Bellarmine wins NWCA Nationals

Bellarmine won the NWCA Nationals in Bossier City, Louisiana for the second year in a row. Bellarmine won the team title with 245.5 points followed by Liberty at 182 and Thomas More at 143.5.

Bellarmine had six champions and nine wrestlers placed in the top four.

Former Iowa Hawkeye Ned Shuck has been the head coach of Bellarmine since July 2021. Shuck, originally from Mapleton, Minnesota, graduated with a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Iowa in 2005. 

As a member of the Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling program Shuck was a four-year letter winner and three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.  In 2005 Shuck was awarded the J. Donald McPike Award for the highest GPA of any graduating Iowa Wrestling senior.

 


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Bellarmine competed in the NWCA Nationals because they are transitioning to Division I.

Next season Bellarmine will be a Division I member of the Southern Conference (SoCon). They will be eligible to compete at the SoCon Tournament to qualify for the 2025 NCAA National Wrestling Championships.

Bellarmine is a private college in Louisville, Kentucky with an enrollment of 3,800 students.

Congratulations Coach Shuck on winning NWCA Nationals.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Nationals Preview – 165

Mike Caliendo will be the #6 seed at 165 that may be the best weight class in the country.

Caliendo is 24-4 on the season with two pins, seven tech falls, and five major decisions. In the InterMat rankings last week Caliendo was #6.

In the first round at Nationals Caliendo will face Blaine Brenner of Minnesota. Caliendo defeated Brenner by a 19-4 tech fall at Soldier Salute at the end of December and 5-1 in the dual meet in January.

If I had to pick one of the top four seeds to face in the Quarterfinals it would without a doubt be Julian Ramirez of Cornell, Caliendo’s potential opponent. Caliendo-Ramirez would be a fun match to watch. I like that it would be right after weigh-ins on Friday morning. A possible edge for Caliendo.

This is such a tough weight that getting on the podium as an All American will be quite an accomplishment. I look for Caliendo to place and have a good tournament.

 


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Brackets for the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships:

https://www.ncaa.com/_flysystem/public-s3/images/2024/03/13/2024NCAAd1Wrestlingbrackets.pdf

 

Mike Caliendo – 165

Mateo De La Pena (Cal Baptist) W-TF 23-7 1-0 

Luther Open – First Place 

   Robert Flege (Wisconsin-La Crosse) W-MD 11-2 2-0 

   Allen Catour (Loras) W-TF 17-1 3-0 

   Bryce McDonough (Luther) W-Pin 1:17 4-0 

   Cooper Willis (Augsburg) W-MD 13-3 5-0 

   Drake Rhodes (Iowa) W-TF 20-4 6-0 

   Kekana Fouret (Oregon State) W-D 15-10 7-0 

#2 David Carr (Iowa State) L-MD 16-4 7-1 

Lucas Revano (Penn) W-MD 14-5 8-1 

Kyle Mosher (Columbia) W-MD 18-5 9-1 

Soldier Salute – 1st Place 

   R.J. Weston (Northern Iowa) W-MD 17-5 10-1 

   Kyle Mosher (Columbia) W-TF 20-5 11-1 

   Blaine Brenner (Minnesota) W-TF 19-4 12-1 

   Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) W-D 7-3 13-1 

#19 Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) W-D 8-3 14-1 

#30 Blaine Brenner (Minnesota) W-D 5-1 15-1 

Stoney Buell (Purdue) W-D 9-4 16-1 

#24 Chris Moore (Illinois) W-TF 17-2 17-1 

#15 Maxx Mayfield (Northwestern) W-TF 21-5 18-1 

Beau Mantanona (Michigan) W-D 9-4 19-1 

#7 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) L-D 12-6 19-2 

#5 Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) L-D 14-11 19-3 

#3 Izzak Olejnik (Oklahoma State) W-D 7-2 20-3

Big Ten Championships – 3rd Place 

   AJ Rodriguez (Maryland) W-Pin 5:30 21-3 

   #10 Cameron Amine (Michigan) W-D 5-2 SV1 22-3 

   #5 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) L-TF 23-7 22-4 

   Chris Moore (Illinois) W-MD 18-5 23-4 

   #10 Cameron Amine (Michigan) W-D 8-5 SV1 24-4

 

Schedule for the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships

***All time listed are CST

Thursday, March 21 

Session 1: Championship First Round  11 AM  ESPNU/ESPNt

Session 2: Championship Second Round and Consolations  6 PM  ESPN/ESPNt

Friday, March 22

Session 3: Quarterfinals and Consolations  11 AM  ESPN/ESPNt

Session 4: Semifinals and Blood Round  7 PM  ESPN/ESPNt

Saturday, March 23

Session 5: Consolation Medal Round  10 AM  ESPNU/ESPNt

Session 6: Finals  6 PM  ESPN/ESPNt

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Nationals Preview – 157

Jared Franek will be the #10 seed at 157 in the NCAA National Tournament. I wanted to start with that because #10 is the lowest Franek has been ranked all season. As a matter of fact Franek spent quite a bit of the season ranked #2 in the country.

What has changed to go from #2 to #10? Not much that I can tell. 

Franek is 23-4 for the season with six tech falls and two major decisions.

The great news about Franek being seeded #10 is the draw that he has at Nationals. As a Hawkeye fan I do not know how you could have asked for a better draw for us here at 157 for a #10 seed.

In the first round at Nationals Franek will face Joey Blaze of Purdue. Franek defeated Blaze 2-1 in the dual meet and 5-2 in the Consolation Semifinals at Big Tens. That will be a tough first round match.

A potential second round opponent would be #7 seed Peyten Keller of Ohio. Keller was ranked #13 at 157 in the recent InterMat Rankings where Franek was #6. Beyond that would be #2 seed Jacori Teemer of Arizona State in the Quarterfinals. 

Should those matchups take place, I like Franek. The Big Ten schedule from this season has Franek prepared for this tournament.

The potential is there for Jared Franek having a run to the NCAA Finals like Joe Johnston did for the Hawks in 2005. Johnston was the #8 seed at 157 and lost a close match in the NCAA Finals. I see a lot of similarities in Franek and Johnston in style.

I look at the wrestler, not what their seed is.

 


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Brackets for the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships:

https://www.ncaa.com/_flysystem/public-s3/images/2024/03/13/2024NCAAd1Wrestlingbrackets.pdf

 

Jared Franek (157)

Drayden Morton (Cal Baptist) W-D 8-1 1-0 

Luther Open – 1st Place 

   John Ebaugh (Upper Iowa) W-TF 16-1 2-0 

   Blain Christie (Wartburg) W-TF 18-1 3-0 

   Daniel Meeker (Wartburg) W-TF 19-2 4-0 

   Blake Jagodzinske (Augsburg) W-TF 17-2 5-0 

   Caleb Meunier (Minnesota State Mankato) W-MD 21-7 6-0 

Murphy Menke (Oregon State) W-D 10-3 7-0 

#18 Cody Chittum (Iowa State) W-D 4-2 8-0 

#26 Jude Swisher (Penn) W-D 4-2 9-0 

Jaden Le (Columbia) W-D 9-5 10-0 

Soldier Salute – 1st Place

   James Conway (Missouri) W-D 4-1 11-0 

   Kyler Wong (Minnesota) W-TF 17-1 12-0 

   Jason Krassier (Iowa State) W-MD 13-3 13-0 

 #17 Cael Swensen (SDSU) W-D 4-1 SV1 14-0 

#3 Peyton Robb (Nebraska) W-D 5-4 15-0 

#11 Michael Blockhus (Minnesota) L-D 5-4 15-1 

#16 Joey Blaze (Purdue) W-D 2-1 16-1 

Joe Roberts (Illinois) W-TF 21-5 17-1 

#19 Trevor Chumbley (Northwestern) W-D 4-1 SV1 18-1 

#12 Will Lewan (Michigan) L-D 2-2 TB1 18-2 

#1 Levi Haines (Penn State) L-MD 12-0 18-3 

Luke Mechler (Wisconsin) W-MD 17-5 19-3 

#10 Teague Travis (Oklahoma State) W-D 10-4 20-3

Big Ten Championships – 4th Place 

   Luke Mechler (Wisconsin) W-D 5-3 21-3 

   #7 Peyton Robb (Nebraska) W- 7-3 22-3 

   #1 Levi Haines (Penn State) L-D 5-0 22-4 

   #19 Joey Blaze (Purdue) W-D 5-2 23-4 

   #7 Peyton Robb (Nebraska) L (MMF) 23-5

 

Schedule for the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships

***All time listed are CST

Thursday, March 21 

Session 1: Championship First Round  11 AM  ESPNU/ESPNt

Session 2: Championship Second Round and Consolations  6 PM  ESPN/ESPNt

Friday, March 22

Session 3: Quarterfinals and Consolations  11 AM  ESPN/ESPNt

Session 4: Semifinals and Blood Round  7 PM  ESPN/ESPNt

Saturday, March 23

Session 5: Consolation Medal Round  10 AM  ESPNU/ESPNt

Session 6: Finals  6 PM  ESPN/ESPNt

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Nationals Preview: 149

The Iowa Hawkeyes will have Caleb Rathjen competing at Nationals as the #13 seed at 149. 

I have always liked Rathjen and believe he has the talent to be an elite wrestler for the Hawks. It was not that long ago (2 weeks ago) that Rathjen was ranked #8 in the country and all was well. 

He did not wrestle against Oklahoma State in the final dual meet of the season and then placed fifth at Big Tens.

Rathjen is 19-5 for the season with one pin, five tech falls, and two major decisions.

It was fairly easy to see that Rathjen was not 100% at Big Tens and was slowed down by an injury.

Rathjen has a challenging road ahead of him to find a spot on the podium as an All American. In the first round he will face #20 seed Jordan Williams of Oklahoma State. Williams defeated Rathjen’s replacement in the Oklahoma State dual meet Victor Voinovich, 7-3. The winner of Rathjen/Williams will face #4 seed Caleb Hensen of Virginia Tech in the Round of 16.

Just as I said about Teske, Rathjen can do some damage on the Consolation backside. 

Regardless of seed Rathjen has the ability to become an All American. As I mentioned just two weeks ago he was ranked #8.

I must admit that I do not know what to expect here. A healthy Caleb Rathjen is a dangerous man that can roll with anyone. We will see.

 


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Brackets for the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships:

https://www.ncaa.com/_flysystem/public-s3/images/2024/03/13/2024NCAAd1Wrestlingbrackets.pdf

 

Caleb Rathjen (149)

Lindenwood Open 

  Ramiro Mosquera (Cumberland) W-TF 22-5 1-0 

  Sam Cartella (Northwestern) L-D 7-4 SV1 1-1 

  Victor Guzman (Cumberland) W-TF 24-8 2-1 

  Charlie Fifield (Illinois) W-TF 22-6 3-1 

  Jaden Two Lance (Carl Albert State College) W-TF 15-0 4-1 

  Joel Jesuroga (Iowa) W-D 3-2 TB1 5-1 

  Richard Fedalen (Columbia) W-MD 15-3 6-1 

Soldier Salute – 1st Place 

  Carter McCallister (Missouri) W-D 10-6 7-1 

  Daniel Kimball (SDSU) W-MD 11-1 8-1 

  Cade Siebrecht (Iowa) W-TF 18-3 9-1 

  #8 Victor Voinovich (Iowa) W-D 6-3 10-1 

  Anthony Ferrari (Unattached) W-D 7-2 11-1 

#1 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) L-D 6-0 11-2 

#13 Drew Roberts (Minnesoeta) W-D 7-3 12-2 

#8 Kannon Webster (Illinois) L-D 4-1 SV1 12-3 

Aiden Vandenbush (Northwestern) W-Pin 3:46 13-3 

#10 Tyler Kasak (Penn State) W-D 11-8 SV1 14-3 

#19 Joseph Zargo (Wisconsin) W-D 8-1 15-3

Big Ten Championships – 5th Place 

   Jake Harrier (Illinois) W-D 12-6 16-3 

   Ethan Miller (Maryland) L-D 7-6 16-4 

   Braden Stauffenberg (Michigan State) W-D 8-1 17-4 

   #16 Joseph Zargo (Wisconsin) W-D 7-2 18-4 

   #9 Tyler Kasak (Penn State) L-D 8-1 18-5 

   #10 Dylan D’Emilo (Ohio State) W-D 11-5 19-5

 

Schedule for the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships

***All time listed are CST

Thursday, March 21 

Session 1: Championship First Round  11 AM  ESPNU/ESPNt

Session 2: Championship Second Round and Consolations  6 PM  ESPN/ESPNt

Friday, March 22

Session 3: Quarterfinals and Consolations  11 AM  ESPN/ESPNt

Session 4: Semifinals and Blood Round  7 PM  ESPN/ESPNt

Saturday, March 23

Session 5: Consolation Medal Round  10 AM  ESPNU/ESPNt

Session 6: Finals  6 PM  ESPN/ESPNt

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Nationals Preview: 141

Real Woods enters the National Tournament as the #3 seed at 141 in his senior year.

Woods is 18-3 on the season with one pin, five tech falls, and one major decision.

The Big Ten definitely has the best to offer for the entire country at 141 with the top three seeds of Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) – #1, Beau Bartlett (Penn State) – #2 and Woods – #3.

Folks, I honestly couldn’t have asked for this weight to be seeded out any more better for Real Woods. 

I would say the odds are pretty even for the top three at 141 to win it all.

Woods has so many weapons to score with. I just want to see him cut loose and get after it by letting his skills take over. 

Even if Woods does not get the first period takedown to see him dictate the pace and keep the pressure on Bartlett and Mendez until he eventually does score.

A very realistic path is set and there for the taking for Real Woods to become the 2024 141 lbs. NCAA National Champion. 

 


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Brackets for the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships:

https://www.ncaa.com/_flysystem/public-s3/images/2024/03/13/2024NCAAd1Wrestlingbrackets.pdf

 

Real Woods (141)

Darren Green (Cal Baptist) W-TF 15-0 1-0 

#20 Cleveland Belton (Oregon State) W-TF 18-3 2-0 

Anthony Echemendia (Iowa State) W-D 4-1 SV1 3-0 

#11 CJ Composto (Penn) W-D 5-0 4-0 

Kai Owen (Columbia) W-TF 17-2 5-0 

Soldier Salute – 1st Place 

  Ben Lunn (Minnesota) W-TF 15-0 6-0 

  Parker Jassen (SDSU) W-TF 16-0 7-0

  #18 Josh Koderhandt (Navy) W-D 9-4 8-0 

  #5 Lachlan McNeil (North Carolina) W-D 8-4 9-0 

#7 Brock Hardy (Nebraska) W-D 8-2 10-0 

#17 Vance VomBaur (Minnesota) W-D 5-2 11-0 

#32 Greyson Clark (Purdue) W-MD 8-0 12-0 

#19 Sergio Lemley (Michigan) L-MD 14-2 12-1 

#1 Beau Bartlett (Penn State) L-D 7-2 12-2 

Felix Lettini (Wisconsin) W-Pin 4:37 13-2 

#8 Tagen Jamison (Oklahoma State) W-D 5-1 14-2

Big Ten Championships – 3rd Place 

   Felix Lettini (Wisconsin) W-TF 16-0 15-2 

   #24 Danny Pucino (Illinois) W-D 13-9 16-2 

   #3 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) L-D 6-3 16-3 

   #6 Brock Hardy (Nebraska) W-D 8-4 17-3 #10 

   Sergio Lemley (Michigan) W-D 11-8 18-3

 

Schedule for the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships

***All time listed are CST

Thursday, March 21 

Session 1: Championship First Round  11 AM  ESPNU/ESPNt

Session 2: Championship Second Round and Consolations  6 PM  ESPN/ESPNt

Friday, March 22

Session 3: Quarterfinals and Consolations  11 AM  ESPN/ESPNt

Session 4: Semifinals and Blood Round  7 PM  ESPN/ESPNt

Saturday, March 23

Session 5: Consolation Medal Round  10 AM  ESPNU/ESPNt

Session 6: Finals  6 PM  ESPN/ESPNt

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Simon wins title at Junior Folkstyle Nationals

Incoming Iowa recruit Naomi Simon won the 170 lbs. title at Junior Folkstyle Nationals in Cedar Falls, Iowa today.

In the finals Simon pinned Amarisa Manuel of Michigan in 2:49 for the title. Simon was 4-0 on the day with three pins and an 8-1 decision.

Last month Simon, from Decorah, became the first four-time State champion in Iowa girls wrestling history. 

In the recent National Girls High School Rankings Simon is ranked #3 in the country at 170 lbs. and #23 in the overall P4P (pound for pound).

Simon is in the Iowa Women’s Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2024.

 


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Junior Girls 170

Champ. Round 1 – Naomi Simon (Northeast Iowa Wrestling Club) received a bye () (Bye)

Champ. Round 2 – Naomi Simon (Northeast Iowa Wrestling Club) won by fall over Summer Schellinger (Gorge Wrestling Club) (Fall 1:18)

Quarterfinal – Naomi Simon (Northeast Iowa Wrestling Club) won by decision over Izzy Strickert (Immortal Athletics WC) (Dec 8-1)

Semifinal – Naomi Simon (Northeast Iowa Wrestling Club) won by fall over Kiley Dillow (Chanute Wrestling Club) (Fall 2:22)

1st Place Match – Naomi Simon (Northeast Iowa Wrestling Club) won by fall over Amarisa Manuel (Michigan Revolution Wrestling Club) (Fall 2:49)

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Nationals Review: 133

Throughout the course of a season you see a lot of matches. One match that I will remember from this season is from the first round of Big Tens at 133. #14 seed Brody Teske was behind #3 seed Nic Bouzakis of Ohio State 13-6 at the start of the third period. Teske won the match 15-13. Great match.

On the season Teske is 14-5 with one pin, four tech falls and two major decisions.

As a #15 seed at 133 Teske will face Derrick Cardinal of South Dakota State in the first round at Nationals.

From what we saw at Big Tens, never count Brody Teske out in a match.

One thing to keep in mind. You have two types of wrestlers in the Consolation backside at the National Tournament. One wrestler is devastated to be there because they lost and cannot be a national champion. The other type is a wrestler that is hungry and wanting to wrestle. 

Should Teske go into the Consolations early he certainly has the mentality and skill set to put himself in a position to finish strong in the tournament.

 


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Brackets for the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships:

https://www.ncaa.com/_flysystem/public-s3/images/2024/03/13/2024NCAAd1Wrestlingbrackets.pdf

 

Brody Teske – 133

Hunter Leake (Cal Baptist) W-MD 12-1 1-0

Luther Open

   Ashton Clark (St. Cloud State) W-TF 23-7 2-0 

   Dominik Mallinder (Wisconsin Whitewater) W-D 18-11 3-0 

   Trevor Hedges (Eureka) L-MMF 3-1 

#12 Gabe Wisenhunt (Oregon State) W-MD 18-8 4-1 

#19 Evan Frost (Iowa State) L-D 8-1 4-2 

Soldier Salute – 1st Place 

   Garrett Totten (Navy) W-Pin 4:34 5-2 

   Jake Gilva (Minnesota) W-D 4-0 6-2 

   Kale Petersen (UI-UNA) W-TF 15-0 7-2 

   #32 Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) W-D 5-4 8-2 

#30 Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) L-D 10-4 8-3 

141 Will Baysinger (Illinois) W-D 5-0 9-3 

141 Kolby McClain (Northwestern) W-TF 17-1 

Nicolar Rivera (Wisconsin) W-TF 19-4 11-3 

#3 Daton Fix (Oklahoma State) L-D 7-3 11-4

Big Ten Championships – 5th Place 

   #10 Nic Bouzakis (Ohio State) W-D 15-13 12-4 

   Dean Norris (Purdue) W-D 11-5 13-4 

   #8 Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) L-D 12-6 13-4 

   #16 Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) L-D 11-6 13-5 

   #17 Braxton Brown (Maryland) W-D 4-1 14-5

 

Schedule for the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships

***All time listed are CST

Thursday, March 21 

Session 1: Championship First Round  11 AM  ESPNU/ESPNt

Session 2: Championship Second Round and Consolations  6 PM  ESPN/ESPNt

Friday, March 22

Session 3: Quarterfinals and Consolations  11 AM  ESPN/ESPNt

Session 4: Semifinals and Blood Round  7 PM  ESPN/ESPNt

Saturday, March 23

Session 5: Consolation Medal Round  10 AM  ESPNU/ESPNt

Session 6: Finals  6 PM  ESPN/ESPNt

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Nationals Preview: 125

The National Tournament is upon us. Always an exciting time of the year. 

Let’s take a look at each of our Hawkeyes one at a time that will be in competition at the 2024 NCAA National Wrestling Championships in Kansas City, Missouri on March 21-23.

Drake Ayala enters Nationals as the #3 seed at 125. If you have been reading my blog you know that I have been high on Ayala for quite some time. To the point that I do not believe we have yet to see his full potential in competition. 

Ayala enters Nationals with a 23-4 record with two pins, nine tech falls and one major decision.

Ayala placed third at Big Tens. After a first round bye Ayala dropped a 4-2 match to Michael DeAugustino of Northwestern in the Quarterfinals.

Ayala responded by winning three straight matches in impressive fashion. After a fall over Brendan McCrone of Ohio State, Aylala defeated Eric Barnett of Wisconsin, 8-1. Barnett was ranked #5 in the country at the time. Ayala then defeated Dean Petersen of Rutgers, 4-1.

In the third place match Ayala defeated Matt Ramos of Purdue, 4-1. Ramos was the #1 seed at Big Tens and ranked #1 in the country. Ramos had defeated Ayala in the dual meet 4-1 on January 15. 

The win over Barnett was big. The win over Ramos was huge. 

The #1 seed at Nationals in Braedon Davis of Penn State. Ayala beat Davis 4-2 in the dual meet.

When you combine how the bracket is set up with how Ayala wrestled on Sunday of Big Tens, I could not ask for more.

We still have not seen the best version of Ayala yet in competition. I believe he has another level and gear to shift into.

Everything is lined up for Drake Ayala to be the 2024 NCAA National Champion at 125 lbs.

 


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Brackets for the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships:

https://www.ncaa.com/_flysystem/public-s3/images/2024/03/13/2024NCAAd1Wrestlingbrackets.pdf

 

Drake Ayala – 125 lbs.

#29 Elijah Griffin (Cal Baptist) W-MD 18-8 1-0 

Luther Open – 1st Place 

   Julian Long (Nebraska Wesleyan) W-Pin 1:20 2-0 

   Dalton Whitehall Gikes (Wartburg) W-TF 17-2 3-0 

   Cade Hornback (Coe) W-TF 19-4 4-0 

   Akhil Vega (Stevens Tech) W-TF 21-6 5-0 

   Joey Cruz (Iowa) W-TF 19-3 6-0 

#18 Branden Kaylor (Oregon State) L-D 7-6 6-1 

#8 Kysen Terukina (Iowa State) W-D 7-2 7-1 

#19 Max Gallagher (Penn) W-D 8-7 8-1 Nick Babin (Columbia) W-TF 18-3 9-1 

Soldier Salute – 1st Place 

   Garrett Rinken (Northern Iowa) W-TF 19-4 10-1 

   Hayden Benter (Navy) W-TF 19-4 11-1 

   #20 Patrick McKee (Minnesota) W-D 5-4 12-1 

   #7 Jore Volk (Wyoming) W-D 4-2 13-1 

#7 Caleb Smith (Nebraska) W-D 7-3 14-1 

#18 Patrick McKee (Minnesota) W-D 8-5 15-1 

#2 Matt Ramos (Purdue) L-D 4-1 15-2 

#30 Justin Cardani (Illinois) W-TF 18-3 16-2 

Massey Odiotti (Northwestern) W-TF 19-4 17-2 

#12 Michael DeAugustino (Michigan) L-D 2-1 TB1 17-3 

#2 Braeden Davis (Penn State) W-D 4-2 18-3 

#12 Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State) W-D 8-1 19-3 

Big Ten Championships – 3rd Place 

   #16 Michael DeAugustino (Michigan) L-D 4-2 19-4 

   #24 Brendan McCrone (Ohio State) W-Pin 1:46 20-4 

   #5 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin) W-D 8-1 21-4 

   #22 Dean Peterson (Rutgers) W-D 8-4 22-4 

   #1 Matt Ramos (Purdue) W-D 4-1 23-4

 

Schedule for the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships

***All time listed are CST

Thursday, March 21 

Session 1: Championship First Round  11 AM  ESPNU/ESPNt

Session 2: Championship Second Round and Consolations  6 PM  ESPN/ESPNt

Friday, March 22

Session 3: Quarterfinals and Consolations  11 AM  ESPN/ESPNt

Session 4: Semifinals and Blood Round  7 PM  ESPN/ESPNt

Saturday, March 23

Session 5: Consolation Medal Round  10 AM  ESPNU/ESPNt

Session 6: Finals  6 PM  ESPN/ESPNt

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Val Solorio interview on FloWrestling

Incoming Iowa Wrestling recruit Val Solorio was interviewed by Kyle Klingman of FloWrestling.

Last weekend Solorio was 4-0 with four pins to win a state title at 100 lbs. in the first ever PIAA Girls Wrestling Championships in Pennsylvania history.

Solorio recorded a fall in 1:23, :37 and 1:06 before winning by a fall in 3:14 over Grace Nesbitt of Central Dauphin in the finals.

Solorio was ranked #3 at 100 lbs. in the National Girls High School Rankings for February.

 


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Solorio committed to Iowa on September 30 as the first member of the Recruiting Class of 2024.

 

Val Solorio interview on FloWrestling:

https://www.flowrestling.org/collections/7495280-womens-spotlight/video?playing=12298637

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Brackets released for Nationals

Brackets for the 2024 NCAA National Wrestling Championships were released by NCAA.com.

Drake Ayala and Real Woods are the #3 seed, Mike Caliendo #6 and Zach Glazier #7. If seeds hold out that would give Iowa four All Americans.

I thought Jared Franek(#10), Patrick Kennedy(#12) and Caleb Rathjen(#13) would be higher. All three of these seeds are quite different from the final InterMat Rankings that are usually pretty close to seeds.

Hey, it’s tournament time and go time.

Let’s get ‘em in the middle.

Thurs-Sat March 21-23 – at NCAA Championships (Kansas City, MO)

 


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Seeds for the 2024 NCAA National Wrestling Championships

125 – Drake Ayala #3

133 – Brody Teske #15

141 – Real Woods #3

149 – Caleb Rathjen #13

157 – Jared Franek #10

165 – Mike Caliendo #6

174 – Patrick Kennedy #12

197 – Zach Glazier #7

Hwt – Brad Hill  #25

 

Complete Brackets:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11EWy1J0qnZaVHHlXZggStcvEW6pGu_XH/view?pli=1

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!