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2024-25 All-Union wrestling teams
WACO earns captain and coach honors
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
It’s that time of the year again as another All-Union wrestling list is released. Union area athletes experienced a lot of success on the mats this season and a plethora found themselves in the state tournament when all was said and done.
It was a particularly good year for WACO and Fairfield. The Trojans took a area high six wrestlers to the state tournament, while WACO finished with three. For the Warriors that includes a state champion and a state runner-up.
Fairfield leads the Union area with five total selections on this year’s list, while WACO follows with four, including the captain and coaches slot.
Mt. Pleasant, Washington, New London and Sigourney-Keota are all represented as well.
CAPTAIN: Louden Huisenga, WACO
Louden Huisenga was the top wrestler in the area this year, and the lone state title winner.
Huisenga got redemption after falling in the state title match a year ago. He bounced back to stand atop the 190 podium this season after a thrilling 7-6 decision victory over Wilton’s Gatlin Rogers in the state championship match.
With a perfect 42-0 record, Huisenga became just the fourth state champion in WACO history.
COACH: Seth Pugh, WACO
WACO head man Seth Pugh is pretty good at the coaching thing. Pugh, who was a state title winner himself for Columbus back in 2006, has only helped the WACO program get better and better.
This year, the program made history.
Pugh helped three wrestlers get to the state tournament and all three ended on the podium.
Most notably, Pugh helped 190 pounder Louden Huisenga to a state title, the first for Pugh as a coach and just the fourth in school history.
Freshman Ian Maize nearly notched a state title himself, finishing as the state runner-up at 106.
Finally, 120 pounder Gage Samo was a sixth-place finisher. Samo, who has been with Pugh the whole way as well, is the first three time placer at state for WACO.
106: Ian Maize, WACO
Freshman Ian Maize put together a fantastic first season, finishing with a record of 37-4 at 106.
Maize put together one of the best freshman seasons in Southeast Iowa.
He made it all the way to the state finals, but had to settle for second after an overtime loss to Kaiden Belinsky of Don Bosco 6-3.
113: Cael McCabe, Fairfield
Fairfield’s Cael McCabe solidified himself as one of the best in the area once again.
McCabe made another deep run at the state tournament this season.
While he didn’t get back to the state championship match, the junior lost just one match at the tournament, finishing 4-1, good enough for a third-place finish.
McCabe ended with a record of 37-3.
120: Gage Samo, WACO
One of WACO’s top wrestlers for four years has been Gage Samo. The Warrior closed out his career on the state podium.
The WACO senior finished sixth at 120 with an overall record of 38-5. Samo was one of the busiest wrestlers at state, competing in six matches.
He is WACO’s first three time placer.
126: Kane Forseen, New London
New London’s Kane Forseen was one of two Tigers to get to the state tournament.
Forseen just missed out on a podium finish at state, but closed with a pair of state wins and a record of 30-7. He will be one of the areas and Tigers top returners next season.
132: Aaron Boone, Washington
Aaron Boone has been one of Washington’s most dominant wrestlers through his four years.
The senior made it to the state tournament three straight times and finished third on the podium this season. That’s his best finish ever. Boone won five matches with just one loss keeping him from the state title match.
Boone went 50-4 this season.
138: Gage Burden, New London
Gage Burden put together his best season in his final go. The New London senior ended with a record of 43-9.
Burden notched his first career podium finish in his final campaign, taking sixth at 138 pounds.
He won four matches in the state tournament.
144: Zandrik Allison, Fairfield
Zandrik Allison burst onto the scene this season. The Trojan will be one of the top returners for Fairfield next season.
He got his first state tournament berth this season with a record of 37-16.
150: Ramzy Davis, Mt. Pleasant
As one of Mt. Pleasant top wrestlers a year ago, Ramzy Davis provided that role once again.
Davis just narrowly missed the state tournament after finishing third at districts. He ended the season with a record of 27-13.
157: Cason Miller, Fairfield
Fairfield’s Cason Miller has been one of the most consistent wrestlers in the area for four years now. The state tournament has been a constant for the Trojans senior and this year was no different.
Miller earned a trip to the state tournament all four years.
After finishing fourth last year at state, Miller ended his high school career in seventh. He posted a record of 39-4 this year.
165: Blaine Rees, Washington
Washington’s Blaine Rees was one of Washington’s top wrestlers this season. Rees showed a lot of improvement.
He just narrowly missed state after finishing third at districts. Rees concluded his season with a record of 38-12.
175: Dain Burkhart, Fairfield
At 175, Fairfield’s Dain Burkhart was one of the most improved wrestlers coming back for Fairfield.
Burkhart put together his most successful season for the black and orange, closing his season with three state tournament wins and a record of 39-6.
190: Payton Walker, Mt. Pleasant
Payton Walker stepped up for Mt. Pleasant this year, turning out to be one of the Panthers top performers on the mat.
Walker finished third at districts which kept him out of the state tournament, but he closed with a commendable record of 25-11.
215: Dre Smithburg, Fairfield
Dre Smithburg was another Fairfield wrestler that took strides through his senior season.
At 215, Smithburg picked up one state tournament win. Smithburg only got better as his career progressed, finishing his senior season with a record 42-7.
285: Owen Menke, Sigourney-Keota
Sigourney-Keota’s Owen Menke was the Cobras lone state tournament participant this season.
As one of the top 285 pounders in the area, Menke notched one win in the state tournament and finished the season with a final record of 38-11.
