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Wes Hand named as new head coach at Pleasant Valley
Former Iowa Hawkeye All American Wes Hand has been named as the new head wrestling coach at Pleasant Valley.
Hand joined the Pleasant Valley program as an assistant coach this past season. Pleasant Valley is a 3A school located in Riverdale, Iowa in the Quad Cities.
Wes was a two-time All American for the University of Iowa at Hwt where he was an NCAA National Runner-up and Big Ten champ in 2000 and placed eighth in 1998.
The University of Iowa won an NCAA team title in all five years of Hand’s career as a Hawkeye (1996-2000).
After college Hand was an Assistant Coach at Virginia Tech and at the University of Iowa.
Originally from Tama, Iowa Hand was a 1995 2A state champ at Hwt. for South Tama High School.
I was able to watch Wes Hand’s career for all four years of high school at South Tama as well as at the University of Iowa. South Tama and University of Iowa Wrestling are tough people. His background and influences from coaches and teammates are now being passed on.
Wes Hand:
“I have been influenced by two Hall of Fame coaches. Jay Hoskey at South Tama and Dan Gable at Iowa. Hoskey and Gable always wanted you as a wrestler to feel good when you left the program. I want to do that here at Pleasant Valley.
I have also been influenced by the assistant coaches at South Tama and as well as Jimmy Zalesky. I want to use my background to teach the next generation of wrestlers.
Maybe the most important thing is to have our wrestlers look back at their career and be proud of their experience and that it will help them move forward in life.
I had the support of my family in my career and they never told me no when it came to wrestling. They always supported me every step of the way.
Our family of my wife Maggie and our kids Victoria (8) and George (4) live in the Pleasant Valley school district. I am excited about being the head wrestling coach at Pleasant Valley.”
Best of luck to Wes Hand as the new head wrestling coach at Pleasant Valley.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
Iowa Women’s Wrestling Banquet on April 27
The Iowa Women’s Wrestling Banquet and IWWC Casino Night will be on Saturday, April 27 at the Xtreme Arena in Coralville, Iowa.
This will be a great opportunity to meet the 2024 national champion Iowa Hawkeye wrestlers and coaches.
You can support the Iowa Women’s Wrestling program by purchasing tickets, sponsoring a table at Casino Night, or by making a general donation.
Iowa Women’s Wrestling Banquet and IWWC Casino Night
Saturday, April 27
Xtreme Arena in Coralville, Iowa
5:30 PM – Doors open
6 PM – Dinner
6:30 PM – Iowa Women’s Wrestling Banquet
7:30 PM – IWWC Casino Night
To reserve your tickets, sponsor a table for the Iowa Women’s Wrestling Banquet and IWWC Casino Night, or to make a general donation:
www.classy.org/event/iwwc-casino-night/e566310/register/new/select-tickets
For more information:
iowawomenswrestlingclub.com/casino-night/
For any questions about the Iowa Women’s Wrestling Banquet and IWWC Casino Night you can contact IWWC Board Member Kylee Walker at: [email protected]
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
Edwin Cooper to compete in The Ultimate Fighter 32
Former Iowa wrestler Edwin Cooper will compete in TUF 32. TUF (The Ultimate Fighter) is a production for the UFC. Cooper will be competing in the Featherweight division of 145 lbs.
The two teams for TUF 32 will be coached by Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso. The season opener for TUF 32 will be Tuesday, June 4 on ESPN.
TUF is a reality TV show with twelve episodes where the winner of each weight will receive a contract to compete in the UFC.
Cooper is one of eight fighters in the Featherweight competition and the only American. Fighters from England, Lithuania, South Africa, Tajikistan, Mexico, Australia and Brazil will be competing.
With a career 6-1 MMA record Cooper has been training in MMA since he left Iowa. He is currently living in Albuquerque, New Mexico and competes for legendary Jackson Wink MMA.
UFC champions Holly Holm and Jon Jones have competed for Jackson Wink MMA for years.
Through Facebook I have been able to keep up with Cooper’s MMA career since he left Iowa. He has not competed since 2022 and this is a great opportunity to make a huge move in his MMA career.
Cooper was a 2016 NCAA National Qualifier for the University of Iowa at 157 lbs.
Originally from Joliet, Illinois, Cooper was a two-time Illinois state champion and four-time finalist at Providence Catholic and also a Cadet and Junior freestyle national champion. He won a Junior College national title at 149 lbs. for Iowa Central in 2012.
I will keep you up to date on this blog with results for Cooper on TUF 32.
Best of luck to Edwin Cooper.
Roster of TUF 32:
Edwin Cooper fight history:
https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Edwin-Cooper-Jr-304487
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
Hernandez wins title at NHSCA High School Nationals
Incoming Iowa recruit Keyan Hernandez won the Senior division 126 lbs. title at the NHSCA High School Nationals in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Hernandez was 5-0 in the tournament and defeated Peyton Ellis of Rhode Island 5-3 in the finals.
Last year he placed fourth at 120 lbs. in the Junior class division.
Hernandez recently won his fourth Montana state title for Billings West High School with a 40-0 record and had a 131-1 career record.
Hernandez was the first member of the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2024 when he committed to the Hawks on October 1, 2022.
2024 NHSCA High School Nationals
Round of 32: Keyan Hernandez(MT) fall over Omari Figuera(NC) 2:35
Round of 16: Keyan Hernandez(MT) decision over Noah Michaels(NJ) 5-1
Quarterfinals: Keyan Hernandez(MT) major decision over Xavier Rodela(TX) 11-0
Semifinals: Keyan Hernandez(MT) decision over Evan Benitez(WA) 11-5
Finals: Keyan Hernandez(MT) decision over Peyton Ellis(RI) 5-3
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
Valencia and B. Gonzalez win Last Chance OTT
Nyla Valencia and Brianna Gonzalez from the University of Iowa won titles at the Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier in Fairfax, Virginia.
Valencia and Gonzalez will join seven teammates that will be competing at the 2024 Olympic Team Trials on April 19-20.
Valencia won the title at 50kg with two tech falls before pinning Charlotte Fowler (Boilermaker WC) in 5:27 in the finals.
Valencia is a redshirt freshman from Morgan Hill, California (Ann Sabrato HS) and did not compete for the Hawks this past season.
Gonzalez won the 53kg bracket with a tech fall and 9-0 decision before defeating Elena Ivaldi (California) by a 10-0 tech fall in the finals.
Gonzalez, a redshirt freshman from El Monte, California (Arroyo HS), placed second at NCWWC Nationals at 116 lbs. for the Hawks this season.
Sterling Dias (50kg) and Alexandra Baudhuin (57kg) did not place.
Three incoming recruits in the Iowa Women’s Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2024 competed.
Naomi Simon placed third at 76kg. Karlee Brooks (57kg) and Cadence Diduch (62kg) did not place.
Lauren Louive, the first woman wrestler in the Hawkeye Wrestling Club, won the title at 57 kg.
Qualified for the 2024 Olympic Team Trials
Nyla Valencia – 50 kg
Brianna Gonzalez – 53 kg
Rose Cassioppi – 76 kg
Marlynne Deede – 76 kg
Kylie Welker – Non-Olympic weight
Emile Gonzalez – Non-Olympic weight
Ava Bayless – Non-Olympic weight
Felicity Taylor – Non-Olympic weight
Reese Larramendy – Non-Olympic weight
Iowa Women’s Wrestling Club
Nyla Valencia – 50kg
Champ. Round 1 – Nyla Valencia (TMWC/ IWWC) received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Nyla Valencia (TMWC/ IWWC) won by tech fall over Jenna Gerhardt (North Dakota) (TF 15-4)
Semifinal – Nyla Valencia (TMWC/ IWWC) won by tech fall over Natalie Reyna-Rodriguez (Southern Oregon Regional Training Center) (TF 14-1)
1st Place Match – Nyla Valencia (TMWC/ IWWC) won by fall over Charlotte Fowler (Boilermaker RTC) (Fall 5:27)
Sterling Dias – 50kg
Champ. Round 1 – Sterling Dias (Iowa Womens Wrestling Club) received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Charlotte Fowler (Boilermaker RTC) won by decision over Sterling Dias (Iowa Womens Wrestling Club) (Dec 9-0)
Cons. Round 2 – Sterling Dias (Iowa Womens Wrestling Club) won by fall over Emma Heslin (South Side Wrestling Club) (Fall 2:51)
Cons. Round 3 – Mariah Anderson (Air Force Regional Training Center) won by decision over Sterling Dias (Iowa Womens Wrestling Club) (Dec 7-0)
Brianna Gonzalez – 53kg
Champ. Round 1 – Brianna Gonzalez (TMWC/ IWWC) received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Brianna Gonzalez (TMWC/ IWWC) won by tech fall over Jaslynn Gallegos (Cardinal Wrestling Club) (TF 10-0)
Semifinal – Brianna Gonzalez (TMWC/ IWWC) won by decision over Aleeah Gould (Army (WCAP)) (Dec 9-0)
1st Place Match – Brianna Gonzalez (TMWC/ IWWC) won by tech fall over Elena Ivaldi (California) (TF 10-0)
Alexandra Baudhuin – 57kg
Champ. Round 1 – Montana DeLawder (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Alexandra Baudhuin (Iowa Womens Wrestling Club) (TF 10-0)
Cons. Round 1 – Jackeline Ramos (New Jersey) won by tech fall over Alexandra Baudhuin (Iowa Womens Wrestling Club) (TF 14-4)
Iowa Women’s Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2024
Karlee Brooks – 57kg
Champ. Round 1 – Karlee Brooks (TMWC/ EAP) won by tech fall over Jackeline Ramos (New Jersey) (TF 10-0)
Quarterfinal – Montana DeLawder (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) won by fall over Karlee Brooks (TMWC/ EAP) (Fall 4:29)
Cons. Round 2 – Karlee Brooks (TMWC/ EAP) won by tech fall over Josie Bartishofski (Victory School of Wrestling) (TF 11-0)
Cons. Round 3 – Karlee Brooks (TMWC/ EAP) won by decision over Jasmine Hernandez (Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club) (Dec 8-5)
Cons. Semi – Sofia Macaluso (West Point Wrestling Club) won by fall over Karlee Brooks (TMWC/ EAP) (Fall 5:45)
Cadence Diduch – 62kg
Champ. Round 1 – Cadence Diduch (Alber Athletics Wrestling Club) won by decision over Marilyn Garcia (TMWC/ BTSLA) (Dec 4-4)
Quarterfinal – Alexandra Szkotnicki (Bearcat Wrestling Club) won by decision over Cadence Diduch (Alber Athletics Wrestling Club) (Dec 6-2)
Cons. Round 2 – Cadence Diduch (Alber Athletics Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Hailie Misplay (FRECO) (TF 10-0)
Cons. Round 3 – Marisol Nugent (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by fall over Cadence Diduch (Alber Athletics Wrestling Club) (Fall 2:22)
Naomi Simon – 76kg
Quarterfinal – Naomi Simon (Northeast Iowa Wrestling Club) won by fall over Gabrielle Holloway (North Carolina) (Fall 1:42)
Semifinal – Madison Sandquist (Rise RTC) won by decision over Naomi Simon (Northeast Iowa Wrestling Club) (Dec 10-8)
Cons. Semi – Naomi Simon (Northeast Iowa Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Liliana Vergara (California) (TF 10-0)
3rd Place Match – Naomi Simon (Northeast Iowa Wrestling Club) won by decision over Shenita Lawson (New York Athletic Club) (Dec 9-6)
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
Borschel and Beers to be inducted into Iowa Wrestling HOF
University of Iowa national champions Jay Borschel and Leslie Beers will be inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame.
The induction ceremony and banquet will be Monday, April 8 in Cresco, Iowa.
Borschel won the 174 lbs. NCAA national title for the Hawks in 2010 with a 37-0 record. Borschel won a Big Ten title in 2010 and was also named as the 2010 Iowa Male Athlete of the Year.
As a sophomore in 2008 Borschel placed third and in 2009 he was an NCAA Qualifier also at 174.
He was a member of the 2008, 2009, and 2010 University of Iowa NCAA National Championship teams.
Borschel was a four-time Iowa high school state champion at Linn-Mar (Marion) with a 163-1 career record. At Linn-Mar his head coach was former Iowa All American Doug Steicher.
Leslie Beers was the first national champion, All American, Big Ten champion and Olympian in Iowa Wrestling history. Beers won the 1928 158 lbs. NCAA title and a Big Ten title in 1926 and 1928.
Beers competed in the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Beers was born in Pocahontas, Iowa in 1906 and passed away in 1973.
Congratulations to Jay Borschel and Leslie Beers for receiving this much deserved honor.
2024 Induction Ceremony for the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame
Monday, April 8
4:30 PM – Open House at the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame
5:30 PM – Social Hour at the Heritage Event Center, 229 3rd Ave W, Cresco
6:30 PM – Dinner and Induction
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
April 3, 2024 is Iowa Women’s Wrestling Day
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation to make April 3, 2024 Iowa Women’s Wrestling Day.
The Iowa Women’s Wrestling coaching staff and several wrestlers attended a ceremony at the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines.
The Iowa Hawkeyes won the 2024 NWWCA national title in their first year of competition. The Hawks had six national champions, three national runner ups, and fifteen All Americans.
Iowa also won the NWCA National Dual title.
Video of Governor Reynolds with members of the Iowa Women’s Wrestling team:
Congratulations to the Iowa Women’s Wrestling program for this much deserved honor.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
Cobe Siebrecht is available for camps
Cobe Siebrecht is available for camps and individual coaching.
Cobe was a 2023 NCAA Qualifier for the University of Iowa and he will be back next season for the Hawks.
He won a state title at Lisbon, Iowa for Hall of Fame coach Brad Smith before becoming a Hawkeye.
Cobe has been a member of an Iowa high school state championship team and an NCAA national championship team.
You will get a great blend of fundamentals and big move throws for technique.
With limited availability you will want to reserve your time slot now.
You can contact Cobe on Facebook Messenger and at:
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
Hernandez to compete at NHSCA High School Nationals
Incoming Iowa recruit Keyan Hernandez will be competing at the NHSCA High School Nationals this weekend. Hernandez will be competing at 126 lbs. in the Senior class division.
Last year Hernandez placed fourth at 120 lbs. in the Junior class division.
The wrestling will take place at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Hernandez just won his fourth Montana state title for Billings West High School with a 40-0 record and had a 131-1 career record.
Hernandez was the first member of the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2024 when he committed to the Hawks on October 1, 2022.
I will have a follow up blog with results.
FloWrestling will have live coverage of the NHSCA High School Nationals on their premium service.
Schedule for NHSCA High School Nationals
Friday, April 5
Noon – Wrestle up to Quarterfinals
Saturday, April 6
1 PM – All high school division Quarterfinals
3 PM – All high school division Semifinals
Sunday, April 7
7 AM – All high school division Consolations medal matches
9 AM – All high school division Finals
***All times listed are CST
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
HWC and IWWC to compete at Last Chance OTT
Members of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club and Iowa Women’s Wrestling Club will be competing in the 2024 Last Chance Olympic Teams Trials Qualifier this weekend.
Wrestlers will be competing to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Team Trials on April 19-20.
The competition will be at the James W Robinson Jr. Secondary School in Fairfax, Virginia. The women’s competition will be on Saturday, April 6 and the men’s on Sunday, April 7.
Iowa Women’s Wrestling Club: Sterling Dias, Nyla Valencia, Brianna Gonzalez, and Alexandra Baudhuin
Hawkeye Wrestling Club: Jaydin Eierman, Jeremiah Moody, Nelson Brands, and Jacob Warner
FloWrestling will have full coverage on their premium service.
I will have a follow up blog with results.
2024 Last Chance Olympic Teams Trials Qualifier
Hawkeye Wrestling Club
Jaydin Eierman – 65kg
Jeremiah Moody – 74kg
Nelson Brands – 86kg
Jacob Warner – 97kg
Iowa Women’s Wrestling Club
Sterling Dias – 50kg
Nyla Valencia – 50kg
Brianna Gonzalez – 53kg
Alexandra Baudhuin – 57kg
Schedule:
Saturday, April 6
Senior Women’s Freestyle
Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Consolation Rds.
9:00 AM – 1:30 PM CST
Consolation through Consolation Semifinals and 3rd Place
3:00 PM – 5:30 PM CST
3rd Place and Finals
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM CST
Sunday, April 7
Senior Men’s Freestyle
Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Consolation Rds.
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM CST
Consolation Rds., Consolation Semifinal and 3rd Place
Finals following Placement Matches
3:00 PM – 5:30 PM CST
List of registered wrestlers:
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!