Brody Sampson committed to the Hawks on June 25 as a member of the Recruiting Class of 2024.

Sampson was a four-time placewinner for Ballard High School in Huxley, Iowa. He placed eighth as a freshman, fifth as a sophomore and second as a junior at 182. This past season as a senior Sampson placed third at 190.

Sampson competed for Collins-Maxwell as a freshman and sophomore before transferring to Ballard before the beginning of his junior year.

On the new Iowa Wrestling roster Sampson is listed at 184.

At Junior Nationals in Fargo this summer Sampson did not place with a 3-2 record at 190. In the Round of 32 he defeated #1 seed Aiden Cooley of Texas, 6-4.

Sampson was 4-1 for Team Iowa at Junior Duals with two tech falls and he won an Iowa state freestyle title last summer at 190.

Sampson was 2-2 at 195 for Team Iowa at the 2023 Junior Nationals.

In football Sampson was named as the District defensive lineman of the year as a senior and had the most sacks in the state in 4A. He lettered in football and wrestling all four years of high school and two years in track and baseball.

Sampson was named Academic All-Conference as a junior and senior and Academic All-State as a junior.

Sampson is a good all around athlete and scholar.

Best of luck to Brody Sampson as an Iowa Hawkeye.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Kyle Klingman of FloWrestling reported that the Iowa Women’s Wrestling team had wrestle-offs over the weekend.

At 131 Skye Realin defeated Allie Baudhuin(12-7), Emily Frost(Fall 4:28) and Emmily Patneaud(2-1). Realin transferred in from Central Methodist and will represent Team USA at 59kg/130 lbs. at the 2024 U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania on October 24-25.

At 145 Macey Kilty pinned Kiara Djoumessi in 2:12 and Ella Schmit in 2:31. Schmit placed 7th at 143 at the 2024 NCWWC National Tournament

Kilty is a five-time World Team member and won silver at the 2023 Senior World Freestyle Championships. Kilty(65kg/143 lbs.) will represent Team USA at the 2024 Senior World Championships and U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania on October 24-30.

At 207 Jaycee Foeller defeated Katja Osteen, 8-4. Osteen transferred in from Simon Fraser where she was a 2022 and 2023 NCWWC All American. This is the first year for the new weight class of 207.

Nanea Estrella defeated Lilly Luft by a 2-0 decision at 138. Luft placed 5th at 136 at the 2024 NCWWC National Championships.

At 124 Karlee Brooks won a 12-11 decision over Cali Leng. Brooks is a true freshman and elite recruit for the Class of 2024.

Iowa is the defending NCWWC national champions and look to have a considerably better team this season.

I will post as soon as the Iowa Women’s Wrestling program announces their 2024-25 schedule.

Wrestle-offs for the University of Iowa Women’s team

131: Skye Realin (Iowa 2) over Allie Baudhuin (Iowa) Dec 12-7

131: Emmily Patneaud (Iowa) over Emily Frost (Iowa 2) Dec 3-0

138: Nanea Estrella (Iowa) over Danni Swihart (Iowa 2) TF 10-0

145: Macey Kilty (Iowa) over Kiara Djoumessi (Iowa 2) Fall 2:12

103: Sterling Dias (Iowa) over Rianne Murphy (Iowa 2) Dec 10-6

110: Val Solorio (Iowa) over Ava Bayless (Iowa 2) Dec 10-1

117: Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) over Ava Rose (Iowa 2) TF 10-0

131: Emmily Patneaud (Iowa 2) over Allie Baudhuin (Iowa) TF 10-0

131: Skye Realin (Iowa) over Emily Frost (Iowa 2) Fall 4:28

124: Karlee Brooks (Iowa 2) over Cali Leng (Iowa) Dec 12-11

207: Jaycee Foeller (Iowa 2) over Katja Osteen (Iowa) Dec 8-4

138: Nanea Estrella (Iowa 2) over Lilly Luft (Iowa) Dec 2-0

145: Macey Kilty (Iowa 2) over Ella Schmit (Iowa) Fall 2:31

131: Emily Frost (Iowa) over Allie Baudhuin (Iowa 2) Fall 1:46

131: Skye Realin (Iowa) over Emmily Patneaud (Iowa 2) Dec 2-1

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

I had to go to Google to get an exact date. I have been going to Iowa Wrestling practices before a home football game since October 8, 1983. Royce Alger was a true freshman at Iowa and I was a junior at Lisbon High School.

The practice that I saw on Saturday, October 12th ranks right up there with the best of them. Simply put, it took me back in time.

I made myself sleep on it so that I would not overreact. I was that impressed with what I saw.

For starters the new facility is unbelievable. This was the first practice that I have made it to and it was one to remember.

Iowa certified on Thursday for the first day of official practice so everyone was at competition weight or close to it.

I’ll cut right to the chase. I was really impressed with true freshman, transfers, redshirt freshman, Hawks at their new weight, the whole works.

The main attraction was on the front and center mat. Stephan Buchanan, a senior transfer from Oklahoma that placed third at the NCAA National Tournament the last two years vs. elite recruit true freshman Angelo Ferrari. I would have paid admission for the entertainment of watching these two guys go at it.

I released a blog about how Ferrari is only the second recruit in the history of Iowa Wrestling to come in as the #1 overall recruit in the country. He looks the part and then some.

The flurries that these two had was impressive. Ferrari has the big legs and looks to be full sized at 184 from what I could tell. Buchanan is bigger and a good sized 197.

What I liked is that both wrestlers were tired but kept going at it hard and attacking. Great to see in mid October and in their first year in the room. Both of these guys are only going to get better as the season goes.

Do not take a close go as a knock on Buchanan. Take it as great news about Ferrari. I know I am.

I was trying to watch other matches but the center mats had my attention. I would go from Buchanan-Ferrari to Gabe Arnold(174) and a guy I did not know. They were really going at it with some great flurries. I had to ask to find out it was transfer Kyle Parco(149). Both are listed at 5’7” and of courses Arnold is much thicker. I am here to tell you Parco has some goin in him. What great wrestling to watch.

As with Buchanan-Ferrari do not take this as a knock on Arnold but great news about Parco. I am. Damn, was I impressed with Parco. He will be  handful and then some for anyone at 149 this season.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog having Ben Kueter ranked #11 at Hwt is a little…low. After what I saw in practice I believe it is way low. Kueter has definitely put on size and is still ripped. He has to be pushing all of 240 right now and I say again he is ripped. 

Kueter was wrestling Jacob Warner and looked great. I have never seen a Hwt as athletic and smooth as Kueter in the Iowa room over the years. This kid is at another level.  

Ranked 11th in the country for Ben Kueter at Hwt? I don’t think so.

Spencer Lee and Austin DeSanto were wrestling. Lee is a lot bigger than when I last saw him probably two years ago.  A lot bigger. Lee now looks the part of being an elite International wrestler challenging for World and Olympic titles.

Nelson Brands is huge. 184 has to be a cut and he looks big enough to go 197. He definitely put on muscle over the last year.

Kale Petersen is already at 125. Should he hold his weight well I look for big things out of him. Petersen is a small town Iowa tough guy. My favorite kind. Add in an ornery streak and getting coached up by Terry Brands and you have a recipe for a great year. 

Iowa does not have a wrestler ranked at 125 right now between Petersen and Joey Cruz and they should not be ranked. I like Kael Petersen a lot and I see him scoring good points at Nationals in Philadelphia to keep the tradition at 125 for the Hawks alive and well.

Drake Ayala looks bigger and I can only assume he is certified at 133. He is cut up and lean and if it was at 133 then it shows how much weight he was cutting last year. He looks real good and I feel a lot better about him going 133 now that I have seen how physical he looks. 

I have always been high on Ryder Block. He is listed at 5’11” on the roster and will be tall for his weight. As a redshirt freshman he has the background and skill set to step in and take 141 by the horns and have a solid season. 

Iowa does not have anyone ranked at 141 but I see Block scoring points at Nationals. This young fella will age for the good over the next five months leading into Nationals. It’s time for Block.

I had to also ask who Michael Caliendo was wrestling with. The guy was a lighter weight than Caliendo but was stacked. I found out it was true freshman Miguel Estrada. In my recent blog about Estrada I mentioned that due to an injury he did not compete much last season and dropped in the rankings. That set him up to be a potential darkhorse for the Recruiting Class of 2024.

Estrada showed up in June and has worked himself into shape. As a true freshman Estrada looks to be D-I ready for build and strength right now. Working out with Caliendo is only going to make him better. 

I have had four people contact me through my blog about how much Iowa fans were going to like Estrada. They were very high on Estrada and his potential for the next level. I see what they are talking about. I always welcome input from fans/coaches  

Estrada is listed at 149/157 on the roster and I expect him to redshirt this season. I see him being in the mix for the starting spot at 149 next season. This guy is impressing a lot of the right people and has a great future in the Black and Gold of Iowa Wrestling.

Patrick Kennedy looked real good going at it with Alex Marinelli. Kennedy is peaking to represent Team USA at U23 Worlds later this month. To many people have counted Kennedy out for the starting lineup. Whoever wins between Kennedy-Arnold will earn the right to take the mats at Big Tens next March. 

A quick rundown in a more organized format:

125 – Petersen is down to weight and I expect him to have a great season and to be the next hammer at 125.

133 – Ayala looks good at his new weight. He must have been cutting a lot last year.

141 – Block is down to weight. He has five months to develop before Big Tens.

149 – Parco looked light out t-o-u-g-h! I am also excited about true freshman Miguel Estrada.

157 – Teemer is ranked #1 in the country for a reason.

165 – Caliendo always looks good and I see him improving quite a bit in his second season in the program. 

174 – We may not know who the man is at 174 until Big Tens. Iron sharpens iron. Either way we will have a real good wrestler at 174 between Kennedy/Arnold.

184 – Nelson Brands is a beast and I believe he will have an extra grind to him this season. Going to be fun to watch.

197 – I was impressed with Buchanan. Real good athlete and good conditioning for this time of the year.

Hwt. – No football this year, just wrestling. Kueter is a freak. His mindset should be that anything less than being a national champ this year will be a disappointment.

Iowa will have one huge weekend for recruits and it will be for Homecoming in two weeks.

I look for Iowa to have an impressive group of recruits in Wrestle Town, USA – Iowa City, Iowa for the weekend of October 25-27.

Iowa got their #1 recruit in 2023 with Kueter, 2024 with Ferrari, and already have a verbal from Leo DeLuca ranked #1 at 120 for the Class of 2025. Who’s next?

If you are not excited as an Iowa Wrestling fan – you should be.

Let’s get ‘em in the middle.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The University of Iowa Women’s Wrestling team will take part in Hawkeyes from Downtown today.  The event will take place at the corner of Clinton and Iowa Ave. in downtown Iowa City from 4:30-6:30 PM. The wrestling team will arrive at 4:40 PM.

This is a great opportunity for fans to meet the Iowa Women’s Wrestling team and the Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams.

The Women’s Wrestling team won the 2024 NCWWC national title in their first year of the program. The Hawks return an even stronger team this season and are the favorite to repeat as team champions.

Iowa is the first Power 5 Conference member to have women’s wrestling.

Hawkeyes From Downtown schedule of events

Friday, October 11

The corner of Clinton and Iowa Ave. in downtown Iowa City

4:30 PM – Welcome

4:40 PM – Women’s Wrestling arrives

4:55 PM – Iowa Spirit Squads Perform

5:30 PM – WBB & MBB Arrive

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The full schedule for the 2024-25 Iowa Wrestling season has been released. As we would expect Iowa has a real competitive schedule that should be very entertaining for wrestling fans.

Iowa starts the year on the road at Oregon State on November 2 at 9PM CST. That is the only starting time of a dual meet to be released on the schedule at this time.

The home opener will be Stanford on Saturday, November 9. Iowa will travel to Bellarmine in Louisville, Kentucky on November 15. Former Iowa Hawkeye wrestler Ned Shuck has been the head coach at Bellarmine since 2021 where they have won NWCA Nationals the last two years. Bellarmine will compete in Division I this season as a member of the SoCon Conference.

Iowa will host Iowa State on Saturday, November 23 in what is always a big rivalry meet.

The Hawks will compete at Soldier Salute on December 29-30. I am sure this tournament will serve as wrestle offs for starting spots heading into the new year.

The Hawkeyes host Illinois (Jan. 17), Ohio State (Jan. 25), Nebraska (Feb. 7) and Northwestern (Feb. 16) in Big Ten duals at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Iowa travels for Big Ten road duals at Wisconsin (Jan. 12), Penn State (Jan. 31), Maryland (Feb. 2) and Minnesota (Feb. 14).

A great tradition will keep going when Iowa will host Oklahoma State to end the regular season on Sunday, February 23. 

The Big Ten Championships will be on March 8-9 in Evanston, Illinois and the 2025 NCAA Championships will be held from March 20-22 in Philadelphia.

This should once again be another entertaining season of Iowa Wrestling.

Let’s get ‘em in the middle.

2024-25 Iowa Wrestling Schedule

Saturday, November 2 – at Oregon State (9PM CST)

Saturday, November 9 – Stanford

Friday, November 15 – at Bellarmine (Louisville, KY)

Saturday, November 23 – Iowa State

Friday, December 6 – Journeymen Wrestling’s “Uncivil War” in St. Charles, MO

Princeton

Army

Sunday/Monday Dec 29-30- at Soldier Salute (Coralville, Iowa)

Sunday, January 12 – at Wisconsin

Friday, January 17 – Illinois

Saturday, January 25 – Ohio State

Friday, January 31 – at Penn State

Sunday, February 2 – at Maryland

Friday, February 7 – Nebraska

Friday, February 14 – at Minnesota

Sunday, February 16 – Northwestern

Sunday, February 23 – Oklahoma State

*Sat/Sun, March 8-9 – at Big Ten Championships (Evanston, IL)

*Thurs/Sat, March 20-22 – at NCAA Championships (Philadelphia, PA)

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

When Valarie Solorio announced her commitment to Iowa on September 20, 2023 she was the first member of the Recruiting Class of 2024.

In the final National Girls High School Rankings for the 2023-24 season Solorio was #4 at 100 lbs.

Solorio is listed at 103 on the new roster and is expected to redshirt this season.

Solorio moved from Panama City Beach, Florida where she won a state title in 2022 and competed for Canon-McMillan High School in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania for her senior season.

Solorio won the 100 lbs. state title in the first ever PIAA Girls Wrestling Championships in Pennsylvania history last season. She was 4-0 with falls in 1:23, :37 and 1:06 and 3:14.

She was the first wrestler to win a girls sanctioned state title in the history of Florida(2022) and Pennsylvania(2024).

Solorio placed second at 100 lbs. at Junior Nationals in Fargo in 2023 and 2024. She was also the 2021 16U national champion at 94 lbs.  

Solorio won the 2022 Mexico National Championship at 110 lbs. to qualify for the Pan American Championships.

Best of luck to Valarie Solorio as an Iowa Hawkeye.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

When Valarie Solorio announced her commitment to Iowa on September 20, 2023 she was the first member of the Recruiting Class of 2024.

In the final National Girls High School Rankings for the 2023-24 season Solorio was #4 at 100 lbs.

Solorio is listed at 103 on the new roster and is expected to redshirt this season.

Solorio moved from Panama City Beach, Florida where she won a state title in 2022 and competed for Canon-McMillan High School in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania for her senior season.

Solorio won the 100 lbs. state title in the first ever PIAA Girls Wrestling Championships in Pennsylvania history last season. She was 4-0 with falls in 1:23, :37 and 1:06 and 3:14.

She was the first wrestler to win a girls sanctioned state title in the history of Florida(2022) and Pennsylvania(2024).

Solorio placed second at 100 lbs. at Junior Nationals in Fargo in 2023 and 2024. She was also the 2021 16U national champion at 94 lbs.  

Solorio won the 2022 Mexico National Championship at 110 lbs. to qualify for the Pan American Championships.

Best of luck to Val Solorio as an Iowa Hawkeye.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The Big Ten released the conference wrestling schedule.

The Hawkeyes host Illinois (Jan. 17), Ohio State (Jan. 25), Nebraska (Feb. 7) and Northwestern (Feb. 16) in Big Ten duals at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Iowa will be on the road at Wisconsin (Jan. 12), Penn State (Jan. 31), Maryland (Feb. 2) and Minnesota (Feb. 14).

The Big Ten Championships will be on March 8-9 in Evanston, Illinois and the 2025 NCAA Championships will be held from March 20-22 in Philadelphia.

Iowa is also due to host rivals Iowa State and Oklahoma State this year as well. Along with the Big Ten schedule Carver-Hawkeye Arena will provide some great dual meets for fans this season.

A rare Saturday night dual meet with Ohio State. For years Iowa competed on Saturday night before the Big Ten went to Friday/Sunday meets.

Last season the Big Ten schedule was released on August 27 and the full schedule was released on October 17. I have read that the schedule comes out later than in the past due to TV scheduling.

I will keep you posted when the full schedule is released.

Big Ten Schedule

Sunday, January 12 – at Wisconsin

Friday, January 17 – Illinois

Saturday, January 25 – Ohio State

Friday, January 31 – at Penn State

Sunday, February 2 – at Maryland

Friday, February 7 – Nebraska

Friday, February 14 – at Minnesota

Sunday, February 16 – Northwestern

*Sat/Sun, March 8-9 – at Big Ten Championships (Evanston, IL)

*Thurs/Sat, March 20-22 – at NCAA Championships (Philadelphia, PA)

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Kael Voinovich announced on January 29, 2024 that he was going to be a Hawk and be a member of the Recruiting Class of 2024. Voinovich was ranked as high as #14 at 157 in national rankings last season. 

Voinovich is listed at 149 on the new Iowa Wrestling roster and is the younger brother of Victor Voinovich who saw varsity action at 149 last season for the Hawks.

Voinovich began his career in Ohio where he placed third. As a sophomore the family moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma where Victor began his college career at Oklahoma State.

Kael won an Oklahoma state title as a sophomore and placed second as a junior.

When Victor transferred to Iowa Kael then transferred to Iowa City High in Iowa City, Iowa where he won a 3A state title at 157 lbs. Voinovich had a 142-14 career record.

This summer Voinovich was 3-1 for Team Iowa at 157 lbs. at Junior Duals. At Junior Nationals he had a 4-2 record at 157 and did not place. 

Voinovich placed sixth at 70kg at the 2024 U20 U.S. Open.

With a great background of competing in Ohio, Oklahoma, and Iowa combined with the family commitment Kael has a lot of potential for the Hawks.

Best of luck to Kael Voinovich as an Iowa Hawkeye.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Incoming Iowa Wrestling recruit Leo DeLuca is ranked #1 in the country at 120 lbs. in the new FloWrestling Rankings. DeLuca is ranked #13 in the P4P (pound for pound) rankings.

DeLuca is from Morristown, New Jersey and competes for national powerhouse Blair Academy. 

DeLuca won a Junior National title in 2023 at 120 lbs. and a Cadet National title at 113 in 2021.

He committed to Iowa on December 4, 2023 and is projected to compete at 125 for the Hawks.

Tyrel Miller (St. Eds HS in Cleveland, Ohio) is ranked #6 at 175 and Jarrel Miller (St. Eds HS in Cleveland, Ohio) is #7 at 190.

DeLuca, Miller, and Miller are in the Recruiting Class of 2025.

I will continue to follow all of our incoming recruits in competition on this blog with a preview and follow up with results throughout the high school season.

Iowa is scheduled to be hosting recruits over the remainder of October.

National Letter of Intent Signing Day for the Class of 2025 begins on Wednesday, November 13 and ends on November 20, 2024.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!