When the Iowa Hawkeyes take to the mats for the NCAA Wrestling Championships on Thursday-Saturday it will be the final appearance as a Hawkeye for five seniors. Michael Kemerer, Alex Marinelli, Kaleb Young, Austin DeSanto, and Jaydin Eierman have definitely left their mark on Iowa Wrestling.
Michael Kemerer of Murrysville, Pennsylvania (Franklin Regional) was the star recruit in the Recruiting Class of 2015. After a redshirt season Kemerer placed third at 157 as a freshman and fourth as a sophomore. He then missed 2019 due to injury. Kemerer returned to the lineup in 2020 and was seeded #2 at 174 when the NCAA National Tournament was canceled. Last season Kemerer won a Big Ten title and placed second in the country at 174. Kemerer enters Nationals this year as the #5 seed.
Alex Marinelli of Miamisburg (St. Paris Graham), Ohio was the top recruit in the Recruiting Class of 2016. After a redshirt, Marinelli placed sixth at 165 at the NCAA’s. As a sophomore he won a Big Ten title and placed seventh at Nationals. In 2020 Marinelli was a Big Ten Champion and seeded #1 at 165 when the NCAA’s were canceled. Last season Marinelli won another Big Ten title and did not place at Nationals. This season Marinelli won his fourth Big Ten title and is seeded #3 at 165 heading into the National Tournament
Kaleb Young of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania was in the Recruiting Class of 2016. Young was the first Iowa Wrestler from the Young Guns Wrestling Club to commit to the Hawks. After a redshirt season Young competed at 165 and 174 in 2018. As a sophomore in 2019 Young placed fifth in the country at 157. In 2020 Young was seeded eighth when the NCAA Tournament was canceled. Last season Young placed seventh. Young enters Nationals as the #9 seed at 157.
Austin DeSanto of Exeter, Pennsylvania started his career at Drexel where he was an NCAA Qualifier as a true freshman at 133 in 2018. DeSanto did not redshirt at Drexel and immediately stepped into the starting lineup when he arrived at Iowa and placed fifth in 2019. He was seeded sixth in 2020 when the NCAA’s were canceled. Last season DeSanto placed third. DeSanto is seeded fifth at 133 for the upcoming NCAA National Tournament.
Jaydin Eierman of Columbia, Missouri (Father Tolton) transferred to Iowa from Missouri where he placed fifth (2017), fourth (2018), and third (2019) in the country at 141. After transferring to Iowa he did not compete in 2020. Last season for the Hawks Eierman was a Big Ten champion and placed second in the country. Heading into Nationals Eierman is the #2 seed at 141.
This is a great group of wrestlers that I wanted to highlight before they compete for the Iowa Hawkeyes for the last time. They were instrumental in Iowa winning the NCAA team title last season and are leading the way into Nationals this year.
Best of luck to this group of seniors at Nationals.
2022 NCAA Wrestling Championships March 17-19
*All times list are CST
Session I: Thursday 11 AM [ESPNU]
Session II: Thursday 6 PM [ESPN2]
Quarterfinals: Friday 10 AM [ESPNU]
Semifinals: Friday 7 PM [ESPN]
Consolations: Saturday 10 AM [ESPN2]
Finals: Saturday 6 PM [ESPN]
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
