Iowa Wrestling recruits had a great showing at the UWW Cadet World Team Trials in Akron, OH this weekend. Ryan Sokol was lights out in winning the 65kg/143 lbs. weight class in freestyle. In the Best of 3 Finals, Sokol downed Derek Fields of AW by an 11-5 decision and a Fall in 1:34. Sokol will now represent Team USA at the UWW Cadet World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria on July 29-August 4. This is a huge step for Sokol and I have no doubt he will represent Team USA real well at Worlds.
Sokol also placed third at 60kg/130 lbs. in Greco-Roman. UWW Cadet is ages 16 and under.
Jessy Ybarra placed second at a very tough 55kg/121 lbs. weight class. Ybarra dropped two matches in the Best of 3 Finals to Robert Howard of TMWC as Howard made his third Cadet World Team. The depth of wrestlers at this weight was amazing with two other World Team members and two Fargo champions. Real impressive showing for Ybarra to place second.
I was very impressed with both Sokol and Ybarra. With this showing I am sure that both Sokol and Ybarra will climb the national recruiting rankings. Iowa Wrestling fans should be very excited about the future with these elite wrestlers on the way.
Ryan Sokol of Inver Grove Heights, MN (Simley HS) is in the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2021. Jesse Ybarra of Tucson, AZ (Sunnyside HS) is in the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2020.
UWW Freestyle 65kg/143 lbs. Best of 3 Finals
Ryan Sokol (MN) over Derek Fields (AW) 11-5
Ryan Sokol (MN) over Derek Fields (AW) Fall 1:34
UWW Cadet Freestyle 55kg/121 lbs. Best of 3 Finals
Robert Howard (TMWC) over Jesse Ybarra (SWC) 6-0
Robert Howard (TMWC) over Jesse Ybarra (SWC) 5-2
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
