Iowa-Penn State preview

It’s finally here. Iowa-Penn State. The most anticipated dual meet of the entire college wrestling season. At 8 PM CST Friday the wrestling community and the sports world will take note of what is going on in Carver-Hawkeye Arena with this dual meet.

BTN will have the dual meet live and FloWrestling will have an audio stream of the dual.

The probable lineups were released yesterday. Iowa and Penn State have two wrestlers listed at several weights. Ayala and Ybarra are both listed at 125 and DeSanto and Schriever are listed at 133. Penn State has two wrestlers listed at 157 and 165.

Penn State will have the higher ranked wrestler in seven of ten weights and enter the meet with four wrestlers ranked #1 along with a #2 and #3. It is pretty obvious that Iowa will have to upset at least one and probably two of those six wrestlers ranked 1,2, or 3 to win the dual meet. It would only be an upset in the rankings, not to me.

Should Iowa put their #1 wrestler on the mat at every weight I believe this will be a close dual meet and the Hawks will have a real good shot at winning. Without all of their varsity wrestlers in the lineup it will be very difficult for Iowa to win.

I am looking for the strongest Iowa lineup possible and a little “Carver Magic” to being the key to a dual meet victory. The fans are going to be worth some points for Iowa. This one dual meet is why an amazing record 14,000 plus season tickets were sold by early November. This will be the type of an electric atmosphere that very few athletes will ever compete in at any level and in any sport. Iowa Wrestling fans want this dual meet and will be a loud, intense, and passionate crowd.

The atmosphere inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena for this dual meet is a big reason why our current lineup and incoming recruits chose to be an Iowa Hawkeye. Also the reason why so many people chose to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

The Hawks will have Dan Gable in the front row as a fan and Spencer Lee on the sideline coaching up his boys. Gotta think that is worth something as well.

I have no doubt that the fur has been flying in the Iowa Wrestling Room inside the Dan Gable Wrestling Complex in Carver-Hawkeye Arena this week. I expect a top performance by the Hawks.

To me it comes down to Iowa getting the upset(s) according to the rankings and the heart of the lineup. Murin (149), Young(157), Marinelli (165) and Kemerer (174) are the key. With all of our starters in the lineup and leadership from Murin, Young, Marinelli, and Kemerer I believe Iowa will win this dual meet.

I have been saying for years in this blog that Iowa Wrestling is my entertainment. I plan on being entertained Friday night inside legendary Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Let’s make some memories.

#2 IOWA HAWKEYES (11-0, 5-0 BIG TEN) 2021-22 Overall Wt. Rank^ Name Yr. Hometown/High School Record

125 11 Drake Ayala Fr. Fort Dodge, Iowa/Fort Dodge 13-4 -OR- Jesse Ybarra *Fr. Tucson, Arizona/Sunnyside 2-2

133 3 Austin DeSanto Sr. Exeter, Pennsylvania/Exeter (Drexel) 12-0 -OR- Cullan Schriever *Fr. Mason City, Iowa/Mason City 15-5

141 2 Jaydin Eierman Sr. Columbia, Missouri/Father Tolton (Missouri) 12-0

149 10 Max Murin Sr. Ebensburg, Pennsylvania/Central Cambria 6-2

157 12 Kaleb Young Sr. Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania/Punxsutawney 10-5

165 5 Alex Marinelli Sr. Miamisburg, Ohio/St. Paris Graham 14-1

174 2 Michael Kemerer Sr. Murraysville, Pennsylvania/Franklin Regional 5-0

184 17 Abe Assad So. Carol Stream, Illinois/Glenbard North 9-3

197 4 Jacob Warner Sr. Tolono, Illinois/Washington Community 11-1

285 5 Tony Cassioppi Jr. Roscoe, Illinois/Hononegah 10-2

#1 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (13-0, 5-0 BIG TEN) 2021-22 Overall Wt. Rank^ Name Yr. Hometown/High School Record