Submit mailbag questions for wrestling reporter Eli McKown
Submit mailbag questions for wrestling reporter Eli McKown after the NCAA Championships, Iowa state tournaments having thrilling conclusions.
The 2025-26 wrestling season is in the books, and what a year it was. The college season came to an end on March 21 with the men's NCAA Wrestling Championships in Cleveland. The Iowa Hawkeyes overcame a turbulent regular season to have seven NCAA All-Americans , while injuries saw Iowa State and Northern Iowa each fall short from their preseason goals.
For Iowa women's wrestling , a historic inaugural NCAA season took place, but a second-place finish behind the McKendree Bearcats marked the first year without a team title for the Hawkeyes. On the high school side, we saw both sides of history. Two four-time state champions were crowned on the boys side with Fort Dodge's Dreshaun Ross and Osage's Blake Fox , while one of the larger upsets of the year in girls wrestling took place in the state finals.
Additionally, a pair of Des Moines-area programs extended their dominance with the Southeast Polk boys and Raccoon River girls wrestling each winning team titles. It was a year that leaves much to ponder as we enter the offseason. With that in mind, wrestling reporter Eli McKown is taking questions from fans.
Whether you want to know what's to come on the high school scene, to transfer-portal questions or evaluating the seasons that were, fire away any inquiries you have via email to emckown@gannett. com . Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register.