Des Moines, IA- The first session of the 2025 Iowa Boys’ High School State Wrestling Tournament is in the books with the quarterfinals and first round of the consolation bracket set for Class 1A. Here’s a look at how our local wrestlers competed.
New London
126-Pound
The #19-seed Kane Foreseen started his day off with an upset by sudden victory over #14 Keyin Steeve of Nodaway Valley, thrusting the Tiger into a matchup with #3 Ryan Bahnson of West Lyon.
Bahnson would outduel the sophomore, picking up a 10-5 decision win, sending Foreseen to the consolation bracket. He will wrestle #20 Kimball Elliot of Lynnville-Sully tomorrow.
138-Pound
In an interview with KILJ, #13 Gage Burden said that making it to the state tournament is no longer enough in his senior season and that he wants to finish in the top 8. Burden got off to a hot start shutting out #20 Gavin Kishman of MFL MarMac by major decision.
Burden would parlay that victory with an upset over #4 Landon Price of GT/RA by an 11-6 decision. He will compete against #5 Dustin Van Oort of West Sioux in the quarterfinals tomorrow.
Van Buren County
106-Pound
#16 Leo Jirak started off his day defeating #17 Nathan Benedix of Woodbury Central by a narrow 5-2 decision margin. That win set up a matchup against #1 Kaiden Belinsky of Don Bosco, who sent Jirak to the consolation bracket after collecting a win by fall.
In the consolation bracket, Jirak will compete against #18 Truman Hogen of Central Springs.
WACO
106-Pound
#7 Ian Maize, in his freshman campaign, earned a first-round bye and utilized that opportunity with a victory over #10 Carter Hinz of Jesup by major decision. Maize will take on #2 Crosby Yoder of Logan-Magnolia in the quarterfinals.
120-Pound
In his senior season, #5 Gage Samo got a bye through the first round, which led to a matchup against #12 Tayler Kibbee of Janesville. Samo would handle business with a victory by major decision.
His opponent will be #4 Cooper Hinz of Jesup in the quarterfinal round tomorrow.
190-Pound
After finishing as the runner-up last season, #1 Louden Huisenga enters as the favorite with a perfect record on the season. Huisenga would start off his tournament run with a bye before collecting a 7-2 decision win over #16 Hayden Huen of Underwood to advance to the quarterfinals.
Huisenga will wrestle #8 Gabe Anderson of Hinton tomorrow with the winner to move on to the semifinals.
Wapello
138-Pound
#8 Cohen Wolford earned a first-round bye after winning his district championship. That extra rest allowed Wolford to pin #9 Chance Christensen of Riceville and advance to the quarterfinals.
Wolford will have the task of trying to end Dawson Youngblut of Don Bosco’s perfect season.
More
Stay tuned to KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, for live updates and wrap-up articles as we cover the 2025 Iowa Boys’ High School State Wrestling Tournament thanks to our local sponsors!