The biggest weekend of the year for Iowa Wrestling recruiting is upon us. Iowa Wrestling will be be entertaining recruits this coming weekend that will hopefully lead to another great recruiting class. Recruiting is at the base of everything I do for IowaWrestlingFan.com so this weekend is as big as it gets for me. Hopefully there will be some verbal commitments announced as well this weekend and the following week. The National Letter of Intent Signing Day is Wednesday, November 8. Nothing is official until the Letter of Intent is signed but this weekend will go along way in who will be next in line to continue the legacy and tradition that is is Iowa Wrestling.
Fresh off of a number one recruiting class in the country for the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2017, Iowa Wrestling is a on a recruiting roll. Momentum in recruiting, Thomas Gilman recently winning a World Silver, Cory Clark’s amazing run at winning a national title with injuries, the massive influx of resources funneled into the Hawkeye Wrestling Club, the passionate Iowa Wrestling fans that have led the country in attendance for the last eleven consecutive years. Iowa Wrestling has a lot going for them right now.
Let’s take a look at who is going to be in town.
Nelson Brands, Iowa, City, Iowa (West HS) 165/174
Nelson Brands was the first verbal commitment for the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2018. Brands made his announcement on February 21 right after capturing his second straight state title. Brands has the aggressive and attacking style that comes with the name as he is the son of Terry and the nephew of Tom Brands. Brands won his state title at 152 last year. I can only guess what weight he will compete at in college at 157/165/174. I would not be surprised to see Brands continue to grow and fill in at possibly an even higher weight. Regardless of what weight he ends up, Nelson Brands is improving at an impressive rate and whatever success he has will not be a surprise. Brands is ranked at #71 on the FloWrestling Recruiting Class of 2018 ranking.
Anthony Cassioppi, Roscoe, IL (Hononegah HS) Hwt.
It was huge news when Cassioppi gave a verbal commitment to the Hawks in July. Cassioppi had about as dominating a summer as a wrestler can have. Cassioppi was undefeated in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman at National Duals and Disney Duals. He also won a gold medal in both FS and GR at the Pan American Championships in Lima, Peru and then had a “Fargo Sweep” by winning a Junior national title in both FS and GR. Not only was Cassioppi undefeated at this elite level, he dominated his opponents with pins and tech falls. At an estimated 6’1” and 270 lbs., Cassioppi has a lot of potential in the Black and Gold. Cassioppi is ranked 28th on the FloWrestling Class of 2018 ranking.
Trent Hidlay, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania 174/184
Hidlay was a national runner-up in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman in Fargo this past summer and he was an undefeated Pennsylvania state champion last year. FloWrestling announced on July 25 that Hidlay had a final four of Iowa, North Carolina State (where his brother is a redshirt freshman), Lehigh, and Purdue. Hidlay is ranked at #12 on the FloWrestling Class of 2018 recruits. This is a big recruit for the Hawks to get and would also keep the Pennsylvania pipeline continuing from Kemerer (Recruiting Class of 2015), Young (‘16) and Lee/Murin (’17).
Drew Bennett, Fort Dodge, Iowa 125/133
Bennett is from traditional power Fort Dodge and is a sleeper of a recruit in my opinion. Bennett is a two-time placewinner and a tough wrestler that I have seen compete. Bennett does not have the high national rankings, but his best wrestling is in front of him in college at 125 or 133. In addition to Iowa, Bennett is being recruited by Iowa State, UNI and additional D-I colleges.
Francis Duggan, Iowa City, Iowa (West HS) Hwt.
Duggan recently moved to Iowa City from Camp Hill, Pennsylvania (Cedar Cliff HS), where he was a three-time placewinner and All-State linebacker in football. He transferred to Iowa City West High School where he will compete in just wrestling. Duggan competed at 220 lbs. last year and will be at Hwt this coming season and is projected to be a Hwt in college. Duggan is ranked at #67 on the FloWrestling ranking.
Iowa Wrestling will be hosting additional recruits at a later date. I will keep you posted.
Iowa Wrestling will have an Open Mat on Saturday, September 23 at 11:30 AM. An Open Mat is an unsupervised volunteer workout for Iowa and Hawk Club wrestlers. The bleachers will be pulled out for fans like you to come in and watch. The football game is not until 6:30 that evening. So calling out to Iowa Wrestling fans to show up in force at the Open Mat to show why we have led the country in attendance for eleven consecutive years. Let’s flex our muscles as fans so to speak and be in the Iowa Wrestling room to show these recruits why Iowa is the best place to wrestle. Hope to see you there.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling Fan.
