By Becky Walz,
Day one of the 2025 Iowa High School wrestling championships with four area wrestlers still on track to the top of the podium.
Class 1A
Class 1A South Winn hit the mats first Wednesday afternoon and posted 7.5 points among its three grapplers.
With a first-round bye for Kyle Kuboushek at 165 pounds, it was Landen Schnuelle who saw action first and snared the 1-0 decision over Leren Fernandez of Iowa City Regina with a second period escape. Fight as he may in the quarterfinal versus No. 2 Creighton Kelly of West Hancock, Schnuelle couldn’t get points on the board, falling into the consolation bracket by a 13-0 major decision.
Schnuelle now looks to battle his way through the back side of the bracket starting with Jackson Pfrang (25-10) of AC/GC Thursday afternoon.
First time state qualifier Ray Lienau had a rematch of the district final in his first round against 214-pound Donavon Farrell of Denver with the same result – a loss. Lienau earned his four points on a trio of escapes and a stalling call against Farrell, falling 15-4.
Still looking for a medal, Lienau will face No. 7 Carson Edney (26-2) of Logan Magnolia in the consolation bracket.
After sitting for the first round of the 165-pound bracket, fifth-ranked Kuboushek dominated Mason Allen of Central Decatur in the 17-2 tech fall to advance to the quarterfinal.
Thursday afternoon Kuboushek will battle No. 4 Quinn McGeough (40-2) of MFL MarMac in the quarterfinal.
Decorah at night
The Vikings are currently tied for 14th place with 21.5 points with three of its matmen still in the title hunt.
Wrestling at 126 pounds, 10th-ranked Gavin Knutson had no trouble in his first match defeating Owen Nepple of Kuemper Catholic 11-2. It was just the reverse in round two against No. 5 Adrian Phetxoumphone of Clarion-Goldfield-Dows) who sent the Viking to the consolation bracket with a 17-2 tech fall.
As the sophomore looks to get on the medal stand, he will open Thursday’s competition against Brody Olson (37-11) for Estherville Lincoln Central.
Opening his inaugural state meet, 144-pound Kasen Tyler, ranked No. 12, overwhelmed Winterset’s Gavin Day 21-9, picking up four takedowns in the first period alone. Tyler struggled to get control of his second-round match against Aiden Smith of Atlantic, dropping to the backside of the brackets on a 16-6 decision.
Tyler will start day two of the tournament on the mat with Jaymes Stevens (25-20) of Hampton-Dumont-CAL.
Decorah’s other four grapplers had first round byes with Mason Avila starting the second round at 132 pounds with a fall in 5:20 over CJ McGregor of Algona.
Thursday’s quarterfinal will pit No. 2 Avila against eight-ranked Humboldt’s Cyler Cirks (31-8).
Junior Will Larson also had a first-round bye before stepping up to battle No. 9 Jacob Harrison of Ballard. Trailing 3-2 after the first period, the eighth-ranked Viking battle back in the second to lead 5-4 heading into the third but gave up a nearfall to drop the match 8-5.
Larson is set to face Jordan Meling (30-15) of East Marshall/GMG Thursday in the consolation bracket.
At 165 pounds, Ethan Prior of Williamsburg proved to be no obstacle for No. 7 Viking William Fullhart who advanced to the quarterfinal round with a 19-4 tech fall.
Now Fullhart is set to take the mat against No. 5 Blake Wilson (40-5) of Burlington-Notre Dame as he looks to roll into the medal position.
Decorah junior Tommy Sexton, ranked fifth, not only received the first-round bye and second round win, it was also his 100th career win. Trailing 3-1 after the opening two minutes, Sexton stepped up his game with a pair of takedowns in the second to lead 7-5. He put an exclamation point on the match with an escape and takedown in the third to win 11-5 over Drew Wheater of East Marshall/GMG and advance in the championship bracket.
Humboldt’s Broedy Hendricks (42-3), who is ranked fourth, is Sexton’s next obstacle Thursday.
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