Cathedral wrestling just finished a historic season with the state championships last weekend. The Irish sent seven wrestlers to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the state finals with freshmen through seniors representing the team.
The Irish had a lot of depth this 2025-2026 season with a wide variety of weight classes making it to downtown Indy for the state title. The seven wrestlers Cathedral sent were Tate St. Laurent ‘28-113, Aiden Carver ‘29-120, Brian Thomas ‘26-144, Caden Rodgers ‘27-150, Tyler Lavin ‘26-157, James Grimme ‘26-165, and Kyle Harden ‘26-190. To get their ultimate goal the Irish had to battle through adversity to achieve success.
Head Coach Sean McGinley ‘88 knew his team had to show their toughness to get to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. “We started the season off with so many injuries. Our team just needed to believe in the process. By the end of the season we got healthy and started to put it together and were able to win sectionals, regionals, semi-state and place 4 at the state tournament,” McGinley said.
Cathedral wrestling had a senior heavy class that was crucial to the team’s success. The Irish sent four seniors to state with Tyler Lavin and Kyle Harden both placing. McGinley understood the important of the class of 2026 and said, “An awesome senior class. Probably one of our largest senior classes we’ve had in some time. They set the tone on and off the mat. The majority of the days they walked through the doors with a smile on their face and the attitude to get better and work hard. It paid off.”
One of those seniors who’s had an incredible career with Cathedral wrestling is Kyle Harden. Harden wrestled varsity all four years and made it to state and placed all four years as well. Being a part of wrestling has been a huge part of Harden’s life that he’s very thankful for. “I’ve wrestled my whole life and it’s been an honor to wrestle here at Cathedral for the SWAMP. I think wrestling here has made me a stronger person, better football player, and I’m very thankful for all the coaches here who helped me,” Harden said.
McGinley knows Harden was one of a kind as a wrestler that does not come around all the time. McGinley said, “What Kyle has been able to accomplish at Cathedral has been amazing. Very few athletes come into their freshman year and are able to compete at the level he did and at that weight class. He’s one of the elite names in our program and he will be missed.”
Cathedral Wrestling will turn the page next year after graduating this year’s senior class. With a strong underclassmen base, with the likes of state qualifying Aiden Carver, the Irish wrestling program looks to be in good hands. Coach McGinley said, “Our younger kids are really going to have to put the load on their back next year and I believe they will be ready for the challenge.”
