David Borer

DES MOINES — The ascension of the Algona wrestling team may have caught some people from surprise.

Head coach Nick Kuecker saw it coming.

The Bulldogs will take 11 wrestlers inside Wells Fargo Arena, just a week after claiming the school’s first ever state dual championship.

“I think what makes this special is every one of these guys I watched put wrestling shoes on for the first time when they were five, six and seven years old,” Kuecker said. “They all grew up together, they competed together. When we say ‘”Do it for the guy that stepped off the mat before you and the one that’s stepping on next“‘, it hits a little different because that’s like the brother they were built with over the course of the last 10 years.”

Algona entered regional districts as the No. 1 seed and it held true to form.

“Winning a state dual title is special for a lot of reasons,” Kuecker said. “First one in school history.

“These guys understand that you can do everything right and it doesn’t guarantee anything in terms of a championship but you have to do it right to give yourself a shot.”

The Bulldogs will enter the state tournament with a wealth of experience mixed with the newcomers.

“I’ve had the luxury of watching this build for a long time,” Kuecker said. “We’ve had eight freshmen qualify for state over the last four years. Seven state qualifiers the last two years and none of them graduated.

When you pair that with another really good group of freshmen and a ton of depth in the room it’s going to make for a pretty tough lineup.”

Senior four time state qualifiers Isaac Wilson (126) and Tate Slagle (157), along with three-time classmate qualifier Ashton Moreno (150) will help guide the group, along with three-time junior qualifier Barrett Morgan (144).

Slagle (30-2) is a two-time medalist, placing fifth and third the past two season, accumulating a career mark of 161-19. The senior is the fourth seed.

Wilson (37-6) has put together a strong resume, with his fourth state trip and 158 career wins. He is looking for his first state medal.

Morgan (33-10), the sixth-seed, has earned two eight-place medals in his first two trips to Des Moines and has already surpassed the 100-win mark in four seasons (115-29).

Moreno (37-8), the five-seed, is also looking for his first medal and has won 104 matches the past three seasons.

In his first season on the mat, future Iowa State Cyclone Jack Limbaugh (35-11) has taken the mat by storm at 285 pounds. The future Cyclone has earned a bye and the No. 8 seed.

Juniors Thomas Zabka (113), Carter McGregor (165) and Gavin Goche (215) are all making their first appearances.

A trio of freshmen have started their career in style, earning state trips.

Tayten Rummel (175) has won 32 matches, while Teague Alesch (106) and CJ McGregor (132) have 20-plus wins.

“We have 11 guys in Des Moines that I know are going to fight,” Kuecker said. “They have big goals and they want medals and podium pictures and all that.

“Bottom line is to be who you are and who you’ve been all season. Compete like crazy and believe it’ll be enough when it’s all said and done.”

Clarion-Goldfield/Dows

The Cowboys have high hopes with three returning state qualifiers, including two medalists. Four Cowboys have earned first round byes.

Junior Webster City transfer Linden Phetxoumphone (120) and Caleb Seaba (157) all medaled a year ago.

Forest City transfer JT Kelso (285) was a qualifier in 2024 for the Indians.

Phetxoumphone (32-2), the two seed, is looking to continue to climb the ladder after a third place showing as a freshman and state runner up a year ago with the Lynx. In his first three seasons, Phetxoumphone is 108-7.

Seaba (32-12) placed eight a year ago and is making his third trip. Seaba has 95 wins the past two seasons.

Kelso (37-5), the five seed, was a state qualifier for the Indians.

Sophomore Adrian Phetxoumphone (126) will be the sixth-seed with a 39-2 record.

Sophomore Charlie Campbell (40-3) is the fifth seed at 175 pounds.

Junior Angel Cortes (15-7) will compete at 113 pounds.

A trio of freshmen will make their state debut for the Cowboys. Paxton Redenius (106), Colin Sesker (144) and Ryland Morgan (165) are in their first season.

Webster City

A pair of Lynx will represent Webster City in the 2A field.

Senior Luke Estlund (165) is coming off a torn ACL injury and has competed in four matches this season.

Estlund accumulated a 30-14 record as a state qualifier a year ago.

Junior Cody Elliott (26-8) is making his first state trip, competing at 215 pounds.

Eagle Grove

Juniors Hayden Schafer (157) and Jayden Kreitlow (175) will be making their second state trips, and senior Jesus Baez (285) will cap his career in Des Moines.

Schafer (40-11) has accumulated a record of 68-21 the past two years and Kreitly (35-20) is 65-39.

Baez earned 34 wins in his final year in an Eagle singlet.

Greene County

Senior Brent Denhardt (157) will look to get back on the medal stand. In their second trips, senior Gavyn Winters (120) and sophomore Degan Miller (165) are looking for their first medal.

Denhardt (25-2) finished eighth as a sophomore. The eighth-seed has won 106 matches the past three seasons.

Miller (33-8) is the sixth-seed and has won 65 matches in his first two seasons.

Winters, who has won 28 matches, is looking to make his senior year a trip to the podium.

Senior Marcus Ball (24-11 at 215), along with the sophomore duo of Brennan (35-7 at 106) and Jaron Jacobs (37-9 at 113) are in their maiden voyages.

The Class 2A session will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday through Friday. Saturday at 9 a.m. will be the all class consolation semifinals and finals.

Awards and the Grand March along with the finals will be Saturday night at 5:15 p.m.