The 2025-2026 IHSAA boys wrestling season concluded Saturday. Seven Indy-area wrestlers won a state title, five were runner-ups, and nine finished third. All 21 athletes are nominated for wrestler of the year in IndyStar’s latest fan poll! Make your pick in the poll at the bottom of the article.
The poll will close Monday, March 2, at noon!
Nathan Rioux, Avon
Rioux now has the most state titles in his family after capturing his second straight championship at 132, one more than his older brother, Luke, who won at 126 in 2024. The Avon senior defeated Delta junior Jensen Boyd by decision, 4-0, to end his year with a 41-3 record. Rioux, who also won a sectional and semistate title this season, will wrestle at Purdue this fall.
Jack Davis, Bishop Chatard
Davis finished third at 157 at state Saturday after defeating Center Grove junior William Vander Luitgaren by decision, 6-5. The Chatard senior finished the season 39-4 and captured a sectional and regional title. Davis placed third at semistate.
Jeremy Carver, Cathedral
The No. 2-ranked wrestler in Indiana at 120 finished third at state Saturday. Carver defeated Roncalli senior Peyton Schoettle (39-5) by decision, 3-0. The Cathedral freshman won a sectional, regional and semistate title this season and finished the year with a 40-4 record.
Sean Breedlove, Center Grove
Center Grove junior Sean Breedlove won a state title at 175 after he defeated Garrett senior Carter Fielden by decision, 12-8. Breedlove’s win clinched the team state title for the Trojans, who were .5 points behind Brownsburg entering Breedlove’s match.
Case Bell, Brownsburg
Bell (35-3) won the 120-pound state final against Avon sophomore Case Bridge via pin in the first round. Bell, who placed first at sectionals, regionals and semistate, helped Brownsburg finish second at state.
Traevon Ducking, Brownsburg
The Brownsburg sophomore captured his second straight state title after defeating Center Grove sophomore Daniel Brown Jr. via pinfall with 16 seconds left in the 113-pound final. Ducking didn’t lose in February, claiming all four tournament titles en route to finishing the year with a 35-4 record.
Daniel Brown Jr., Center Grove
Brown Jr. wasn’t able to defeat Ducking in the 113-pound state final, but he put up an unrelenting fight until the end, a testament to his character. The Center Grove sophomore finished the season 32-7 and won a sectional title.
Julian Burgett, Fishers
Burgett was the only Fishers wrestler to place at state. The 215-pound senior grappler defeated Perry Meridian’s Seer Godwise (19-4) in the third-place match Saturday. Burgett, 43-4, won a sectional and regional title this season.
Tommy Gibbs, Brownsburg
Gibbs, the state champion at 144 last season, failed to repeat this season at 150 after losing in the final to Crown Point’s Clinton Shepherd. The idea of possibly repeating alone shows how good Gibbs was this year. The senior went 32-5 during the 2025-2026 wrestling campaign and claimed first place at sectionals, regionals and semistate.
Case Bridge, Avon
Bridge finished runner-up at state at 120, putting a bow on a remarkable 33-11 season. The Avon sophomore placed second at semistate, then repeated the feat at regionals and sectionals. He didn’t get over the hump, but proved he will be a contender for the next two years.
William Glesing, New Palestine
Glesing finished his junior season 35-1, with his only loss coming in the 285-pound semifinal at state. Glesing made up for the loss and proceeded to defeat Warren Central’s Jacarei Markey (10-4) in the third-place match Saturday. Glesing adds another medal to his collection from this season, having placed first at sectionals, regionals and semistate.
Peyton Hornsby, Center Grove
Hornsby placed second at 144 at state. Despite falling just short of the ultimate prize, the Center Grove junior packaged an unforgettable season in which he went 32-6 and won a sectional title.
Mike White, Lawrence North
The Lawrence North senior won his first state title at 190 this season after he defeated Boonville junior Sam Howard to remain perfect on the year with a 47-0 record.
Royce Malone, Center Grove
Malone helped Center Grove capture the team state title thanks to his third-place finish at 132 Saturday. The junior Trojan defeated Rochester’s Layne Horn (46-3) via decision, 4-0. The win improved Malone’s record to 35-7. Malone finished second at semistate and earned sectional and regional titles this season.
Mason Goelz, Avon
The Avon grappler capped his final year as an Oriole with a semistate, regional and sectional title. Goelz claimed third place at state at 138. He defeated Brownsburg senior Landen Haines via tiebreaker, 2-1. Goelz went 39-5 during the 2025-2026 season.
Cash Mays, Zionsville
Mays earned third place after he defeated Delta junior Samuel Mosier by major decision, 14-1, at 144 at state. Mays (31-4) didn’t get the result he wanted Saturday, but he has a lot to be proud of this season. The Zionsville junior finished first in the previous three rounds.
Joe Hamilton, Center Grove
Hamilton secured a victory over Brownsburg sophomore Alex Huddleston (28-8) to capture third-place at 106 Saturday. The Center Grove senior won via decision, 4-2. Hamilton, the No. 10-ranked wrestler in the state in his weight class, had a 32-7 record this season and won a sectional and semistate title.
Connor Maddox, Westfield
Maddox became the first state champion in Westfield history Saturday. The 106-pound grappler defeated Delta freshman Karson Kahalekomo via tech fall, 17-2, to cap his second season with four state tournament medals and a 34-0 record.
Aidan Kincaide, Noblesville
Kincaide fell short in the 165-pound final at state, but his season deserves praise. Kincaide only lost once this season and produced 37 wins on the mat. The Noblesville junior placed first at sectionals, regionals and semistate.
Braylon Reynolds, Brownsburg
The Brownsburg junior went down with an ankle injury in the first period of his championship match against Center Grove junior Peyton Hornsby. Reynolds bounced back, and the 144-pound grappler overcame a 4-0 deficit to win by decision, 7-4. Reynolds swept through each round of the state tournament en route to finishing the season 40-3.
Gunner Butt, New Palestine
Butt defeated Adams Central junior Dylan Ogg via decision, 6-4, to capture the third-place medal at 150 at state. Butt only lost twice this season, and three of his 36 wins came in the sectional, regional and semistate title match.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA boys wrestling: Vote for boys grappler of the year