Iowa
Iowa state wrestling 1A finals recap, Don Bosco makes history
Don Bosco’s Hayden Schwab talks state title after return from injury
Don Bosco’s Hayden Schwab talks state title after return from injury
In a sport with so much tradition within Iowa, it’s hard to set new bars to reach.
Even so, Don Bosco found a way to do it at this year’s Iowa state wrestling tournament. The Dons won their 18th traditional team state title, passing Waterloo West for the most all-time. It’s the program’s eighth in a row, a streak dating back to 2019.
Don Bosco crowned six individual state champions, which ties a 2001 Lewis Central record for the most in a single year. Ty Martin (106 pounds), Kaiden Belinsky (113), Hendrix Schwab (120), Hayden Schwab (126), Dawson Youngblut (144) and Ethan Christoffer (175) each left with a state title. Youngblut, an Iowa commit, won his third and has a chance for four next year. The Schwab brothers, sons of UNI coach Doug Schwab, are now both two-time state champions. Also contributing was Blake Irvine, who took seventh at 132 pounds as the team’s lone state medalist outside of finalists.
It’s a surreal moment for the small-town team from Gilbertville, surpassing a Waterloo West program with so much rich tradition, behind names like Dan Gable, having made so much history within the state. While the Dons are far from the biggest school, they’ve found a way to have it all within their wrestling room.
Hayden Schwab pointed to the people behind the program, particularly the fans who helped propel the team to new heights.
“I don’t know if there’s a more dedicated group of people,” Hayden Schwab said. “They’re driving for these little 1A tournaments in the middle of the year, we got huge crowd at the Hudson tournament. You gotta say the people.”
From World-level talents like Hayden Schwab overcoming a torn labrum, high-end Division I prospects like Youngblut and gritty wrestlers like Kyler Salis, who had the dual state title-clinching match against Jesup two weeks ago, Don Bosco has built a small-town school into Iowa’s most-accomplished program.
“We’ve all grown up together, gone to club together and we just make each other better every day,” Youngblut said after clinching the team title on Feb. 20. “Not just in wrestling, but in life. We’re all brothers.”
Class 1A Iowa state wrestling tournament final matchups
106 – Don Bosco’s Ty Martin vs. South Central Calhoun’s Karson Wuebker, 1-0 decision
Martin escaped in the second period from bottom, while Wuebker did not in the third in a bout decided from par terre.
113 – Don Bosco’s Kaiden Belinsky over WACO’s Ian Maize, 17-2 technical fall
Belinsky saved his best match for last, recording five takedowns and two near-fall points in his state title victory.
120 – Don Bosco’s Hendrix Schwab over Martensdale St. Marys’ Jensen Dyer
Schwab’s takedown just 17 seconds into his finals match, plus a second-period reversal, was all he needed to secure his second state title.
126 – Don Bosco’s Hayden Schwab over Earlham’s Max Millage, fall (1:24)
Coming off an injury, Schwab had a dominant state tournament with two technical falls and a quick win by fall in his finals match.
132 – Jesup’s Cooper Hinz over Lawton-Bronson’s Riley Watts, 4-1 decision
The future Michigan Wolverine had to gut this one out, recording a takedown with 23 seconds left to go to secure the state title for second-placed Jesup.
138 – Riverside’s Drew Anderson over Louisa-Mucatine’s Hayden Riggan, fall (1:26)
Takedown, takedown, takedown, takedown, then finally a pin. Anderson didn’t leave this one to chance.
144 – Don Bosco’s Dawson Youngblut vs. Pleasantville’s Blake Rowson, 17-0 technical fall
Youngblut had just two takedowns in this match, but turns from the top position helped him earn the shutout
150 – Lake Mills’ Steve Brandenburg over Iowa Valley Marengo’s Chance Hoyt, fall (1:51)
Brandenburg only needed one takedown, as he ran the bar and pinned Hoyt in short order.
157 – West Hancock’s Teague Smith over Westwood’s Boston Peters, 7-4 decision
In a battle between a veteran in Smith and a talented sophomore in Peters, Smith’s two first-period takedowns were the difference.
165 – North Mahaska’s Ryan Groom over South Winneshiek’s Kyle Kuboushek, 6-3 sudden victory
The senior found a way in overtime, as Kuboushek disengaged from the handfight for a moment and Groom took advantage for a takedown.
175 – Don Bosco’s Ethan Christoffer over Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley’s Brock Mulder, fall (1:47)
Don Bosco’s sixth state champion nearly pinned Mulder off of his first takedown with four near-fall points, but he was able to get one in the closing moments of the first period to put a bow on the Dons’ special night.
190 – Starmont’s Keaton Moeller over Nodaway Valley’s Caleb Christensen, 21-6 technical fall
The UNI commit came back from missing all of last season with injury with pure dominance, winning all of his matches on the weekend by fall or technical fall.
215 – Woodbury Central’s Carter Wright over Don Bosco’s Kyler Salis, 20-3 technical fall
Aside from giving up a takedown early in the third period, Wright dominated with a mix of takedowns and near-fall points to win a state title.
285 – Nodaway Valley’s Ashton Honnold over Earlham’s Keegan Long, fall (0:55)
Another three-time state champion was crowned, as this UNI commit hit a highlight-reel blast double on Long to take him straight to his back for the win by fall.
Class 1A team scores after the finals at the Iowa state wrestling tournament
- 1st – Don Bosco (222 points)
- 2nd – Jesup (115.5)
- 3rd – Woodbury Central (103)
- 4th – Nodaway Valley (80.5)
- 5th – Lisbon (77.5)
Full team scores and updated brackets can be found on Flowrestling.com.
Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.
Coming off a great campaign, the Iowa State Cyclones will be a different-looking team on the hardwood next year. Unfortunately, a lot of key players for the team last season will no longer be around.
After a successful trip to the Sweet 16, the Cyclones will be entering next season with a mostly new group. Due to players like Joshua Jefferson, Nate Heise, and Tamin Lipsey all graduating, the team was always going to have a different look.
While it appears likely that both Lipsey and Jefferson are going to be drafted into the NBA, it goes to show the level of talent that Iowa State is losing. These two players were arguably the two best on the team last year, and replacing that level of production will not be an easy task.
Since both of those players were seniors, the program knew that they would be playing elsewhere. However, the decision by Milan Momcilovic, who was their third star to enter the NBA Draft and transfer portal, likely wasn’t something the team expected before his breakout campaign.
However, due to his success last year, Momcilovic testing the waters of the NBA and entering the portal made a lot of sense for the talented sharpshooter. Eventually, he made the decision to join the Kentucky Wildcats, and losing him will be a big blow for the Cyclones.
Iowa State Will Miss Star Potential of Milan
Even though the Cyclones were able to bring in a lot of good players in the transfer portal, figuring out who the star of the team is going to be next year might be a bit tricky. If Milan were to have returned following one of the best shooting years in the history of college basketball, it would have undoubtedly been him as the featured player of the team.
Now, since Momcilovic is gone, Iowa State is going to need some of their returning players and their new additions to step up. While having quality depth is important, the Cyclones were a team that had arguably three of the top 50 players in college basketball last season.
With their three best players gone, it will be interesting to see who steps up and becomes the top players for Iowa State. Of the transfers, it could be JaQuan Johnson who looks to step up into that role. He is coming off a really strong year with Bradley and very well could be the top-scoring option for the team.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
Watch as Gov. Kim Reynolds reveals Iowa Office of Outdoor Recreation
Gov. Kim Reynolds signs an executive order June 8 creating an Iowa Office of Outdoor Recreation within the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
Iowa’s director of Health and Human Services has resigned after the Iowa Senate blocked his confirmation in April, but he will stay in leadership as deputy director.
Larry Johnson was appointed to succeed Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Director Kelly Garcia in September 2025. Johnson took over the department in October.
Johnson’s confirmation in April, however, was blocked by Iowa Senate Democrats. Johnson received the support of 28 senators, six votes short of the 34 needed.
“Hundreds of thousands of Iowans rely on the Department of Health & Human Services, but under Mr. Johnson’s leadership, those Iowans have been met with diminished care and services and a disrespectful lack of transparency and communication,” Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner said in a statement at the time of Johnson’s confirmation block. “Senate Democrats believe Iowans deserve more responsible leadership for such an important executive department.”
Under state law, 60 days after the Iowa Senate disapproves a person’s appointment, the nominee must step down. Johnson’s resignation came June 19, 58 days after his confirmation was blocked.
In a news release Friday, Gov. Kim Reynolds appointed Kraig Paulsen, the director of the Iowa Department of Management, to also serve as the director of Iowa Health and Human Services.
“This is not the first time I’ve called upon Director Paulsen to help lead executive branch departments during times of transition,” Reynolds said in a statement. “His experience across state government is unmatched, and I have full confidence in his ability to ensure our state’s largest agency has the leadership team required, not only to serve Iowans most in need of assistance, but also to advance strategic initiatives such as rural health transformation, cancer research, and child welfare technology improvements.”
Paulsen named Johnson as principal deputy director of the department to “ensure efficient and effective operations,” according to the release.
“Iowa HHS requires strong and experienced leadership at every level to ensure continuity of critical services such as Medicaid, SNAP, and child protection, and Larry Johnson is exactly that leader,” Paulsen said in the release. “I look forward to working closely with Principal Deputy Director Johnson to ensure Iowa’s strong commitment to our most vulnerable citizens continues as usual.”
Weiner, in a statement issued June 19, said Reynolds “has decided to blatantly disregard and circumvent the Senate in re-establishing Larry Johnson as the de facto head” of Health and Human Services.“This is partisan politics of the worst kind,” Weiner said in the statement. “Under Larry Johnson, the hundreds of thousands of Iowans who rely on HHS for critical services have received a diminished standard of care, a disrespectful lack of responsiveness, and a department more concerned with fealty to the governor than transparency to the public. And yet, this governor simply cannot handle a world in which she doesn’t get her way, so she has invented a title that allows Johnson to resume his work.”
Weiner said the decision to not confirm John was “not made lightly,” and “We did what was right for Iowans.”
“Our goal has been and remains to work within the bounds of the Senate for the benefit of all Iowans,” Weiner said. “Unfortunately, Gov. Reynolds would rather play politics than give Iowans the respect of a more diligent search for a qualified candidate.”
Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com.
The Iowa Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big with rewards ranging from $1,000 to millions. The most an Iowan has ever won from playing the lottery was $343 million in 2018 off the Powerball.
Don’t miss out on the winnings. Here’s a look at Friday, June 19, 2026, winning numbers for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 19 drawing
13-16-21-26-50, Mega Ball: 12
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick-3 numbers from June 19 drawing
Midday: 3-2-2
Evening: 7-1-4
Check Pick-3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick-4 numbers from June 19 drawing
Midday: 4-2-1-0
Evening: 9-9-0-7
Check Pick-4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 19 drawing
02-20-28-51-54, Bonus: 02
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Iowa Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Day): 12:20 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Evening): 10:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Day): 12:20 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Evening): 10:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Iowa editor. You can send feedback using this form.
-
Lifestyle17 minutes ago‘Wait Wait’ for June 20, 2026: With Not My Job guest Caro Claire Burke
-
Technology25 minutes agoSony’s Xperia 1 VIII is still a phone for the fans
-
World32 minutes agoTrump-backed ‘El Tigre’ looks to crush cartels, end Colombia’s socialist era in pivotal election
-
Politics35 minutes agoObama Center visitors say project symbolic of ‘Black excellence,’ claim scandal-free legacy while Trump ripped
-
Health40 minutes agoPoison centers link growing Benadryl abuse among teens to dangerous social media trends
-
Sports47 minutes agoBryce Harper hits for cycle, Kyle Schwarber blasts three homers in Phillies blowout win over Mets
-
Technology50 minutes agoMeta offers paid training for AI data center jobs
-
Business55 minutes ago‘I got crushed’: AI giants are funding ad wars in races across the country
