Decorah Boys Wrestling Team Claims NEIC Conference Championship

Act now—your donation to local news ensures a brighter, more informed tomorrow. CHARLES CITY, Iowa — The Decorah boys wrestling team earned the Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC) title on February 1, 2025, at Charles City High School, finishing with 148.5 team points. This triumph narrowly edged out Crestwood, who tallied 140 points, while New Hampton/Turkey Valley (NH/TV), Waukon, and Charles City rounded out the top five teams. Several Decorah wrestlers brought their best to the mat, with a number strong individual performances contributing to the team's overall success. Here are the standout results from Decorah's wrestlers: Meison Tollefson (106 lbs) had a strong showing, placing 2nd overall. He earned a key victory over Raymond Sweeney of Waukon with a fall at 1:23. However, he later fell short against Mitchell Williams of Crestwood. Kelton Casterton (113 lbs) finished in 2nd place, though he faced a tough opponent in Crestwood's Noah Bergan, who won both of his matches. Gavin Knutson (126 lbs) had a solid tournament, securing 2nd place. He beat Braiden Schaufenbuel from NH/TV with a fall at 0:54 in his opening round. Knutson ultimately placed behind Carter Schmauss of Crestwood, who won the championship. Mason Avila (132 lbs) impressed throughout the tournament, taking home 1st place. His victories, including a win over Carter Cajthaml of NH/TV, helped contribute invaluable points to the team's overall success. Will Larson (138 lbs) captured 1st place with three decisive victories, including a fall over Ethan Bergan of Crestwood in the final. Kasen Tyler (144 lbs) finished 1st after pinning a number of opponents, including a victory over Jayden Bucknell of NH/TV in the final. Justin Fortman (150 lbs) competed hard but ultimately placed 2nd overall. Despite losing to Jax Shekleton of NH/TV—who earned 1st place—Fortman's efforts in the earlier rounds were crucial to the team's performance. With this victory, the boys look ahead to the he 2025 IHSAA State Dual Team Tournament, scheduled for February 8 and the 2025 IHSAA State Traditional Tournament, scheduled for February 19-22. Never a dull moment! Subscribe to the free DecorahNews.com newsletter and stay one step ahead with local news and information you just can't get anywhere else.