Iowa Wrestling will be well represented at U20 World Team Trials and U23 Nationals in Geneva, Ohio this weekend.

The U20 WTT will be on Saturday, June 3. Gabe Arnold has already qualified for the Best of 3 finals at 79 KG from winning U20 Nationals in Las Vegas in April. Kale Petersen had a real impressive showing at U20 Nationals in placing second at 61 KG. Arnold, Petersen, and Ryder Block (65 KG) are in the Iowa Recruiting Class of 2023.

Jace Rhodes (61 KG), Joel Jesuroga (70 KG), Aiden Riggins (74 KG), and Brad Hill (125 KG) just completed their true freshman season at Iowa.

The winner of the U20 WTT will represent Team USA at the U20 World Championships in Warsaw, Poland in August.

U23 Nationals will be on Saturday and Sunday. Current Iowa Hawkeyes Cullan Schriever (61 (KG), Caleb Rathjen (70 KG), Bretli Reyna (70 KG), and Sebastian Robles (74 KG) will compete. 

Of all the Hawks competing this weekend I am most looking forward to seeing how Rathjen does. I believe Rathjen has a huge upside and is underrated by Iowa Wrestling fans. I believe Rathjen has the goods to be elite. We will get some answers this weekend.

FloWrestling will provide a live stream for all of the wrestling on their premium service.

U20 WTT

Kale Petersen – 61 KG

Jace Rhodes – 61 KG

Ryder Block – 65 KG

Joel Jesuroga – 70 KG

Aiden Riggins – 74 KG

Gabe Arnold – 79 KG

Brad Hill – 125 KG

U23 Nationals

Cullan Schriever – 61 KG

Caleb Rathjen – 70 KG

Bretli Reyna – 70 KG

Sebastian Robles – 74 KG

*****All times listed are CST.

Saturday, June 3rd

U20 Freestyle and U23 Freestyle

Session 1: Freestyle

U20 Freestyle World Team Trials

Challenge Tournament – Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Challenge Finals & Consolations

8:30 AM – 1:30 PM

U23 Freestyle

Preliminaries and Consolations

8:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Session 2: Freestyle

U20 Freestyle World Team Trials

FINAL WTT Best 2 out of 3 finals

3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

U23 Freestyle

Preliminaries, and Consolations

3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Sunday, June 4th

U23 Freestyle

Session 3: U23 Freestyle

Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Consolations, All Medal Matches, and Best 2 out of 3 Finals

9:00 AM to 2:30 PM

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Angelo Ferrari, the #1 overall ranked recruit in the Class of 2024 by Flo, has committed to the University of Iowa. Ferrari made his announcement on Flo where he picked the Hawks over Rutgers and Virginia Tech. 

Ferrari won a state title for Melissa High School in Texas this past season at 175 lbs. and is ranked #1 in the country at 170 lbs. by MatScouts. He is projected to compete at 184 for the Hawks.

Ferrari stormed through the competition last season with impressive wins that put him as the overall top recruit for the Class of 2024. Ferrari looked dominant in defeating reigning World champion and Penn State recruit Joe Sealy 10-2 at Who’s #1 last fall.

It sounds as though Ferrari will be ready to go as a true freshman for the 2024-2025 season at 184 for the Hawks. Building a 1-2 punch at 174/184 in the lineup of Gabe Arnold/Angelo Ferrari would go a long ways in getting Iowa back on top in the college wrestling world.

Ferrari joins Keyan Hernandez of Billings, Montana (120 lbs) and Miguel Estrada of Bakersfield, California (145 lbs.) in the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2024.

H-U-G-E pickup for the Iowa Wrestling team.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

National champions Brent Metcalf and Dan Sherman will be inducted into the Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be open to the public in the Feller Club Room in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Friday, September 1. This will be the evening before the Iowa football season opener against Utah State.

To be eligible for the Iowa Athletic Hall of Fame athletes must have at least one varsity letter and completed their eligibility ten years prior to induction. 

From HawkeyeSports.com:

Brent Metcalf, Wrestling (2008-10)

Two-time NCAA champion (2008, 2010) at 149 pounds… three-time All-American (2008, 2009, 2010)… 2008 Dan Hodge Trophy recipient… 2008 Jesse Owens Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year… 2008 Iowa Male Athlete of the Year… 2008 Outstanding Wrestler at the NCAA and Big Ten Championships… 2008 Big Ten Wrestler of the Year… 2009 Outstanding Wrestler of the Big Ten Championships… two-time Big Ten champion (2008, 2009)… led the Hawkeyes to three straight NCAA and Big Ten team titles (2008, 2009, 2010)… Iowa’s 2009 Big Ten Medal of Honor Award recipient… five-time Big Ten Wrestler of the Week… finished his collegiate career with a 108-3 record with a .973 winning percentage – second-best in program history… had a 69-match winning streak from 2008-09 – tied for the fourth longest streak all-time… had 47 career falls (seventh-most all-time), including 20 falls in 2008-09 – the fourth-most in a single season in program history… two-time Mike Howard Team MVP Award recipient… 2009 John & Dorothy Sill Award recipient (most dedicated)… three-time Academic All-Big Ten and NWCA Division I All-Academic Team selection… 2010 ESPN The Magazine First-Team Academic All-American… two-time Dean’s List honoree… four-time World Team member (2010, 2013, 2014, 2015)… 2014 World Cup champion.

Daniel Sherman, Wrestling (1970-73)

1973 NCAA Champion at 118 pounds… two-time All-American (1972, 1973)… 1973 Big Ten champion… Iowa’s 1973 Big Ten Medal of Honor Award recipient… helped Iowa to a pair of Big Ten runner-up team finishes… team placed 11th at NCAA Championships in 1972 and tied for seventh in 1973.

Congratulations to Brent Metcalf and Dan Sherman for receiving this great honor.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Joey Cruz announced on Instagram that he will transfer to the University of Iowa. Cruz had entered the transfer portal after spending one year at Oklahoma. He will have four years of eligibility remaining.

Cruz was 2-2 this past season as a redshirt at 125 in his only competition of the season at the Michigan State Open. He is projected to remain at 125 for his career.

Originally from Fresno, California (Clovis North High) Cruz was ranked #1 in the country at 113 lbs. and #52 overall by MatScouts in 2022. 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Cullan Schriever, Aiden Riggins, and Jace Rhodes of the Iowa Wrestling team have been named to the President’s List for the spring semester.

The requirements for this honor is to have a 4.0 grade point average as a full time student on all academic subjects for the 2023 spring semester.

Schriever is a redshirt sophomore from Mason City, Iowa. He has been named to the President’s List and Dean’s List in each of his three years at Iowa. Earlier this week Schriever was named to the College Sports Communicators At-Large Academic All-District team and is now on the national ballot.

This past season Schriever was 11-6 and ranked as high as #13 in the country at 133 lbs. He is a three-time letterwinner for the Hawks.

Aiden Rigins is a true freshman from Janesville, Iowa (Waverly-Shell Rock HS) who was also named to the Dean’s List in the fall semester. He had an 11-5 record this season competing at 157/165/174. Riggins is majoring in Business.

Rhodes is a true freshman from Mason City, Iowa and was also named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester. Rhodes was 11-4 this past season at 133 lbs. and is majoring in Biology.

Congratulations to Cullan Schriever, Aiden Riggins, and Jace Rhodes for this honor. That is impressive to have that type of commitment to academics and Iowa Wrestling.

Another great example of Iowa Wrestling getting it done on the mat and in the classroom.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Cullan Schriever of the University of Iowa Wrestling program has been named to the College Sports Communicators At-Large Academic All-District team. Schriever now advances to the national ballot. To qualify a student athlete must maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA and compete in a minimum amount of competitions. 

Schriever has a 4.14 grade point average as a finance major. He has been named to the Dean’s List three times, Academic All-Big Ten twice, and President’s List twice.

Schriever is a redshirt sophomore from Mason City, Iowa. This past season Schriever was 11-6 and ranked as high as #13 in the country at 133 lbs. He is a three-time letterwinner for the Hawks.

That is impressive to compete at such a high level both on and off the mat while representing the University of Iowa.

Congratulations Cullan Schriever.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Two-time national finalist Jaycee Foeller has announced that she is transferring to the University of Iowa Women’s Wrestling program. Foeller was a national runner-up for Central Methodist this past season and for McKendree in 2022. Foeller was a teammate of current Hawkeye Felicity Taylor who transferred to Iowa from McKendree last season.

Foeller will have two years of eligibility and will be eligible for the upcoming season at 191 lbs.

Originally from DeSoto, Missouri, Foeller was a three-time state champion and 121-0 in high school. Foeller was a member of the United State Development Team in high school and was ranked #1 in the country as a senior.

The Hawks signed 15 incoming recruits and transfers in the Class of 2022. Iowa has already received commitments from eight wrestlers for the Recruiting Class of 2023 in addition to two-time national finalist Foeller and national champion Marlynne Deede as transfers.

The University of Iowa is the first Division I Power 5 Conference member to have women’s wrestling. The Hawks have their first year of official competition next season.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The National Girls High School Rankings have been released. Incoming University of Iowa wrestlers are well represented for the Recruiting Class of 2023.

In the pound-for-pound rankings Rose Cassioppi is #14 and Lilly Luft is #17. 

Lilly Luft is ranked #1 at 138. Emily Frost (132), Rose Cassioppi (164), Alivia White (180) are ranked #2. Haley Ward is ranked #3 at 164 and Ava Rose is #11 at 112.

I also want to mention that Marlynne Deede is transferring into the program for her senior season. Deede is a four-time All American and won the NCWWC national title this past season at 155 lbs. 

The Hawks signed 15 incoming recruits and transfers in the Class of 2022. Iowa has already received commitments from eight wrestlers for the Recruiting Class of 2023 in addition to national champion Marlynne Deede and two-time national finalist Jaycee Foeller as transfers.

The University of Iowa is the first Division I Power 5 Conference member to have women’s wrestling. The Hawks have their first year of official competition next season.

Iowa will put a very competitive team on the mat in their first year of competition. I am looking forward to it.

Iowa Women’s Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2023 in the National Girls High School Rankings

Ava Rose –  #11 at 112

Bella Ngo – 116 

Emily Frost – #2 at 132

Lilly Luft – #1 at 138

Danni Swihart – 135 

Rose Cassioppi – #2 at 164

Haley Ward – #3 at 164

Alivia White – #2 at 180

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Three Iowa wrestlers competed at the World Team Trials Tournament this weekend at Discovery Canyon High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Austin DeSanto placed third at 61 KG. After dropping a semifinal round loss to Nahshon Garrett by a 10-0 tech fall DeSanto won two matches in consolations. He defeated Aden Valencia 7-0 and Nathan Tomasell by a 15-4 tech fall to place third.

At 125 KG Tony Cassioppi dropped a quarterfinal round match to Mason Parris 10-0. In the consolations Cassioppi scored a 14-3 tech fall win over Demertius Thomas and then lost a 4-1 match to Dom Bradley. Cassioppi, already a four-time All American, will be a senior next season for the Hawks.

Austin DeSanto and Tony Cassioppi both represented the Hawkeye Wrestling Club. 

Kylie Welker, competing for the Hawkeye Women’s Wrestling Club, placed third at 76 KG, Welker pinned Tristan Kelly in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals Welker lost 14-3 to six-time World champion Adeline Gray. In the consolation semifinals Welker pinned Precious Bell. In the consolation finals Welker won by a 12-2 tech fall over Yelena Makoyed.

That was three big wins for Welker who just finished her true freshman season for the Hawks. Great future for Kylie Welker for Iowa Wrestling and Team USA.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Current and former Iowa wrestlers will be competing at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament this weekend. The competition will take place at Discovery Canyon High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Sunday, May 21.

The winner of the WTT Challenge Tournament will face a defending World medalist or 2023 U.S. Open champ at Final X in Newark, New Jersey on June 10. The winner of Final X will represent Team USA at the 2023 World Freestyle Championships in Belgrade, Serbia in September.

Austin DeSanto and Tony Cassioppi will represent the Hawkeye Wrestling Club. DeSanto looked real good in placing second at the recent U.S. Open and is seeded #1 at 61 KG. I love the way the seeds look at this time and I really like DeSanto’s chances to win this tournament.

Tony Cassioppi is seeded #7 at 125 KG. Cassioppi won a World title at the 2022 U23 World Freestyle Championships and won the Bronze last year at U23 Worlds. Cassioppi will be a senior next season for the Hawks where he is already a four-time All American.

Kylie Welker will represent the Hawkeye Women’s Wrestling Club. Welker placed fifth at the U.S. Open and is seeded #4 at 76 KG. I like her draw for this tournament. In 2021 as a high school junior Welker was runner-up in the Olympic Trials, won a U20 World title, and a Bronze at the U23 World Championships.

Bella Mir qualified for the WTT Challenge Tournament at 68 KG after placing sixth at the U.S. Open but will not be competing. Mir won the 68 KG title at U20 Nationals and will represent Team USA at the 2023 U20 World Freestyle Championships in Warsaw, Poland in August.

Welker and Mir are both true freshmen at Iowa. The Hawks will have their first year of competition in the 2023-24 season. 

The tournament will be streamed live on FloWrestling.com.

I will post a follow up blog with results.

2023 Senior World Team Trials Challenge on Sunday, May 21

9 AM – Women’s and Men’s Freestyle (Prelims, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Consolations)

2 PM – Women’s and Men’s Freestyle (Consolation Semifinals)

3:30 PM – Women’s and Men’s Freestyle (Finals, Third Place)

*****All times CST

61 KG

1. Austin DeSanto, Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC
2. Seth Gross, Sunkist Kids WC
3. Daton Fix, Titan Mercury WC
4. Nahshon Garrett, Lehigh Valley WC/Titan Mercury WC
5. Nathan Tomasello, Cliff Keen WC/Titan Mercury WC
6. Joe Colon, Titan Mercury WC
7. Aden Valencia, California RTC/Titan Mercury WC

125 KG

1. Nick Gwiazdowski, Spartan Combat RTC/Titan Mercury WC
2. Mason Parris, Cliff Keen WC/Titan Mercury WC
3. Wyatt Hendrickson, Air Force RTC
4. Dominique Bradley, Sunkist Kids WC
5. Ty Walz, Southeast RTC/Titan Mercury WC
6. Demetrius Thomas, Pittsburgh WC/New York AC
7. Anthony Cassioppi, Hawkeye WC

76 KG

1. Adeline Gray, New York AC
2. Yelena Makoyed, Titan Mercury WC/Cardinal WC
3. Dymond Guilford, Titan Mercury WC/USOPTC
4. Kylie Welker, Titan Mercury WC/Iowa Women’s WC
5. Tristan Kelly, Army WCAP
6. Precious Bell, Titan Mercury WC
7. Ashley Lekas, Minnesota Gold WC
8. Skylar Grote, Titan Mercury WC/Beaver Dam RTC
9. Nahiela Magee, Army WCAP
10. Brooklyn Hays, Minnesota Gold WC

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!