Next up to welcome to the Iowa Wrestling team is Ryder Block of Waverly, Iowa (Waverly-Shell Rock HS). Block enters the program as another impressive member of the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2023.
Block certainly has the credentials of a top recruit. In the final MatScouts Rankings Block was #2 at 138 lbs. and #64 overall in the country.
This past season Block won a 138 lbs. state title with a 45-0 record to become a three-time state champion, four-time finalist, and was named the Casey’s 3A Wrestling Championships MVP.
After winning his state title Block had a successful freestyle season that concluded with his second consecutive Junior national title at 138 lbs. in Fargo where he won by a tech fall in the finals. For the tournament Block was 7-0 with five tech falls, a fall and a decision.
I was thinking we would see Block redshirt this season with Real Woods being a senior at 141 and be ready to challenge for that spot next year. However the new roster just released has Block at 149 and listed at 5’11”. With that type of frame and at that age it is just a guess as to what weight he will end up at. Whatever the weight we will have a real good wrestler with a lot of potential.
With the new rules over the last several seasons that allows a college wrestler to compete up to four times in dual meets without using a year of eligibility, I hope we see Block in there at least a few times this season in dual meets.
Block certainly has the pedigree with roots in 3A powerhouse Waverly-Shell Rock and Sebolt Wrestling Academy trained. That sounds like a great combination to me. Let’s get him some experience and more horsepower at whatever weight he ends up competing at. The Iowa Wrestling room is a great place to take care of that and prepare Block for what looks to be a real good career for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
