Wrestling: Pirates Roll to 11th Straight Winning Season, Carry Momentum into Districts

By Coach Wayne Haskovec  

The Hudson Pirates wrestling team kept its momentum rolling with another exciting week on the mat, earning multiple dual victories and continuing an impressive stretch of success since Christmas break. The Pirates have now won 11 consecutive duals and own a  15-3 record since the holiday break (18-10 overall). With that, Hudson has officially secured its  11th straight winning season.  

On Thursday night, the Pirates made up a previously postponed NICL triangular against Columbus Catholic and AGWSR. The evening began with a key win from Max Erisman, who  helped set the tone early and jump-start the Pirate effort. From there, Hudson delivered a complete team performance, with victories from Hazen Kilpatrick, Mason Fogt, Rylan Fogt, Carter Weide, Cooper Hamer, Casey Greiman, Cohen Warnell, Ivan Martinez, Camdyn Budde, Carter Ites, Francisco Martinez, and Alston Loeb. On the junior varsity side, Eduardo Colindres battled to the final whistle in a wild heavyweight match, coming up just short in a hard-fought  effort.  

The Pirates went on to defeat AGWSR 51-17 and Columbus Catholic 48-32.  Earlier in the week, Hudson traveled to Colesburg for a quad meet against Bellevue, MFL MarMac, and Dubuque Wahlert. The varsity competition was held in the elementary gym rather than the newer facility in Edgewood, creating a unique atmosphere with its old-style wooden ceiling and one-of-a-kind setting. The Pirates responded with another strong night,  winning all three duals:  

• Hudson 66, Bellevue 12  

• Hudson 54, MFL MarMac 24  

• Hudson 54, Dubuque Wahlert 30  

Hudon’s depth and youth have been on full display this season, as the Pirates at one point featured five freshmen in the varsity lineup. Additional wins throughout the week were earned by Brady Greiman, Blake Taylor, Miguel Gomez, Devin Lang, Isaac Ubben, and Aaden Myhr, as Hudson continues to show steady growth across all weight classes.  

Current individual win leaders for the Pirates include:  

• Blake Taylor (Sr.) 40-2  

• Carter Ites (Jr.) 39-5  

• Alston Loeb (Jr.) 38-5  

• Mason Fogt (Sr.) 32-5  

• Devin Lang (Sr.) 13-3  

• Justin Gavigan (Sr.) 7-1  

Freshmen and sophomores with 20 or more varsity wins this season include Carter Weide (Fr.)  23, Ivan Martinez (Fr.) 24, Brady Greiman (Fr.) 22, Rylan Fogt (So.) 21, and Aaden Myhr (So.) 22.  

Hudson has relied heavily on young wrestlers throughout the season, and that experience is building toughness and confidence for the future. The Pirates have developed a strong nucleus  to build from moving forward, and every wrestler’s effort has played a role in the team’s success.  

Two seniors deserve special recognition for their dedication and leadership this season.  Francisco Martinez knew early on that he would not be able to compete at the varsity level due to state transfer protocol requiring him to sit for 90 days, ending his varsity season before it  truly began. Despite the setback, Francisco has competed in as many JV matches as possible,  and there is no doubt the 190-pound senior would have had a major impact on the varsity  lineup. 

Fellow senior Miguel Gomez has also faced challenges, returning to the mat only within the past two weeks after suffering an injury before the season. Miguel, who earned 22 wins last year at 215, is another wrestler who would have provided a major boost for Hudson throughout the season. Both seniors have continued to support their teammates and maintain outstanding  attitudes, and we are thankful for their leadership.  

With another total team effort from wrestlers, managers and cheerleaders, Hudson continues to  build momentum heading into the postseason. The Pirates travel to districts this Saturday, with wrestling beginning at 10 a.m. at MFL MarMac High School in Monona.  

Come out and support your Pirates!