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 4th 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 4th place, 3rd place, and 2nd 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 (3rd 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 (3rd 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
- Southeast Polk: 259.5
- Bettendorf: 142.5
- Indianola: 127.5
Class 2A
- Burlington Notre Dame: 129 (Second team title in four years)
- Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont: 107.5
- Union: 103.5
Class 1A
- Don Bosco: 225.5
- Alburnett: 144.5
- 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!