A Banner Year: Decorah Boys Wrestling 2026 State Co-Champions

If no one funds local news, your community is just rumors. Help Decorah News bring facts home. DECORAH — The phrase "banner year" is often used in to describe an extraordinary season of growth. For the Decorah boys wrestling team, it now carries a very literal meaning. The Vikings captured their first-ever state championship at the 2026 IHSAA Class 2A State Wrestling Championships, and their achievement is now commemorated on the program's championship banner. From Feb. 18–21 at Casey's Center in Des Moines, Decorah wrestlers competed across multiple weight classes, bridging, on some occasions, four years of skill and determination to score a total of 131 team points. That total was matched only by co-champion team Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, which had three finalists, and secured Decorah's place in the school's athletic history. The state championships also saw Decorah native Blake Williams inducted into the IHSAA Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame. Flanked by fire escorts, the boys arrived back home on Sunday to ring the school victory bell and smooth down their championship decal to the program's banner, leaving plenty of room underneath. Fullharts anchor Decorah At 165 pounds, Bill Fullhart was relentless to the very last day. He opened with a major decision over Taevyn Zinnel of Algona, then pinned Clarke's Urijah Fry in the quarterfinals before outlasting Lane Gudenkauf of West Delaware, Manchester, in a 19-12 semifinal. These wins sent him to Saturday night's finals, where he finished as state runner-up, ultimately falling to unbeaten Boden White of Denver. His performance delivered a tournament-high 23 team points and helped give Decorah an extra boost up the standings. At 106, Edisen Fullhart proved that the team's tough streak begins at the opening weight. . After a quarterfinal loss, against Glenwood's Ace Cochrane, Fullharthe battled back through the consolation bracket and closed the tournament with a 16-4 major decision over Dayton Van Horn of Atlantic to secure seventh place. Sexton's Run to Bronze At 190 pounds, Tommy Sexton delivered one of the tournament's most impressive bounce-back performances. After a heartbreaking ultimate tie-breaker loss in the quarterfinals, Sexton refused to let that defeat define his tournament, He stormed through the consolation bracket with a fall over both a Washington and Centerville opponent. He then secured his place in the bronze match by defeating Braylen Bieber of Independence, landing third place with a 13-4 major decision over Brendan Lamfers of Sioux Center. At 175, Kasen Tyler followed a similar path. A narrow quarterfinal defeat sent him to the consolation bracket, where he regrouped and fought his way to fifth place, finishing with a one-point victory. Fourth-place finishes pad Viking Victory Two Vikings reached the cusp of the finals, proving Decorah's lineup was without any weak links. At 132 pounds, Mason Avila opened with a bye in the first round, then scored a 9-6 decision over Jarrett Engel of West Delaware, Manchester, to advance to the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinal, Avila faced Easton Enyeart of Ballard, a formidable opponent with a 35-5 record. Avila fought hard but lost 10-3, dropping him into the consolation bracket. From there, he rebuilt momentum with three straight wins. Avila's run came to a close in the third-place match against Crestwood's Carter Schmauss. In a highly tactical match, Schmauss narrowly won 3-1, leaving Avila with a hard-earned fourth-place finish. At 150, Grant Knutson mirrored that path, He began with strong victories over Alex Peiffer of Grinnell (6-3 decision) and Keaton Gates of West Branch (10-5 decision), advancing to the quarterfinals, where Ben Walsh of Sergeant Bluff-Luton handed him a 4-0 loss. He strung together three consolation victories — including a fall — to reach the bronze match and ultimately place fourth, adding 16 team points. Larson's marathon run embodies Viking grit Few wrestlers logged more mat time than Will Larson at 138. After an early loss, he ripped off four straight consolation wins — three by fall — and even avenged a previous defeat with a 19-9 major decision over Kaden Kirkpatrick of Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont in the consolation rounds. Earlier in the tournament, Kirkpatrick had defeated Larson by fall in the championship bracket (1:26). When the two met again, Larson flipped the script, controlling the rematch from start to finish to keep his podium push alive. Larson finished sixth. What ultimately defined the Vikings' individual performances was their ability to respond.. Time and again, Decorah wrestlers turned quarterfinal setbacks into momentum and adversity into some well-deserved team points. At home, Athletics Director Adam Riley praised not just individual effort but the collective spirit that carried the team to victory, using Larson as a prime example: "[Wrestling] is a collective team effort, but Will Larson, your consolation final match embodied what this team is all about. Wrestling the same opponent for the third time, in a head-to-head match against a team we were racing, you wanted that opportunity badly — and you went out and gave it everything. That really epitomizes what sport is all about." Team Standings and Saturday Finals Heading into Saturday, Decorah sat second in the 2A team standings with 109 points, close behind Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont (112.5). Thanks to key contributions from William Fullhart, Mason Avila, Will Larson, and the rest of the Vikings, Decorah surged to a final team total of 131 points, earning Class 2A Co-State Champions, their first state title in program history. Remarkably, this marked the first time since 1933 that an Iowa high school traditional wrestling title was shared between two teams that scored the same number of points, making the 2026 championship even more historic. Decorah's point total was bolstered by contributions at nearly every weight: • Gavin Knutson (157) fought to the blood round with two falls before entering a consolation bracket, earning 9 critical team points • Gavin Carolan (144) opened with a major decision, contributing 5 team points • Mason Glotfelty (126) notched three wins in the consolation bracket, His efforts added 5 team points • Kellen O'Gara (113) gained state experience that will be foundational for the program. A Banner Worthy Finish Decorah returned home not just with the memories, but with a place in the program's history. Coach Jordan Thompson emphasized the effort and consistency that drove the Vikings to success. "Fantastic weekend, fantastic season, fantastic team, fantastic group of gentlemen," Thomson coach said. "They pulled together all season. This team shows that consistent work every day takes you to your goals." Seniors reflected on the season and the community support. Will Larson, a senior, said one of his favorite memories was the energy of the home crowd. "Anytime we have meets, we always have the biggest crowd," he said. "It's really awesome having so many fans. Thank you for being on this ride. It's been a fun four years, and I can't wait to see what happens next." Mason Avila, another senior, echoed Larson's sentiment, noting the impact of cheering fans at home meets. "Hearing all of you cheer really means a lot," he said. Athletics Director Adam Riley highlighted the perseverance required for the championship. "Anything worth having has never come easy," he said. "This group focused on the collective effort and the good each teammate brings. That focus paid off yesterday, and it really shows what this team is all about." Out of perhaps a little superstition, the banner wasn't made in advance. But as soon as the championship was official, Brian Peterson at Letterwerks stepped up, and by 9 a.m. the next morning, the new banner was ready—crafted at the "drop of a hat" to celebrate Decorah's first state title. It was a perfect capstone to a season defined by hard work, teamwork and determination. Your weekly dose of local life! Subscribe to the free newsletter and enjoy news, analysis, and stories you'll actually look forward to reading.