2026 Dan Gable Mr. & Ms. Wrestler of the Year Finalists Trimmed, Osage/Denver Wrestlers Advance
Fareway Stores, Inc., IAwrestle, and Iowa Corn present the 2026 Dan Gable Mr. and Ms. Wrestler of the Year Awards, in coordination with the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (IWCOA).
The IWCOA accepted nominations from Iowa high school wrestling coaches in all three boys’ classes and two girls’ classes, regardless of grade or weight class. An IWCOA-selected committee then identified 15 finalists in each category to advance into the public voting phase.
Fans voted once per list at Facebook.com/IAwrestle for their favorite wrestler in each category through February 8th, with the list now narrowed down to the top seven. The next round of voting is open now until this Sunday (02.22) and will determine the top 3 finalists.
Among the final seven in the individual categories:
Vote – Class 2A Mr. Wrestler of the Year – Top 15
Blake Fox – Osage
Boden White – Denver
Gavin Landers – Denver
Vote – Class 1A Ms. Wrestler of the Year – Top 15
Abigail Peterson – Denver
Ainsley Hemann – Osage
Lilli Cooper – Denver
(All three girls won state titles last month)
Winning the fan vote does NOT automatically guarantee advancement. The committee consists of 12 voting members, with fan voting counts as ONE additional vote, serving as the 13th vote.
Winners will be announced at a banquet March 10th at the Fareway Conference Center in Boone.
