The wait is over. The 2018-19 edition of Iowa Wrestling will take the mats for the first time today. Iowa travels to Kent, Ohio for two dual meets. The Hawks will face CSU Bakersfield at 4:30 followed by Kent State at 6 PM. Both times are CST.
Iowa will be without three of their varsity wrestlers in Michael Kemerer (174), Jacob Warner (197), and Sam Stoll (Hwt). Kemerer has a minor injury and will be in the lineup soon, Warner is being withheld from competition due to his International wrestling schedule this fall, and Stoll is out due to a one meet suspension. I look for all three to be in the Iowa lineup soon.
This is the Iowa Wrestling debut for two very highly touted transfers in Austin DeSanto (133) and Patricio Lugo (149). DeSanto has three years of eligibility and a redshirt year remaining and Lugo has two years of eligibility remaining. Iowa Wrestling fans, you are going to love these two wrestlers. Both are aggressive, in great shape, and tough. DeSanto will light up the scoreboard in a hurry and you want Lugo on your side in a scrap. I can’t wait.
After a hard-fought wrestle-off at 141, Max Murin takes the mat for the first time in the Black and Gold of Iowa Wrestling. Murin is a redshirt freshman with a great future. Kaleb Young also won a hard-fought wrestle-off to make the team at 157. Young, a redshirt sophomore, saw varsity action at 165 and 174 last season.
Spencer Lee will lead the Hawks into battle during his first full season in the lineup at 125. Lee will draw a crowd on the road more and more as his career evolves. I have a feeling we will not see too many wrestlers like Spencer Lee in our lifetime and fans will want to see him wrestle in person.
Alex Marinelli will making a return to his home state of Ohio to kick off his sophomore season at 165. After two years at 197, Cash Wilcke is down to his new weight of 184. Three redshirt freshman will be making their Iowa Wrestling debut. Myles Wilson made the cut from 184 to fill in for Kemerer at 174. Connor Corbin will take the mat at 197 and Aaron Costello will be our Hwt.
This will be the youngest Iowa Wrestling team since 1990, if not ever, to take the mat. Not a single senior in the lineup and only two juniors in Wilcke and Lugo. Even with all of the first year starters and new weights, I am not looking for much of a learning curve. I also want to mention that Lee, DeSanto (a transfer), Murin, Wilson, Corbin, and Costello are all from the Recruiting Class of 2017. Add in Jacob Warner and this may be the deepest recruiting class since the legendary Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 1987 that featured Tom and Terry Brands.
FloWrestling will have all of the action on their premium service. HawkeyeSports.com is also listing free live radio of the meets on their Hawkeye All-Access at: https://hawkeyesports.com/watch/?Live=3990
The most anticipated season for Iowa Wrestling in recent memory is upon us.
Let’s get ‘em in the middle.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
125 – Spencer Lee (True sophomore)
133 – Austin DeSanto (True sophomore)
141 – Max Murin (Redshirt freshman)
149 – Patricio Lugo (Redshirt junior)
157 – Kaleb Young (Redshirt sophomore)
165 – Alex Marinell (Redshirt sophomore)
174 – Myles Wilson (Redshirt freshman)
184 – Cash Wilcke (Redshirt junior)
197 – Connor Corbin (Redshirt freshman)
Hwt – Aaron Costello (Redshirt freshman)
