Iowa Wrestling coaches Tom Brands and Ryan Morningstar are hitting it hard out on the recruiting trail. Brands and Morningstar are in Medina, Ohio just outside of Cleveland right now at the Medina Invitational Tournament. Yes, Iowa Wrestling has an early morning weigh in for the Midlands in Chicago tomorrow with first round action beginning at 9:30 AM. But right now, Brands and Morningstar are in the Cleveland area to watch elite recruit Alex Facundo of Davison, Michigan.
I have called Facundo the best wrestler in the country right now, regardless of weight or age, but for good reason. He is. Facundo is just a sophomore, but he does not wrestle like one. Facundo was undefeated last season in capturing a state title as a freshman at 152 lbs. by beating a two-time state champion in the finals He then won the USAW Junior Folkstyle National title…as a freshman. Facundo went on to win the Cadet World Team Trials and captured a Bronze at the 2018 World Cadet Freestyle Championships in Zagreb, Croatia. Facundo was a teammate of incoming Iowa Wrestling recruit Abe Assad, who also captured a Bronze.
In October, Facundo looked outstanding in defeating then #1 ranked Brevin Balmaceda in Who’s #1, 7-3. As a sophomore, Facundo is ranked #1 in the country at 160 lbs. by every rankings that I have seen. Facundo is ranked #7 for the FloWrestling P4P (pound for pound) rankings. All of those ranked ahead of him are either a junior or senior. I would have Facundo #1 overall in the country.
I can only guess that Facundo would wrestle anywhere from 165 to 184. It is too early to tell. As I mentioned in a recent podcast, the thought of a 1-2-3 punch of Partick Kennedy – Alex Facundo – Abe Assad sure sounds great to me. Iowa already has Assad signed up and on the way as a senior this year and Kennedy gave a verbal commitment and is a junior this year. Iowa Wrestling fans want to see that 1-2-3 punch in the lineup. Let’s get them all aboard and they will make the weight classes work.
As an Iowa Wrestling fan, I have to like the recruiting savy of Brands and Morningstar making this 700-mile round trip from Chicago to Cleveland and back to watch Facundo in the finals tonight on the eve of the Midlands. Facundo has pinned his first three opponents in the first period to make it to the finals of the Medina Invitational Tournament that is a 45-team tournament.
I am certain that Facundo will be the overall #1 recruit in the country for the Class of 2021. As far as being top ranked and being an impact wrestler that every wrestling program in the country would like to have, Alex Facundo would be Iowa Wrestling’s next Spencer Lee.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
