We just completed the busiest weekend in three years for the Iowa Wrestling program. With so much going on I thought a recap was in order.
- Iowa defeated Nebraska 20-15 in Lincoln yesterday to close out the regular season. Iowa won six of ten bouts and had a takedown advantage of 20-6 over Nebraska. You can always count on a competitive dual meet with Nebraska.
- The biggest news for me was the return of Drake Ayala at 125 for the first time since January 21. Ayala is so quick and fun to watch as he topped Jeremiah Reno, 13-6. This is a huge boost for the entire program. Ayala will set the tone and lead the Hawks into battle each round at the Big Tens and NCAA National Tournament. I am excited about what Ayala can do at the NCAA’s.
- The win at Nebraska was #250 for Tom Brands as a head coach for the University of Iowa. Brands is now 250-24-1 since 2006.
- Austin DeSanto will be missed by Iowa Wrestling fans. He ended his regular season career for the Hawks with a 22-7 tech fall for his 10th tech fall of the season and 37th career tech fall. DeSanto has scored 20 points or more in 28 matches. Those are impressive statistics especially considering the top competition that Iowa faces.
- Alex “Bull” Marinelli ended his regular season career as a Hawk with an 8-2 decision at Nebraska. Marinelli ended with a 52-2 record in dual meets for his career for Iowa Wrestling.
- I really liked what I saw from Kaleb Young at Nebraska. That was his eighth straight win with the last three against ranked opponents. Young is peaking at the right time.
- Iowa’s incoming recruits looked great at the Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament in Des Moines. Nine of ten recruits made it to the finals of the toughest State Tournament since at least 2005. Five recruits won titles in Ben Kueter, Nate Jesuroga, Aiden Riggins, Ryder Block, and Easton Fleshman. The future looks great for Iowa Wrestling.
- Iowa Assistant Wrestling Coach Ryan Morningstar was inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Hall of Fame Saturday night before the State Finals. Morningstar was a three-time state champ at Lisbon, Iowa and a four-time placewinner. He also won a 2005 Junior Freestyle national title. At Iowa Morningstar was a two-time All American and a member of three NCAA National title teams (2008-2010). A well deserved honor.
- Five members of the University of Iowa Wrestling team competed at the Last Chance Open in Ames, Iowa on Sunday. Patrick Kennedy and Caleb Rathjen both won titles. Kennedy defeated Grant Stotts of Iowa State 8-4 in the finals to win the 165 lbs. division. Rathjen won the title at 149 with a 11-5 decision over Blaine Brenner of Minnesota in the finals. Charles Matthews (133) and Brennan Swafford (174) placed fourth. Jack McClimon did not place at 165.
- Pat Lugo of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club captured a bronze medal at 65 kg (143 lbs.) at the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov International in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria. Lugo came back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat Vitalie Bunici of Moldova, 5-3 in the medal round.
- I released a blog yesterday that the NCAA will announce conference/national qualifier allocations on Thursday, February 24. The RPI and final coaches poll will also be released on the same day.
- Next up: Sat/Sun March 5-6 at Big Tens (Lincoln, Nebraska)
- The Big Show: Th-Sat, March 17-19 at NCAA National Tournament (Detroit, Michigan)
Tournament time is always an extra exciting time of the year to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
