The Iowa Hawkeyes had eight champs and won the inaugural Soldier Salute in Coralville, Iowa. Up and down the lineup I like what I saw. I believe this tournament is just what Iowa Wrestling needed at this time.
I was hoping to see Spencer Lee and we did. Not much else to say except how I have been describing him since his true freshman year. Spencer Lee is…Spencer Lee. I look for Lee to go out with a statement for his remaining career as a Hawk. The future looks great with Drake Ayala more than ready to step in next year. The tradition at 125 for the present and future has never looked better for Iowa Wrestling.
Cullan Schriever looked solid in winning the title at 133. As he continues to evolve and finish his shots the future looks better and better for Schriever. I must admit that I did not know he was that quick on his shots until I saw him in person. Fine tuning his finishes to takedowns to go along with his mat wrestling that is already there and we may have more at 133 that we think for the National Tournament this year.
Real Woods just continues to impress. He is fun to watch. Do not blink because you may miss a big move. He was not really challenged in winning the title at 141. Nothing else to say except I love our chances of winning it all at 141.
Max Murin won the title at 149. He came out quick and was scoring points. Gotta love it. This guy doesn’t even think about getting tired even at the pace that he competes at. Never underestimate a senior on a mission.
More so than any other wrestler for Iowa I was impressed with Caleb Rathjen at 149 who placed second to Murin. Rathjen defeated Antony Echmendia 4-3 in the semifinals. What energy he brings to a match. That match was Iowa Wrestling. A healthy Caleb Rathjen has found a home at 149 in the Black and Gold.
Patrick Kennedy looked solid in winning the title at 165. He was sluggish on the second day of competition but no cause of concern for me. I see Kennedy on the awards stand on Saturday night of Nationals.
Abe Assad was pushed in winning the title at 184 with an OT win in the finals. Assad did not look to be 100% but found a way to win. I do not believe Assad would have won that match with that exact type of scenario a year ago. That is knowing how to win. That will serve him well at Nationals should the same situations occur.
Iowa wrestlers placed 1,2, and 3 at 197 with Jacob Warner winning the title. I was impressed with Kolby Franklin defeating teammate Zach Glazier in the semifinals. Glazier then defeated Wyatt Volker of UNI 12-3 for third place in what may have been the most impressive win for a Hawkeye for the entire tournament. Warner will be there at money time for Nationals.
Tony Cassioppi is making it look easy at Hwt. Four first period pins was all it took for him to win it at Hwt. Big Cass, like Murin, may be a senior on a mission this year.
A few comments that Tom Brands had in an interview released by Iowa Wrestling on Twitter after the tournament.
“We’ver got Illinois eight days from now. We have to evaluate this. We have to move forward.
I know one thing. We’ve got to stay healthy. That’s where we’re at. We’ve got to stay healthy.
The thing I like about this tournament or format is that it is a two day tournament. And it’s the same format as Big Tens and the first two days of the National Tournament. And that’s big. Two hour weigh-ins so on and so forth.
We’re building everybody. Even our young guys that as freshmen experience this.”
Give me a healthy Iowa Wrestling team in Tulsa at the National Tournament and we as Hawkeye fans are in for a hell of an entertaining tournament.
Iowa will compete next at home in sold out legendary Carver-Hawkeye Arena against #28 Illinois on Friday, January 6 at 7 PM for Fan Appreciation Day.
Soldier Salute results
125
Champ. Round 1 – Spencer Lee (Iowa) 4-0 won by fall over Damion Ryan (Bellarmine) 1-2 (Fall 0:54)
Quarterfinal – Spencer Lee (Iowa) 4-0 won by tech fall over Charlie Farmer (Army West Point) 10-4 (TF-1.5 4:28 (19-1))
Semifinal – Spencer Lee (Iowa) 4-0 won by major decision over Jore Volk (Wyoming) 11-6 (MD 15-5)
1st Place Match – Spencer Lee (Iowa) 4-0 won by fall over Drake Ayala (Iowa) 3-1 (Fall 1:24)
133
Champ. Round 1 – Cullan Schriever (Iowa) 4-0 won by decision over Derrick Cardinal (South Dakota State) 2-6 (Dec 9-2)
Quarterfinal – Cullan Schriever (Iowa) 4-0 won by decision over Rich Treanor (Army West Point) 13-9 (Dec 8-4)
Semifinal – Cullan Schriever (Iowa) 4-0 won by decision over Ryan Franco (Army West Point) 9-7 (Dec 8-2)
1st Place Match – Cullan Schriever (Iowa) 4-0 won by decision over Angelo Rini (Columbia) 7-6 (Dec 4-2)
141
Champ. Round 1 – Real Woods (Iowa) 4-0 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Real Woods (Iowa) 4-0 won by tech fall over Shane Percelay (Army West Point) 3-2 (TF-1.5 3:48 (16-0))
Quarterfinal – Real Woods (Iowa) 4-0 won by tech fall over Connor Thorpe (Northern Iowa) 8-7 (TF-1.5 3:25 (17-1))
Semifinal – Real Woods (Iowa) 4-0 won by major decision over Caleb Gross (South Dakota State) 9-5 (MD 12-1)
1st Place Match – Real Woods (Iowa) 4-0 won by fall over Julian Sanchez (Army West Point) 9-5 (Fall 2:43)
149
Champ. Round 1 – Max Murin (Iowa) 5-0 won by fall over Ryan Vigil (VMI) 8-9 (Fall 2:31)
Champ. Round 2 – Max Murin (Iowa) 5-0 won by fall over Adam Allard (Northern Iowa) 9-8 (Fall 2:59)
Quarterfinal – Max Murin (Iowa) 5-0 won by tech fall over Alek Martin (South Dakota State) 9-7 (TF-1.5 5:19 (20-4))
Semifinal – Max Murin (Iowa) 5-0 won by decision over Joel Jesuroga (Iowa) 2-3 (Dec 8-3)
1st Place Match – Max Murin (Iowa) 5-0 won by decision over Caleb Rathjen (Iowa) 3-1 (Dec 7-4)
165
Champ. Round 1 – Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 4-0 won by fall over Raheem Rahamatulla (Unattached) 0-2 (Fall 1:19)
Quarterfinal – Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 4-0 won by fall over Cole Nance (Bellarmine) 1-2 (Fall 0:30)
Semifinal – Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 4-0 won by decision over Cole Moody (Wyoming) 12-6 (Dec 9-6)
1st Place Match – Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 4-0 won by decision over Jack Thomsen (South Dakota State) 12-4 (Dec 10-5)
184
Champ. Round 1 – Abe Assad (Iowa) 4-0 won by major decision over Guillermo Escobedo (Wyoming) 9-9 (MD 14-4)
Quarterfinal – Abe Assad (Iowa) 4-0 won by fall over Micah Dicarlo (The Citadel) 6-9 (Fall 1:29)
Semifinal – Abe Assad (Iowa) 4-0 won by decision over Roman Rogotzke (South Dakota State) 8-7 (Dec 9-6)
1st Place Match – Abe Assad (Iowa) 4-0 won in sudden victory – 1 over Bennett Berge (South Dakota State) 8-4 (SV-1 6-4)
197
Champ. Round 1 – Jacob Warner (Iowa) 4-0 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Jacob Warner (Iowa) 4-0 won by fall over Tyce Raddon (Wyoming) 7-7 (Fall 1:15)
Quarterfinal – Jacob Warner (Iowa) 4-0 won by tech fall over Adam Ahrendsen (Northern Iowa) 7-9 (TF-1.5 5:07 (17-2))
Semifinal – Jacob Warner (Iowa) 4-0 won by decision over Wyatt Voelker (Northern Iowa) 14-2 (Dec 4-1)
1st Place Match – Jacob Warner (Iowa) 4-0 won by major decision over Kolby Franklin (Iowa) 3-1 (MD 10-2)
Hwt
Champ. Round 1 – Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) 4-0 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) 4-0 won by fall over Ben Stemmet (The Citadel) 3-7 (Fall 1:58)
Quarterfinal – Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) 4-0 won by fall over Brooks Empey (Wisconsin) 2-4 (Fall 1:12)
Semifinal – Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) 4-0 won by fall over Luke Rasmussen (South Dakota State) 10-6 (Fall 2:17)
1st Place Match – Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) 4-0 won by fall over Ryan Catka (Navy) 3-1 (Fall 2:11)
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
