The level of competition was as advertised at Big Tens as the Hawks placed third in the team race and qualified their entire team for Nationals. Let’s take a look at each weight.

I believe the toughest loss for me over the weekend was Ayala dropping a 4-3 decision to Barnett of Wisconsin in the Quarterfinals. This Ayala guy fights so damned hard he is already a fan favorite. What a tough competitor. Ayala had a medical forfeit for the 7th place match. I have no doubt Ayala will be ready to battle hard at Nationals. What a future Drake Ayala has for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Austin DeSanto dropped a close 3-1 decision to RBY in the finals. That was a tough loss. The top three at 133 will provide some serious competition and entertainment at Nationals. I am going to enjoy every last match for this intense competitor. I believe DeSanto should still get the #3 seed at Nationals.

For anyone that saw Eierman wrestle in the quarterfinals with that knee brace and still questions why he took the MFF did not see what I did. There is no way Eierman should have wrestled another match and he didn’t. I am hoping he gets healed up for Nationals.

That is the best I have ever seen Max Murin wrestle as an Iowa Hawkeye by placing third at 149. Murin has come a long ways over the past year. With the right seed at Nationals I believe Murin can go deep on the championship side. I definitely see Murin being an All American at Nationals.

Kaleb Young placed fourth at 157. With a seed outside of the top eight at Nationals, Young will have a big matchup with a ranked opponent on Thursday night in the Round of 32. I still see Young as an All American.

It was great to see Bull win his fourth Big Ten title. As he stated in a post match interview, people only remember what happens at Nationals. Currently ranked #5 I can see Marinelli getting a #3 seed at Nationals.

We all knew of Kemerer’s injury coming into Big Tens and it was very apparent in the Quarterfinals. I can only hope that Kemerer can channel his inner Cory Clark and put a five match winning streak together at Nationals. Michael Kemerer is one tough dude.

Assad placed seventh at 184. I thought his opening round win over eventual third place finisher Braunagel of Illinois was the best I have seen Assad this season. It is a matter of getting Assad to compete at the level every match at Nationals.

Warner placed fourth at a loaded weight with both of his losses to Brucki of Michigan by a score of 3-1. With every match being close and low scoring, Warner needs to increase his percentage of finishing shots or take more shots to get to the next level.

I do not believe there was a better moment at Big Tens than when Cassioppi came from behind to win the semifinals match over Kerkvliet of Penn State. Cassioppi is currently ranked #4 at Hwt. Will he move up to be the #3 seed at Nationals or stay at #4? Time will tell.

The big talk surrounding Iowa Wrestling is all of the medical forfeits that the Hawks took at Big Tens. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. One thing I do not doubt is the fact that the wrestlers from Iowa are indeed injured. Absolutely no way I question their toughness. I just hope they can heal up to some extent and be ready for the NCAA National Tournament that begins on Thursday, March 17. 

As Bull said in his interview, people do not remember Big Tens, they remember Nationals. Onward.

I have been saying for over a year that the level of competition will be at a higher level in 2022 than the 2021 National Tournament. The tougher the competition the better chance Iowa has of winning the team title. To me the team race is wide open for Nationals and yes the Iowa Hawkeyes are right in the mix.

As I have said many times on this blog Iowa Wrestling is my entertainment. I plan on being entertained on March 17, 18, and 19 as the Hawks do battle chasing the team title at the 2022 NCAA National Tournament. 

 

2022 Big Ten Championships

125 – Drake Ayala (11-6) placed 8th and scored 5.5 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – Drake Ayala (Iowa) 11-6 won by decision over Tristan Lujan (Michigan State) 11-12 (Dec 4-0)
  • Quarterfinal – Eric Barnett (Wisconsin) 14-3 won by decision over Drake Ayala (Iowa) 11-6 (Dec 4-3)
  • Cons. Round 2 – Drake Ayala (Iowa) 11-6 won by major decision over Jacob Moran (Indiana) 11-10 (MD 12-3)
  • Cons. Round 3 – Patrick McKee (Minnesota) 13-7 won by decision over Drake Ayala (Iowa) 11-6 (Dec 5-2)
  • 7th Place Match – Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) 18-7 won by medical forfeit over Drake Ayala (Iowa) 11-6 (M. For.)

 

133 – Austin DeSanto (12-3) placed 2nd and scored 15.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – Austin DeSanto (Iowa) 12-3 received a bye () (Bye)
  • Quarterfinal – Austin DeSanto (Iowa) 12-3 won by decision over Chris Cannon (Northwestern) 15-5 (Dec 7-3)
  • Semifinal – Austin DeSanto (Iowa) 12-3 won by decision over Lucas Byrd (Illinois) 21-3 (Dec 4-3)
  • 1st Place Match – Roman Bravo-Young (Penn State) 17-0 won by decision over Austin DeSanto (Iowa) 12-3 (Dec 3-1)

 

141 – Jaydin Eierman (14-2) placed 2nd and scored 17.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – Jaydin Eierman (Iowa) 14-2 received a bye () (Bye)
  • Quarterfinal – Jaydin Eierman (Iowa) 14-2 won by decision over Dylan D`Emilio (Ohio State) 17-9 (Dec 10-3)
  • Semifinal – Jaydin Eierman (Iowa) 14-2 won by medical forfeit over Sebastian Rivera (Rutgers) 20-3 (M. For.)
  • 1st Place Match – Nick Lee (Penn State) 17-0 won by medical forfeit over Jaydin Eierman (Iowa) 14-2 (M. For.)

 

149 – Max Murin (12-3) placed 3rd and scored 15.5 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – Max Murin (Iowa) 12-3 won by major decision over Peyton Omania (Michigan State) 8-13 (MD 12-0)
  • Quarterfinal – Max Murin (Iowa) 12-3 won by decision over Yahya Thomas (Northwestern) 12-6 (Dec 6-5)
  • Semifinal – Sammy Sasso (Ohio State) 17-2 won by decision over Max Murin (Iowa) 12-3 (Dec 3-1)
  • Cons. Semi – Max Murin (Iowa) 12-3 won by decision over Mike Van Brill (Rutgers) 20-5 (Dec 6-1)
  • 3rd Place Match – Max Murin (Iowa) 12-3 won by medical forfeit over Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) 15-3 (M. For.)

 

157 – Kaleb Young (3-2) placed 4th and scored 10.5 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – Kaleb Young (Iowa) 3-2 received a bye () (Bye)
  • Quarterfinal – Brady Berge (Penn State) 9-2 won by decision over Kaleb Young (Iowa) 3-2 (Dec 5-3)
  • Cons. Round 2 – Kaleb Young (Iowa) 3-2 won by decision over Robert Kanniard (Rutgers) 11-7 (Dec 10-5)
  • Cons. Round 3 – Kaleb Young (Iowa) 3-2 won by decision over Chase Saldate (Michigan State) 26-8 (Dec 5-3)
  • Cons. Semi – Kaleb Young (Iowa) 3-2 won by decision over Peyton Robb (Nebraska) 11-7 (Dec 8-1)
  • 3rd Place Match – Brady Berge (Penn State) 9-2 won in sudden victory – 1 over Kaleb Young (Iowa) 3-2 (SV-1 3-1)

 

165 – Alex Marinelli (17-1) placed 1st and scored 19.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – Alex Marinelli (Iowa) 17-1 received a bye () (Bye)
  • Quarterfinal – Alex Marinelli (Iowa) 17-1 won by decision over Creighton Edsell (Penn State) 11-5 (Dec 8-2)
  • Semifinal – Alex Marinelli (Iowa) 17-1 won by decision over Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) 21-2 (Dec 3-2)
  • 1st Place Match – Alex Marinelli (Iowa) 17-1 won by decision over Cameron Amine (Michigan) 12-3 (Dec 2-1)

 

174 – Michael Kemerer (9-5) placed 6th and scored 10.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – Michael Kemerer (Iowa) 9-5 won by fall over Connor ONeill (Rutgers) 9-14 (Fall 2:31)
  • Quarterfinal – Michael Kemerer (Iowa) 9-5 won by decision over Ethan Smith (Ohio State) 16-5 (Dec 5-4)
  • Semifinal – Carter Starocci (Penn State) 18-0 won by medical forfeit over Michael Kemerer (Iowa) 9-5 (M. For.)
  • Cons. Semi – Troy Fisher (Northwestern) 16-9 won by medical forfeit over Michael Kemerer (Iowa) 9-5 (M. For.)
  • 5th Place Match – Mikey Labriola (Nebraska) 15-4 won by medical forfeit over Michael Kemerer (Iowa) 9-5 (M. For.)

 

184 – Abe Assad (11-7) placed 7th and scored 8.5 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – Abe Assad (Iowa) 11-7 won by decision over Zac Braunagel (Illinois) 15-7 (Dec 6-4)
  • Quarterfinal – Taylor Venz (Nebraska) 13-7 won by decision over Abe Assad (Iowa) 11-7 (Dec 4-2)
  • Cons. Round 2 – Abe Assad (Iowa) 11-7 won by major decision over Layne Malczewski (Michigan State) 22-10 (MD 9-0)
  • Cons. Round 3 – Kyle Cochran (Maryland) 23-9 won by decision over Abe Assad (Iowa) 11-7 (Dec 4-3)
  • 7th Place Match – Abe Assad (Iowa) 11-7 won by medical forfeit over Isaiah Salazar (Minnesota) 10-6 (M. For.)

 

197 – Jacob Warner (14-5) placed 4th and scored 13.5 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – Jacob Warner (Iowa) 14-5 won by major decision over Nick Willham (Indiana) 11-9 (MD 17-4)
  • Quarterfinal – Patrick Brucki (Michigan) 17-5 won by decision over Jacob Warner (Iowa) 14-5 (Dec 3-1)
  • Cons. Round 2 – Jacob Warner (Iowa) 14-5 won by major decision over Jaron Smith (Maryland) 16-11 (MD 10-1)
  • Cons. Round 3 – Jacob Warner (Iowa) 14-5 won by decision over Gavin Hoffman (Ohio State) 10-10 (Dec 4-2)
  • Cons. Semi – Jacob Warner (Iowa) 14-5 won by decision over Cameron Caffey (Michigan State) 27-7 (Dec 5-3)
  • 3rd Place Match – Patrick Brucki (Michigan) 17-5 won by decision over Jacob Warner (Iowa) 14-5 (Dec 3-1)

 

Hwt – Tony Cassioppi (15-3) placed 2nd and scored 15.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) 15-3 received a bye () (Bye)
  • Quarterfinal – Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) 15-3 won by decision over Trent Hillger (Wisconsin) 15-6 (Dec 9-3)
  • Semifinal – Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) 15-3 won in sudden victory – 1 over Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) 18-2 (SV-1 6-4)
  • 1st Place Match – Gable Steveson (Minnesota) 13-0 won by medical forfeit over Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) 15-3 (M. For.)

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!