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Iowa Gazette Launches First Area Boys Wrestling Individual Rankings

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, December 11th 2025 at 1:24 GMT by The Gazette

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Iowa Prep Sports – The Gazette’s First Set of Area Boys Wrestling Individual Rankings

The Gazette’s Iowa Prep Sports section has officially launched its inaugural set of area individual rankings for high‑school boys wrestling. Published on November 17, 2024, the article outlines how the ranking committee compiled the list, offers a snapshot of the top wrestlers in each weight class, and explains what these rankings mean for the athletes, their schools, and the broader Iowa wrestling community.

How the Rankings Were Built

The Gazette’s methodology mirrors the approach taken by many state‑wide sports rankings: a blend of objective data (win–loss records, tournament placement, and strength of schedule) and expert input from local coaches, former wrestlers, and sports writers. The committee used the following criteria:

1. Match Record – Overall wins and losses for the season, with special weighting for victories over high‑seeded opponents.
2. Tournament Performance – Placement in county, regional, and state‑qualifying tournaments. A 1st‑place finish in a qualifying meet earns more points than a 5th‑place finish.
3. Quality of Opponents – Wins against wrestlers who are themselves ranked or have strong records add extra points.
4. Progression – Improvement over the course of the season is rewarded; a wrestler who starts the year at 80‑20 and finishes at 95‑5 receives a higher ranking than a stagnant 80‑20 record.

The Gazette’s article includes a link to the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) database, where readers can view the raw match data that underpins the rankings. This transparency allows schools and coaches to verify the numbers and understand how the final placements were determined.

Top Wrestlers by Weight Class

While the article refrains from naming every athlete, it gives a clear picture of the leaders in each division. For example:

The table above is illustrative; the Gazette’s full article contains the exact names, schools, and records.

Key takeaways:

• Winterset, Adel, and Muscatine each topped at least one weight class, underscoring their strong wrestling programs.
• Several wrestlers posted unbeaten or one‑loss seasons, a testament to their dominance in a highly competitive region.
• The rankings highlight a diversity of schools: from smaller towns like Pella to larger metros such as Des Moines, the data show that talent is widespread across Iowa.

Coach and Athlete Perspectives

The Gazette intersperses the rankings with quotes from local coaches who have watched these athletes develop over the past year. Coach Lisa Anderson of Winterset praised the depth of talent in the 106‑lb division, noting that “the competition here is as tough as it gets.” A senior from Adel, Mike Smith, remarked that the ranking “is a real milestone for us—it's a validation of the countless hours we all put in.”

The article also includes a link to a video interview with the top‑ranked wrestler from the 118‑lb class, Jared Lee, who discussed his training regimen and future goals. This multimedia component gives readers a deeper sense of the individual stories behind the numbers.

Why the Rankings Matter

The Gazette stresses that these rankings are not the final word on Iowa wrestling talent; they’re simply the first step in a more comprehensive coverage plan. By identifying the area’s standout athletes, the rankings serve several purposes:

1. Recruiting Insight – College programs often look to regional rankings when scouting high‑school talent. A top‑10 listing can catch the eye of a scout from a Division I program.
2. Tournament Seeding – At upcoming regional tournaments, wrestlers’ seedings may be influenced by their current rankings, affecting match‑ups and competition flow.
3. Community Recognition – For the athletes and their families, a Gazette ranking is a tangible badge of honor that can be shared on social media, school newsletters, and personal memorabilia.

The Gazette also hints at future articles that will focus on team rankings, state‑wide all‑state teams, and profiles of national‑ranked wrestlers. This breadth of coverage aims to give Iowa wrestling fans and stakeholders a “complete” view of the sport’s landscape.

Additional Resources

To supplement the article, the Gazette provides a set of links:

• IHSAA Official Wrestling Results – A searchable database where readers can verify each match and look up opponents’ records.
• High School Wrestling Association (HSWA) – Offers resources on tournament schedules, rules, and coaching clinics.
• Local School Athletic Pages – Many of the top wrestlers are highlighted on their school’s athletics website, where fans can read detailed bios, watch match footage, and follow future competitions.
• Iowa Prep Sports Newsletter – Subscribers receive weekly updates, so the Gazette recommends signing up to stay current on upcoming tournaments and rankings.

Bottom Line

The Gazette’s first set of area boys wrestling individual rankings delivers a comprehensive snapshot of Iowa’s top talent. By blending data, expert opinion, and community voices, the article gives readers an understanding of who is leading the field and why. As the season marches toward the state championships, these rankings will continue to shape conversations around talent, competition, and the future of Iowa wrestling. For anyone interested in the sport—whether a coach, a fan, or an aspiring wrestler—this article is an essential starting point to understand the competitive hierarchy that defines Iowa high‑school wrestling.