Is Iowa the nation’s No. 1 state for high school wrestling? 

While many would say yes, or yes at times, it’s probably a debate with no real winner. 

However, if you reach the championship mountaintop in the Hawkeye State and claim a state title, you’ll know you’re unquestionably one of the premier wrestlers in the country.

Now, it’s time to find out who will add their names to the prestigious list when the 2026 Iowa High School Athletic Association State Wrestling Championships is held Feb. 18-21 at Casey’s Center in Des Moines, Iowa. 

Boys across three classifications will battle for glory, with some even seeking redemption after the recent 2026 Iowa State Dual Team Tournament, and all of the action Feb. 18-21 will unfold live on FloWrestling and the FloSports app. 

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Though there was state-level high school wrestling in Iowa as early as 1921, the first state tournament sponsored by the IHSAA featuring eligibility, weight classes, rules and qualifying took place in 1926.

A century later, one classification has become three (Class 3A, 2A, 1A), and the student-athletes are well-aware of the significance of reaching the top of the podium at the state meet and adding their names to the growing list of Iowa state champions.

Some sports in Iowa are broken into four divisions now, but wrestling has maintained its three-class format since 1969. They are based on school enrollment from the previous year. The largest 64 schools compete in 3A. The next 96 schools compete in 2A. And any remaining schools make up Class 1A. Check out the breakdown for the 2025-2026 season.

The upcoming event will include the first- and second-place finishers from each weight class in the district tournaments, while the third-place competitors from Class 3A also will advance. 

The weight classes in Iowa high school wrestling are (in pounds): 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190, 215, 285 

At the 2025 IHSAA State Wrestling Championships, along with the 42 individual winners, the winning teams were Southeast Polk (3A), Burlington Notre Dame (2A) and Don Bosco (1A).

The tournament featured more than 1,000 competitors across the three classifications and 14 weight classes.

Southeast Polk’s win was its seventh overall and second consecutive, and it came by nearly 120 points over Bettendorf. The Rams’ 259.5 points set a new mark for the most points at the state meet, eclipsing the 225 earned by Waverly-Shell Rock in 2008. 

For Don Bosco, last year’s team victory was the school’s record-tying 17th overall and record-extending seventh consecutive. The team’s 225.5 points was the most all-time for a 1A team at the state event. 

In Class 2A, Burlington Notre Dame held a slim 6.5-point advantage going into the final day of competition and held off Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont to win 129-107.5.

At the recent 2026 Iowa State Dual Team Tournament three programs were able to add to their hardware cabinets and gain momentum for the season-ending individual competition. 

Southeast Polk reached the pinnacle again, winning the Class 3A title for the third straight year, and Don Bosco continued its dominance with a win in 1A for the sixth consecutive season and 16th time overall.

In 2A, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont was able to enjoy a little bit of redemption by knocking off the top two seeds to win the event. It was the first duals title for EBF.

The Dual Team Tournament was held for the first time in 1987.

The postseason agenda in Iowa also included the 2026 Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union State Wrestling Tournament, which was held Feb. 5-6 at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, in conjunction with the IHSAA State Dual Team Tournament. 

As you get ready to watch the 2026 edition of the IHSAA State Wrestling Championships, here’s everything you need to know, including a link to the brackets:

2026 IHSAA State Wrestling Championships Schedule

Here’s a look at when everything is going down in Iowa:

All Times Central

Wednesday, Feb. 18

• 4 p.m. – Session 1: Class 3A Round 1, Round 2, Round 2 Consolations

Thursday, Feb. 19

• 9 a.m. – Session 2: Class 1A Round 1, Round 2, Round 2 Consolations
• 2:30 p.m. – Session 3: Class 2A Round 1, Round 2, Round 2 Consolations
• 2:30 p.m. – Session 3: Class 3A Quarterfinals, Consolations

Friday, Feb. 20

• 9 a.m. – Session 4: Class 1A & 2A Quarterfinals, Consolations
• 5 p.m. – Session 5: Class 1A, 2A, 3A Semifinals, Consolations

Saturday, Feb. 21

• 9 a.m. – Session 6: All classes Consolation Semifinals & Finals
• 5:15 p.m. – Session 7: All classes Awards, Grand March, Finals

Here is a complete schedule with mat assignments for each classification. 

2026 IHSAA State Wrestling Championships Brackets

Here’s where you’ll be able to find the brackets for the 2026 IHSAA State Wrestling Championships: 

• 2026 IHSAA State Wrestling Championships Brackets

How To Watch The 2026 IHSAA State Wrestling Championships

Live coverage of the 2026 IHSAA State Wrestling Championships on Feb. 18-21 will be broadcast on FloWrestling and the FloSports app, with news, notes, stats and more available on both platforms.

Archives will be available immediately following the conclusion of each match.

If you’re going to be in Iowa and want to catch the action in person, check this page for spectator and ticket information.

What Teams Won At The 2025 IHSAA State Wrestling Championships?

• 3A – Southeast Polk
• 2A – Burlington Notre Dame
• 1A – Don Bosco, Gilbertville

Read more: 2025 IHSAA Iowa Wrestling State Tournament Results And Brackets

When Was The 2026 IHSAA State Dual Team Wrestling Tournament?

The 2026 IHSAA State Dual Team Wrestling Tournament brought Iowa’s top teams together Feb. 7 for a full day of head-to-head competition at Xtream Arena. The state meet featured the top performers from the Feb. 3 regional dual meets.

The IHSAA also provides regular rankings, debuted in 2024, which have been used to determine postseason qualifying for the dual action. 

The top 24 teams in each classification from the final rankings qualified for the eight regional dual meets, and the eight winning teams moved on to the state event in Coralville. 

The IHSAA State Dual Team Tournament was held for the first time in 1987.

Read more: 2026 Iowa State Dual Tournament Schedule & Brackets

Did You Know: IHSAA Wrestling Is 100 Years Old

You should, because it’s mentioned above.

Open state tournaments were held in Iowa from 1921-1925, and the first state meet facilitated by IHSAA took place in 1926. 

Individually, the IHSAA has crowned 32 four-time state champions, with the first coming in 1962. Iowa also has more than 100 three-time winners. 

Additionally, there have been seven wrestlers to complete undefeated varsity careers, with Jeff McGinness from City High in Iowa City, compiling a 172-0 record from 1990-1993, including four state titles. 

The longest winning streak in state history is 199 wins and is shared by Max Thomsen from Union Community (2012-2015) and Adam Allard of West Sioux Community School (2017-2020).

Almost 30 athletes have won more than 200 matches in their high school careers, with New London’s Dominic Lopez topping the list at 221-9 from 2020-2023.

Since the debut of the Iowa State Dual Team Tournament in 1987, the list of winners includes 46 schools. Don Bosco, Gilbertville tops the list with 16 championships, followed by Assumption, Davenport with nine. 

Don Bosco also leads with 31 appearances at the tournament, with two dozen others qualifying 10 or more times. 

2025-2026 FloWrestling High School Wrestling Rankings

Top 20 as of Jan. 12, 2026

Curious about how the top wrestlers from each state stack up against competitors from across the country?

Click here to see the latest high school rankings from FloWrestling.

Throwback: 2024 Iowa High School State Finals Every Class

See how everything went down at the 2024 IHSAA State Wrestling Championships.

Trackwrestling Has Joined The New FloWrestling

Trackwrestling officially has merged with FloWrestling, bringing its powerful tournament tracking tools and live data into a modern, all-in-one platform. 

Fans can follow every bout with pro-grade brackets, mat schedules, team rosters and detailed wrestler profiles—all seamlessly integrated within FloWrestling.

This move delivers a faster, smarter and more connected experience for the wrestling community. Through the updated FloSports app, users can track live results, explore brackets and even sign up for free alerts so they never miss a match.

FloWrestling Archived Footage

Video footage from all events on FloWrestling will be archived and stored in a video library for FloWrestling subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

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