It is tournament time. Iowa is very well known for sending a nationally ranked wrestler out on the mat at 125 to start each round at Big Tens and the NCAA National Tournament. Spencer Lee was looking for his fourth NCAA title before it was announced on January 1 that he had to take a medical redshirt. Next man in.
Drake Ayala is a true freshman from Fort Dodge, Iowa that has stepped in and done real well. Ayala came into the program with a long list of accolades and is more than ready to take the mat when every point counts in the team race. For starters, Ayala is from Fort Dodge Iowa. A town that has been well known for its toughness and wrestling for decades. Ayala also grew up in the Sebolt Wrestling Academy. That background is tough to beat and a big part of why I am so confident in this guy.
It will not take you very long into a match to see just how quick Ayala is. Being on the attack is expected from an Iowa wrestler. That quickness getting deep in a shot is a noticeable advantage that Ayala has and what sets him apart.
As with most weights, 125 is loaded in the Big Ten. You have #1 ranked Suriano of Michigan and four of the top eight wrestlers in the country. Ayala is ranked #11 in the entire country and is the only the seventh highest ranked wrestler in the Big Ten. That is a tough weight.
With a win over Schroeder of Purdue who is ranked #7 nationally I would think Ayala would be seeded #6 at Big Tens. I like that a lot. I would also like a #7 seed if it comes to that. I am confident either way.
NCAA Allocations for the Big Ten Conference at 125 for NCAA National Tournament Qualifiers is 10.
As a fan I am really looking forward to watching Ayala compete and I like his chances of having a real good or even great Big Ten Tournament.
Sat/Sun March 5-6 at Big Tens (Lincoln, Nebraska)
Th-Sat, March 17-19 at NCAA National Tournament (Detroit, Michigan)
*All Rankings by InterMat.
125 lbs. Rankings in the Big Ten:
#1 – Nick Suriano (Michigan)
#5 – Drew Hildebrandt (Penn State)
#6 – Eric Barnett (Wisconsin)
#7 – Devin Schroeder (Purdue)
#9 – Malik Heinselman (Ohio State)
#10 – Patrick McKee (Minnesota
#11 – Drake Ayala (Iowa)
#13 – Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern)
#22 – Justin Cardani (Illinois)
#27 – Dylan Shawver (Rutgers)
Drake Ayala 125, True Freshman – Fort Dodge, Iowa
National ranking: #11
Record: 14-4
*Rankings at the time of the match
2021-22 results:
Harold Nichols Open – 1st place
Aime Mukiza (Iowa State) W-Pin 1:49 (1)
Lane Cowell (Iowa Central) W-Pin 1:34 (2)
Conor Knopick (Iowa State) W-MD 16-8
UNI Open – 2nd place
Maximo Renteria (Illinois) W-MD 16-7
Caleb Fuessley (Iowa State) W-TF 22-7
#9 Patrick McKee (Minnesota) L-D 8-4
Southern Scuffle – 3rd place
Alex Cottey (Chattanooga) W-TF 23-7
Reece Witcraft (Oklahoma) W-MD 17-6
#12 Noah Surtin (Missouri) W-D 9-3
#9 Patrick McKee (Minnesota) L-D 6-5
#32 Caleb Smith (Appalachian State) W-D 5-2
#12 Noah Surtin (Missouri) W-D 14-10
#7 Patrick Mckee (Minnesota) L-D 8-6
#5 Devin Schroeder (Purdue) W-D 6-1
#7 Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern) W-D 6-5
Justin Cardani (Illinois) W-D 7-4
#18 Malik Heinselman (Ohio State) L-D 7-5
Jeremiah Reno (Nebraska) W-D 13-6
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
