2026 Class 2 Boys 144lb State Preview

02/23/2026 1:45 PM

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Brant Laughlin is the favorite to win the 2026 Class 2 Boys 144lb state title.
The bracket is broken down into four quarters, each with strong contenders vying for a state medal.
The semifinal matchups to watch are Ryan Sharp vs. Brant Laughlin and Elijah Avery vs. Cooper Collins.
The projected medal stand has Brant Laughlin in 1st place, followed by Cooper Collins, Kamden Hooper, Ryan Sharp, Elijah Avery, and Aften Dowler.
Key teams in contention for the team title include Seneca, Odessa, Father Tolton Regional Catholic, Ste. Genevieve, and Southern Boone.

2026 Class 2 Boys 144lb State Preview

The roadmap to the state podium is here. We’ve analyzed the 2026 Class 2 Boys 144lb bracket using season-long head-to-head results and our established individual rankings to project the path to the finals.

The below information is based solely on our latest round of rankings. We fully understand wrestling has to happen on the mat, there will be countless upsets, and wrestlers will wrestle differently at state. Enjoy the week, and have a successful and safe week to everyone.

Deep Dive: View our complete Class 2 144lb Individual Rankings for a full breakdown of the field.

The Favorite

Brant Laughlin (Seneca) enters as the #1 ranked wrestler in the state. With a dominant season record, Brant is the front-runner to stand atop the podium in this bracket.

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