The 2024-25 wrestling season at Ironwood High School was a standout year under the leadership of first-year Head Coach John Walker. The Eagles placed 4th overall at the Division II AIA State Tournament, highlighted by seven boys' state qualifiers, two girls' state qualifiers, and three undefeated state champions.
Key Contributors
Ironwood’s success was fueled by a core group of standout wrestlers:
AJ Lopez (138 lbs): Finished the season as an undefeated state champion (49-0) after being the runner-up in 2024.
Julian Macias (144 lbs): Also an undefeated state champion (20-0) and a two-time state champ, impressively returning from a major knee injury.
Daniel Ucelo (215 lbs): Earned second place at state with an outstanding 44-5 record.
JJ Bamba (120 lbs): Secured third place at state and became a two-time state placer with a 45-5 record.
Matthew McCoy (150 lbs): A rapidly improving athlete, qualified for state with a 37-14 record, remarkable for a second-year wrestler.
Karsen Kosier (157 lbs): A three-time state qualifier with a 25-9 record.
Michael Villa (113 lbs): Wrapped up his career as a two-time state qualifier with a 24-12 record.
On the girls' side:
Jussiah Bamba (126 lbs): Completed a perfect 42-0 season to become an undefeated state champion.
Kalis Lockett (120 lbs): Also qualified for state, finishing with a 17-14 record.
Season Highlights and Reflections
Coach Walker considered the season a major success, especially given it was his first year leading the program. The team showed steady improvement, peaking at the right time during the postseason. One of the season’s defining moments was winning the Eagle Invitational, Ironwood’s home tournament featuring over 30 teams — a victory that energized the team heading into Sectionals.
While there were tremendous achievements, the team faced challenges as well, particularly in dual meets where forfeiting 2-3 weight classes impacted their ability to compete against top teams.
Player Development
Among the biggest surprises was the rapid development of Matthew McCoy, who transitioned from JV to a key varsity contributor and state qualifier in just one season. His coachability and work ethic set him apart.
Handling Adversity
The team's top performers, particularly Lopez, Macias, and Bamba, demonstrated incredible composure under pressure, maintaining perfect records throughout a grueling season. Macias' return from injury to claim another state title was particularly inspiring.
Leadership and the Senior Class
The graduating seniors — including Michael Villa, Xavier Gonzales, Karsen Kosier, Sebastian McDermott, and Daniel Ucelo — provided strong leadership and significant contributions on the mat.
Notably, Jussiah Bamba helped put Ironwood's girls wrestling program on the map, leaving a lasting legacy.
Looking Ahead
The future of Ironwood wrestling looks bright. With stars like Lopez, Macias, Bamba, and McCoy returning — and with a focus on strength training and skill development this offseason — Coach Walker is confident the foundation he built this year will carry the program to even greater heights.
"I’m excited about our returners and hope to see big growth through offseason training and summer wrestling," Walker said.
Stats
Team and individual statistics are available on TrackWrestling or by request via Google Docs from Coach Walker.
: Finished the season as an undefeated state champion (49-0) after being the runner-up in 2024.
Julian Macias (144 lbs): Also an undefeated state champion (20-0) and a two-time state champ, impressively returning from a major knee injury.
Daniel Ucelo (215 lbs): Earned second place at state with an outstanding 44-5 record.
JJ Bamba (120 lbs): Secured third place at state and became a two-time state placer with a 45-5 record.
Matthew McCoy (150 lbs): A rapidly improving athlete, qualified for state with a 37-14 record, remarkable for a second-year wrestler.
Karsen Kosier (157 lbs): A three-time state qualifier with a 25-9 record.
Michael Villa (113 lbs): Wrapped up his career as a two-time state qualifier with a 24-12 record.
On the girls' side:
Jussiah Bamba (126 lbs): Completed a perfect 42-0 season to become an undefeated state champion.
Kalis Lockett (120 lbs): Also qualified for state, finishing with a 17-14 record.
Season Highlights and Reflections
Coach Walker considered the season a major success, especially given it was his first year leading the program. The team showed steady improvement, peaking at the right time during the postseason. One of the season’s defining moments was winning the Eagle Invitational, Ironwood’s home tournament featuring over 30 teams — a victory that energized the team heading into Sectionals.
While there were tremendous achievements, the team faced challenges as well, particularly in dual meets where forfeiting 2-3 weight classes impacted their ability to compete against top teams.
Player Development
Among the biggest surprises was the rapid development of Matthew McCoy, who transitioned from JV to a key varsity contributor and state qualifier in just one season. His coachability and work ethic set him apart.
Handling Adversity
The team's top performers, particularly Lopez, Macias, and Bamba, demonstrated incredible composure under pressure, maintaining perfect records throughout a grueling season. Macias' return from injury to claim another state title was particularly inspiring.
Leadership and the Senior Class
The graduating seniors — including Michael Villa, Xavier Gonzales, Karsen Kosier, Sebastian McDermott, and Daniel Ucelo — provided strong leadership and significant contributions on the mat.
Notably, Jussiah Bamba helped put Ironwood's girls wrestling program on the map, leaving a lasting legacy.
Looking Ahead
The future of Ironwood wrestling looks bright. With stars like Lopez, Macias, Bamba, and McCoy returning — and with a focus on strength training and skill development this offseason — Coach Walker is confident the foundation he built this year will carry the program to even greater heights.
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