The 2026 Iowa High School Athletic Association state wrestling tournament has wrapped up after Saturday’s action, as class 1A state medals were earned by West Bend-Mallard senior Mason Knapp at 120 and freshman Hunter Lester at 106.
Lester started off Friday morning by punching his ticket to the semifinal round at 106. Lester, the number 4 seed, was victorious with a 6-1 decision over Lincoln Huck of Nashua-Plainfield. Lester talked about his execution in the win.
In the semifinal round, Lester ran into top-seeded Ty Martin from Don Bosco, who would defeat Lester 13-4. Lester got back on track with a pin in 2:43 in the consolation semis against Southeast Warren/Melcher-Dallas wrestler Hudson Cox, then matched up with Caleb Gordon of Jesup, who Lester had already beaten earlier in the tournament in the third place match. Lester would deliver another pin, this one in 3:55, locking up a spot on the state podium. Lester says beating Gordon earlier in the tournament provided a lot of confidence.
Wolverine Head Coach Payton Rice says it was a huge tournament for Lester.
At 120 pounds, West Bend-Mallard’s Mason Knapp was defeated by top seeded Kasen Lopez of West Sioux, who pinned Knapp in 3 minutes and 4 seconds. Knapp went to the consolation bracket, where he grabbed a 3-1 win over Mason Fogt of Hudson, securing a state medal.
Knapp was happy to secure a state medal after missing out on one last season at state.
After defeating Fogt, Knapp wrestled Saturday against Joe Hackett from Columbus Catholic, who defeated Knapp 17-11, then Knapp would lose by technical fall to Westwood’s Jesse Burton in the 7th place match to finish the tournament in 8th. Knapp felt like he ran out of gas by the end of the meet.
Rice felt that Knapp was a tone setter for the West Bend-Mallard program throughout his four years with the Wolverines.
In Friday’s class 2A session, it was a tough day for Algona, going 0-4 in the blood round, with Barrett Morgan at 150 and Carter McGregor at 157 both losing prior to the blood round. Morgan was defeated in a 13-3 major decision by Carter Jeffs of Ballard, while McGregor was pinned in 22 seconds by Gavin Knutson from Decorah.
At 175, Brody Shipler got an 8-3 decision over Brady Grier from Williamsburg to get to the blood round, but was knocked out by a 12-3 major decision against Brody Buhman of Davenport Assumption.
At 165, Taevyn Zinnel started the day with a 4-1 win over Layton Yager of Estherville Lincoln Central, but Zinnel would be pinned in 2:40 by Jacob McGargill of Shenandoah in his next bout.
At 215, Tayten Rummel was a winner by 17-1 tech fall over Austin Kleppe of New Hampton/Turkey Valley, but Rummel would be pinned in 3:29 in the blood round by Danny Small from Center Point Urbana.
Will Limbaugh wrestled at 285 in the quarterfinal round against Layne Kleppe from North Fayette Valley, were Limbaugh was pinned in 3:53. Limbaugh lost by fall in 3:02 in the consolation round to Gavin Holt from Carroll, as Algona would be shut out of any state medals.
Algona Coach Cody Alesch says Algona was struggling with illness heading into state.
Alesch felt the Algona wrestlers battled hard, but ran out of gas by the end.
In spite of a tough day for Algona, Alesch is encouraged by the returning talent and experience for next season.
