eight and he guaranteed that yesterday. In two tough matchups the Tiger would come up short, losing by fall against #6 Aiden Timm of Belle Plaine in the consolation semifinals.

In the fifth-place match, he was tasked to take on #5 Dustin Van Oort of West Sioux in a rematch from earlier in the tournament. Burden battled valiantly forcing overtime, but Van Oort would claim the match with a sudden victory.

Burden finished the season with a 43-9 record and 6^th place.

#8 Cohen Wolford of Wapello was looking for 7^th place in his matchup against #3 Gabriel Brisker of Wilton; nonetheless, Brisker was able to hold off Wolford to collect a 7-4 decision.

Wolford ended his sophomore campaign with a 38-8 record.

More

Stay tuned to KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, for the championship finals for the 2025 Iowa Boys’ High School State Wrestling Tournament as thank our local sponsors for helping us with our coverage!