Top recruit Jacob Warner of Washington, IL winning in the finals at the UWW Cadet World Freestyle Team Trials.
Jacob Warner was in town today for a workout at the Iowa Wrestling room. He looks much bigger than when I met him in early March. Competing at 197 lbs. in college and then eventually 213 lbs. in International will be perfect weights for Jacob Warner. In June, Warner stormed through the competition to win both the Freestyle and Greco-Roman Cadet World Team Trials to qualify for the Cadet World Championships to be held in Tbilisi, Georgia. Warner then went to Russia with his high school coach to practice with some elite Russian wrestlers.
Jacob, how was your trip to Russia?
Jacob Warner: It was great. We were in a Republic of Russia about an hour away from Tbilisi. It was awesome. The training partners and all of the people that opened up their homes to us were incredibly nice to us making us food and making sure that we were OK. It was a great trip overall.
Were you in a practice format or did you have official matches?
Jacob Warner: We would start a regular practice and then get in two or three matches. At my weight was the guy that has won the Worlds the last two years. There were several other World Medalists. All the guys there were top-notch competition.
What is your schedule like for the rest of the summer leading up to the World’s.
Jacob Warner: I will basically be training in Washington (IL) with my partners and getting ready to head back to Russia for the World Championships. I leave August 21st for the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs for training until the 28th. I leave September 12th for the Worlds.
You made the Cadet World Team in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman. Which style will you be competing at for the World Championships?
Jacob Warner: I am will be competing in Freestyle only. That is the style I am most comfortable winning a World title in.
And the weight you will be competing at?
Jacob Warner: 85 kg (187 lbs.)
What are you weighing now?
Jacob Warner: I just weighed out at 204 after practice. There is one weigh in the day before so I am not worried about my weight.
Do you feel as though the Greco-Roman has helped you develop in Freestyle and how do you think wrestling Freestyle and Greco-Roman is going to help you this winter in Folkstyle?
Jacob Warner: Greco allows me to be more comfortable in ties, underhooks, two on ones. It helps offensively controlling positions and not letting your opponent control you. It’s all the same in all three styles on your feet. The attacks can be implemented. Everything I learn in Greco can be applied to Freestyle and then into Folkstyle.
For recruiting, do you have a Top 5 list of colleges?
Jacob Warner: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Purdue, and Ohio State.
When will you make your decision for college?
Jacob Warner: I will take all of my official visits after Worlds. My decision will be on Signing Day.
Best of luck representing our country at the Cadet Freestyle World Championships.
Jacob Warner: Thank you.
Jacob Warner has been invited by Flo Wrestling to fly to Flo headquarters in Austin, Texas to make his college commitment announcement live on National Signing Day on Wednesday, November 9th.
I will be posting Jacob’s results at the 2016 UWW Cadet Freestyle World Championships on my Iowa Wrestling Fan Facebook page, personal Facebook page, Twitter and blog. And as always, I will be keeping you posted on recruiting information as the Recruiting Class of 2017 comes together. Spencer Lee is the first commit for the Class of 2017 and is the biggest recruit in the history of Iowa Wrestling. Iowa Wrestling fans, there is absolutely no doubt about it. We want Jacob Warner in the Recruiting Class of 2017 for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
As I have mentioned several times already. The Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2017 has the potential to be the best recruiting class since the legendary Recruiting Class of 1987 that included Tom and Terry Brands. The recruiting Class of 2017 also has the potential to be the greatest recruiting class in the history of Iowa Wrestling.
National Signing Day on November 9th can not get here soon enough.
