The Irish overcame adversity and maximized opportunity. Cathedral High School wrestling did both in 2025-2026, with one of the state’s top programs again competing through obstacles to turn in yet another strong and memorable postseason. “They just kept getting better and better,” Irish wrestling coach Sean McGinley said. The ’25-’26 Irish finished ninth at the 2026 Indiana High School Athletic Association State Finals, with seven wrestlers qualifying for the state finals. The Irish as a team won sectional, regional and semi-state titles in ’26. “They just hung in there the whole year,” McGinley said. “It was a grind and what they did at the end was about everything they could have. You couldn’t ask for anything more.” The Irish, after a slew of early-season injuries and absences, won the Section 20 title at Arsenal Tech with 331 points ahead of Bishop Chatard with 179. They then won the Region 10 title at Pendleton Heights with 237.5 points ahead of Noblesville with 215.5 points. The Irish – Indiana state team champions in 2014 and 2018-2020 – won the New Castle semi state with 165 points ahead of second-place New Palestine with 116 points, with 12 wrestlers having qualified for the semi-state meet. McGinley said he will remember the ’26 season not just for a strong finish, but for a strong senior class that persevered through back-to-back seasons made difficult by injuries. “It's one of the largest classes we've had,” he said. “We had about 11 seniors and to have 11 seniors stay through the program is pretty exceptional – and all 11 guys are quality. They’re great, quality kids and enjoyable in practice. They just came to work and did the work inside and outside the classroom. Just a fun group to be around. “You had a mixture of guys who had success early and guys who did the grind. You need both to have a successful program.” The ’25-’26 Irish were led by: *Ethan Bayliss, sophomore (36-4), 106 pounds: Won sectional and regional with a second-round loss at semi state to Southmont sophomore Lukas Scott in a fall at 4:58. *Tate St. Laurent, sophomore (43-4), 113 pounds: Won sectional, regional and semi state with a fifth-place fifth at state with a 12-3 decision over Lake Central sophomore Cruz Orueta. *Aiden Carver, freshman (40-4), 120 pounds: Won sectional, regional and semi-state with a third-place finish at state with a 3-0 decision over Roncalli senior Peyton Schoettle. *Jackson Lavin, sophomore (30-11), 126 pounds: Won sectional and finished as the regional runner-up with a second-round semi-state loss to Eastern Hancock junior Bradyn Vols 17-0 in a technical fall at 4:30. *Gino Duncan, senior (15-11), 132 pounds: Won sectional and finished second at regional with a first-round semi-state loss to Warren Central senior Dylan Willis 7-0. *Cullen Crowley, senior (11-3), 138 pounds: Won sectional and regional with a second-round semi-state loss to Franklin Central sophomore Colt Goodman 6-0 after undergoing early-season finger surgery. “He never gave up hope and was able to go with a couple of weeks to go,” McGinley said. “He went from a 20 percent chance to wrestle to actually wrestling.” *Brian Thomas, senior (31-12), 144 pounds: Won sectional and regional and finished third at semi state with a first-round state loss to Center Grove junior Peyton Hornsby, 15-0, in a technical fall at 3:29. Thomas returned for his senior season after missing ’24-’25 with an injury. “A great year for him,” McGinley said. *Caden Rodgers, junior (9-2), 150 pounds: Won sectional and regional and finished third at semi state with a first-round state loss to Columbus East senior Caleb Kirkpatrick 6-4. *Tyler Lavin, senior (34-15), 157 pounds: Won sectional and finished second at regional and semi state. He finished eighth at state with a 1-0 decision to Rossville senior Jacob Weaver. *James Grimme, senior (32-11), 165 pounds: Won sectional, finished second at regional and semi state. He lost to Franklin Community junior Cameron Summers 10-5 In the first round at state. *Jimmy Pappas, senior (15-9), 175 pounds: Won sectional and finished third at the regional with a first-round semi-state loss to Roncalli senior Michael Morton 13-2. “He’ll be sorely missed,” McGinley said. *Kyle Harden, senior (40-6), 190 pounds: Won sectional and regional and finished second at semi state. He finished fourth at state with an 11-8 decision to Columbus East junior Colin McMahon and was a team leader. “He’s been carrying this team for four years,” McGinley said. “The amount of four-time place-winners is very small and he did it at a weight class where that doesn’t happen often.” *Nolan Blevins, senior (9-17), 215 pounds: Finished second at sectional and lost in the first round in the regional, 22-5, in a technical fall to Tipton junior Brayden Hight. *Paul Brown, junior (4-5), 285 pounds: Finished fifth at sectional. “Once everybody was healthy, we didn't have much time, but we got everybody on the right track,” McGinley said. “We wrestled well in the tournament. We maxed out and it was not only injuries, but sickness was going around, which everybody has to deal with. “With all that adversity, we did about as well as we could. We were right there to have an exceptional state tournament. We wrestled really well. We wrestled well, we just left a few out there.”