3x World Champion Spencer leads the recruits visiting Iowa Wrestling this weekend.
Photo by Lady of the Lens
For those of you that have been reading my Iowa Wrestling articles over the last twenty years, you know that recruiting is a huge part of what I do. Recruiting for Iowa Wrestling is a passion of mine. I was asked recently why, and I responded that I always want to know who the next legend of Iowa Wrestling is going to be. In my book: Domination, An Inside Look at Iowa Wrestling, I quoted the song by the legendary George Jones in my Recruiting chapter:
“Who’s gonna fill their shoes?”
Iowa Wrestling just keeps turning out legends for decades now and I always want to know “Who’s gonna fill their shoes?”
Well, as far as recruiting for Iowa Wrestling goes, this is the biggest weekend of the year and there is some serious potential for Iowa wrestling to land eventual legends. Friday afternoon, recruits for the Class of 2017 and their parents will be coming in from seven states across the country for their official visit. Since April I have been writing about the historical significance of the Class of 2017 having the potential to be one of the if not the best recruiting class in the history of Iowa Wrestling. This weekend will go a long way in determining where this recruiting class finishes in the all-time list of Iowa Wrestling recruiting classes.
The great new is that the Iowa Wrestling recruiting class of 2017 already has enough commitments to be considered great. Spencer Lee can be a great recruiting class by himself. Now let’s take a look at who is coming in for their official visit this weekend for the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2017.
Spencer Lee, Murrysville, PA (Franklin Regional HS) 125 Committed
“The recruiting shot heard around the wrestling world” was when Spencer Lee announced he was going to be an Iowa Hawkeye on April 20th. That may have been the biggest college wrestling recruiting announcement…ever. Lee has won three straight WORLD titles, and counting. I have been saying it for months now. Spencer Lee is well on track to not only be the biggest recruit in Iowa Wrestling history, but to also be known as the greatest high school wrestler in the history of the United States.
Jacob Warner, Tolono, IL (Washington HS) 197
I have been very high on Jacob Warner throughout the recruiting process. I have had two interviews with Warner:
May 20th: (https://iowawrestlingblog.com/2016/05/jacob-warner-interview/)
July 29th: (https://iowawrestlingblog.com/2016/07/jacob-warner-interview-2/
Recruits at this weight are few and far between. Combine that with all that Warner has going for him and I believe he should be the number two overall recruit P4P in the country for the Class of 2017 behind only Iowa commit Spencer Lee. Warner has recently made official visits to Ohio State and Purdue. Recently he placed third at the Cadet World Freestyle Championships. His only loss was on criteria in a tied match to the eventual champion. Warner has Hawkeye written all over him. His physical and aggressive style is just what we as Iowa Wrestling Fans want to see. A Dr. Jekyll as a top student and citizen off the mat, and a Mr. Hyde attacking tough guy champion on the mat. Warner already has Heavy Hands in his arsenal and is everything you want in an Iowa Wrestling recruit. Enough said. Go get ‘em Hawkeye Wrestling coaches.
Brady Berge, Mantorville, MN (Kasson-Mantorville (HS) 149/157
I have been hearing about Brady Berge for years already as he wrestles for former Iowa All-American Jamie Heidt at Kasson-Mantorville High School. Berge is also the former high school teammate of Iowa Hwt Sam Stoll at Kasson-Mantorville. Check out my interview with Berge:
https://iowawrestlingblog.com/2016/05/brady-berge-interview/
After being out of competition since and injury last March, Berge recently won his match at the Who’s #1 and also the coveted Super 32’s where he was named as the Outstanding Wrestler. Berge is athletic, very powerful, aggressive, and well coached. This wrestler definitely looks the part and is a total package as a recruit. Having grown up in the Iowa-Style of wrestling under Coach Heidt, it makes you want to see Berge a Hawkeye even more. As with Lee and Warner, Berge is rated #1 at his weight in the country.
And if you didn’t want Brady Berge to be an Iowa Hawkeye enough already, Berge is down to Iowa and Penn State for his college choice. As an Iowa Wrestling fan, you absolutely want to see Iowa Wrestling sign Brady Berge. Signing three number one wrestlers in Lee, Warner, and Berge would make for a historic recruiting class to match up with any recruiting class in the history of Iowa Wrestling. The Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 1993 produced three NCAA National Champions in Mark Ironside, Jeff McGinness, and Joe Williams who won a combined seven NCAA National titles. That is the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class record to beat. Maybe we get to see Lee, Warner, and Berge make a run at that record.
Max Murin, Ebensburg, PA (Central Cambria HS) 141 Committed
Murin became the fourth wrestler from the Young Guns Wrestling Club to become a Hawkeye when he gave his verbal commitment on August 27th. I had an interview with Murin in a blog this summer:
https://iowawrestlingblog.com/2016/05/max-murin-interview/
The experience of training the Iowa-Style under former Iowa Hawkeye All-American Jody Strittmatter at the Young Guns Wrestling Club adds to the value of getting Murin in the program. Murin had a very impressive showing at Junior Nationals in Fargo where he placed third at 132 lbs. In his eight victories, Murin outscored the top competition in the country by a combined match score of 97-27. Murin is a self-described grinder that also puts up that kind of points. He is going to be a fan favorite.
Anthony Falbo, Sandy Hook, CN (Newtown HS) 184
The more I research this wrestler, the more that I like him. You can find several of his matches on YouTube. Falbo placed fourth at 182 at Junior Nationals this year and placed fifth at 170 at Cadet Nationals in 2015. He is also a two-time NHSCA National Champion. Falbo is still improving at a high rate and that makes his ceiling very high once in an elite program like Iowa. Hawkeye wrestling fans, check out Falbo’s picture on Trackwrestling.com in his profile. You will approve.
Aaron Costello, Hwt, Dubuque, IA (Western Dubuque HS) Hwt
Costello turned heads by pinning his way to the finals at State for Western Dubuque last year in 3A. This past summer, he placed sixth in Greco-Roman and qualified for Junior Freestyle Nationals. I was impressed with Costello last Friday night at the Night of Conflict at Carver where he defeated Sammy Evans of Tennessee, 5-3. Evans is ranked tenth in the country.
Costello has an 87-15 career record at Western Dubuque with an impressive 51 pins and five Tech Falls. Iowa Wrestling has more to offer a Hwt wrestler for coaching and workout partners than any other program in the country.
Zach Axmear, North English, IA (English Valley HS) 149/157
Axmear placed 5th as freshman, 3rd as sophomore, and 4th as a junior in 1A in Iowa. Last season he was unbeaten and ranked #1 heading into state last year at 152. As I stated in a recent blog when talking about Phillip Laux, you can never have enough hard nosed, tough, small town Iowa wrestlers in your program. Axmear is cut of that cloth and would be a very good addition to the Iowa Wrestling program.
Axmear went 4-2 at Junior Nationals in Freestyle this summer at 152. All four of his wins were by tech Fall.
Myles Wilson, Junction, CO (Glenwood Springs HS) 174
Wilson was a Colorado State champion at 170 last season. He also wrestled a lot of Freestyle and Greco-Roman in the off season. Wilson competed in both Freestyle and GR at Junior Nationals this year where he scored an impressive 9-4 decision over Iowa State recruit Marcus Coleman in Freestyle.
Heath Williamson, Trussville, AL (Hewitt-Trussville HS) 125/133
Williamson placed second at 120 in the Alabama State Tournament this past year and has a 52-5 record with 29 pins. I mentioned in a blog this summer about the massive growth of wrestling in the south and that we can expect more recruits coming out of SEC territory. I look for more and more wrestlers from the south migrate to wrestling country for their college career. Williamson could be the start of recruiting in the Southeast for Iowa Wrestling.
That is quite an impressive list of recruits coming in for their official visit. Iowa City will be a buzz with the football game with Wisconsin. Iowa Wrestling practice before the game on Saturday will begin at 8:15 AM. There will be more standing room only fans at the Iowa Wrestling practice before the football game Saturday morning than a large majority of Division I wrestling programs draw for a home dual meet. These recruits will get a good idea of the massive advantage that Iowa Wrestling fans have over the rest of the country. Like I am always saying: It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
The University of Iowa is not a football school that also has wrestling. The University of Iowa is a wrestling school that also has football and other sports. Iowa is a wrestling state. Wrestling is what we here in Iowa are known for.
Nothing to do but wait and see who commits to join Spencer Lee and Max Murin in the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2017. Time will tell if history is made with this recruiting class.
Like me on Facebook and I will keep you posted at:
https://www.facebook.com/IowaWrestlingFan/
