Wrestling: Pirates Dominate at Home, Ride Momentum into Second Half of Season

By Coach Haskovec 

The Pirates continued to build momentum on the mat with a strong showing at the Hudson Invitational, placing 10 individuals and competing with toughness and confidence throughout the day.  

Leading the Pirate charge was Blake Taylor, who captured the 175-pound championship with a dominant performance. Also reaching the finals were Mason Fogt at 126 pounds and Carter Ites at 215, while Alston Loeb earned a third-place finish at heavyweight.  

Mid-January is when the grind of the season becomes very real, and the Pirates showed exactly what that grind is about—mental toughness. Across the lineup, our wrestlers battled through tough matches, showed improved mat awareness, and continued to take steps forward against quality competition from across the state. It was a day that reflected growth,  resilience, and a commitment to getting better.  

Additional place winners for the Pirates included:  

• Isaac Ubben (113, 5th)  

• Mason Fogt (120, 2nd)  

• Rylan Fogt (126, 4th)  

• Gavin Fish (132, 5th)  

• Aaden Myhr (150, 5th)  

• Cohen Warnell (165, 5th)  

• Camdyn Budde (190, 5th)  

• Carter Ites (215, 2nd)  

• Alston Loeb (285, 3rd)  

Just missing the podium but continuing to compete hard were freshmen Brady Greiman  (138), Carter Weide (144), and Ivan Martinez (157).  

Thursday Night Sweep: Pirates Go 4-0 in Dual Action  

Two nights before the Hudson Invite, the Pirates delivered another strong performance by going a perfect 4-0 in duals. The night was highlighted by two huge pins over ranked opponents—a major energy boost for the team.  

• Alston Loeb pinned #4-ranked Teagan Dybevik of Colfax-Mingo at heavyweight.  • Blake Taylor followed with a pin over #5-ranked Austin Henderson of Wayne-Corydon  at 175.  

Both wins were momentum-shifting moments that fueled the team’s success throughout the night.  

Wrestlers finishing the night undefeated at 4-0 were:  

• Mason Fogt  

• Camdyn Budde  

• Carter Ites  

• Alston Loeb  

• Blake Taylor  

Other contributors with big wins included Aaden Myhr, Rylan Fogt, Ivan Francisco, Isaac Ubben, Cohen Warnell, Gavin Fish, and Carter Weide.  

Staying on Track  

Overall, it was a tremendous effort by the entire lineup. The Pirates are continuing to  stack solid performances, build confidence, and embrace the challenges of the season. There’s  a lot to be proud of—and plenty of momentum moving forward.  

This week, Hudson will take on AGWSR and Columbus Thursday night in Ackley. The  weekend wraps up with the varsity at North Tama and the JV at East Marshall. 

Top Individual Records  

• Mason Fogt, Sr. – 25-2  

• Blake Taylor, Sr. – 26-2  

• Alston Loeb, Jr. – 26-3  

• Carter Ites, Jr. – 23-4