Pirates Push Through Midseason Grind with Grit and Growth

 By Coach Haskovec  

 The Hudson Pirate wrestling program continues to push forward through a challenging and demanding  stretch of the season, showing both depth and resilience as the calendar turns deeper into January. Despite not  having a full lineup available at any single competition this year, the Pirates have continued to compete with  confidence and effort—building momentum as we adapt and shift wrestlers within the lineup to be as effective  as possible.  

 We’ve also depended on four freshmen (seven total underclassmen) in our varsity lineup this season.  That speaks not only to the mental toughness of our young group, but also to the potential for some very  seasoned grapplers down the road.  

 Storm Duals Recap  

 The Pirates were in action this past Saturday at the Storm Duals, where individual performances stood  out across the board. Blake Taylor, Carter Ites, Mason Fogt, and Alston Loeb each turned in perfect 5-0 finishes,  setting the tone for a strong overall showing.  

 Multiple wins were also recorded by Gavin Fish, Rylan Fogt, Carter Weide, Brady Greiman, Aaden  Myhr, Ivan Martinez, Cohen Warnell, and Camdyn Budde. The tournament again emphasized the importance of  matchups in dual competition and how much consistency matters during the grind of a long season.   Unfortunately, we’ve still yet to compete with our full lineup from top to bottom. Injuries and  availability have forced frequent adjustments, but the group continues to respond with positivity and  perseverance. The focus remains on steady improvement, staying competitive, and building confidence as we  enter the heart of the season.  

 We’ve also had several individuals willing to bump into different weight classes to help secure dual  wins. That kind of team-first mentality has been a constant—and a strength.  

 NICL Duals at East Marshall  

 Earlier in the week, the Pirates opened the new year at East Marshall High School, facing 2A Union of  La Porte City and the host Mustangs in NICL action. Hudson dropped the first dual of the night to Union but  battled back to secure a big win over East Marshall in the nightcap.  

 The lineup featured seven underclassmen, including four freshmen stepping into varsity roles.   We’ve been without several key contributors: Levi Roberts graduated early in December, Abe Elliott  moved to Illinois, and senior Miguel Gomez has yet to be cleared to compete. All three were expected starters  and are certainly missed—but it’s been encouraging to see younger wrestlers step up when needed.   On a positive note, we were able to add Cohen Warnell to our roster. He previously wrestled as a  freshman and has been a welcome addition.  

 Hudson was led that night by undefeated efforts from Blake Taylor, Carter Ites, Alston Loeb, Mason  Fogt, and Justin Gavigan, all finishing 2-0. Additional victories were earned by Rylan Fogt, Carter Weide,  Aaden Myhr, and Gavin Fish.  

 On the JV side, Landon Beardsley and Max Erisman came up just short but continued to show growth  and improvement.  

 Individual Varsity Record Leaders  

 • Mason Fogt, Sr. – 19-1  

 • Blake Taylor, Sr. – 19-2  

 • Alston Loeb, Jr. – 19-2  

 • Carter Ites, Jr. – 17-3  

 Storm Dual Results  

 • Hudson 54, Mason City Newman 29  

 • Hudson 59, South Hamilton 18  

 • Hudson 54, BCLUW-SH 24  

 • Hudson 36, DNH-GR 39 

 • Hudson 27, Southeast Polk 48  

 With the grind of January underway, the Pirates remain focused on development, preparation, and  continued improvement. The effort shown on the mat—regardless of lineup challenges—speaks to the  commitment of this group. The goal remains the same: keep building momentum, stay resilient, and be ready  when the postseason arrives.  

 A big thank-you to our managers and cheerleaders—and a special shoutout to Justin Gavigan and  Miguel Gomez for learning how to use my camera and helping capture photos and videos this season.   Go Pirates!