Keyan Hernandez was the first member of the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2024 when he committed to the Hawks on October 1, 2022. 

Last season Hernandez won his fourth Montana state title for Billings West High School in Billing, Montana with a 43-0 record. He had a 131-1 career record and won state titles at 103, 113, 120, and 126.

Hernandez is listed at 125 on the Iowa Wrestling roster.

Hernandez won the Senior division 126 lbs. title at the 2024 NHSCA High School Nationals.

He also placed third at the 2024 National High School Recruiting Showcase. This was the fifth time Hernandez became an All American at this tournament.

Hernandez was named as the 2024 Midland Roundtable Athlete of the Year. The Athlete of the Year award is for the top male and female athlete in Billings chosen by the Midland Roundtable since 1989.

Hernandez was named as the Montana state winner of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award (DSHSEA). This award recognizes a wrestler for their excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship, and community service.

Best of luck to Keyan Hernandez as an Iowa Hawkeye.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Naomi Simon is a great addition for the Hawks from Decorah, Iowa. For the final National Girls High School Rankings for the 2023-24 season Simon was ranked #2 at 170 lbs. and #13 P4P.

In the new Iowa Wrestling roster Simon is listed at 180.

I believe that Simon is the biggest recruit to ever come out of Iowa for girls wrestling. She was an undefeated four-time state champion for Decorah with a career record of 150-0.

Competing at 170 lbs. Simon was 48-0 with 47 pins last season in leading Decorah to the state title. 

In international competition Simon placed fifth at the Grand Prix of Spain in July. This was an Open international event with wrestlers from around the world.

Simon won the Bronze medal at 76kg at the U20 World Freestyle Championships in Pontevedra, Spain recently.

On the national scene Simon won the 2023 Junior National title at 164 lbs. and also won her match at the 2023 Who’s #1. 

In March Simon won Junior Folkstyle Nationals.

Simon was named as the 2024 Iowa High School Female Wrestler of the Year by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum.

At Decorah Simon earned academic all-conference honors and was on the National Honor Society as a junior and senior.

Naomi Simon has a great future with the Iowa Wrestling program.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

It was huge news when Angelo Ferrari announced on May 31, 2023 that he had committed to the Hawks. Ferrari chose Iowa over Rutgers and Virginia Tech.

Ferrari was the 2024 #1 P4P (pound for pound) ranked wrestler in the country by both FloWrestling and MatScouts. Ferrari was also the overall top recruit for Flo for the Class of 2024 when he was a junior last year.

Steve Mocco in 2001 is the only Hawk that I know of that was the #1 ranked overall recruit coming out of high school over the last twenty-five years if ever in the history of Iowa Wrestling. Spencer Lee was the #2 P4P overall recruit in 2017.

Originally from Melissa, Texas, Ferrari won a state title at 175 lbs. last season.

Ferrari looked dominant in defeating 2023 U17 World champion and Penn State recruit Joe Sealy 10-2 at Who’s #1 last year. Ferrari also defeated Sealy 6-0, OT at the Ironman last December.

Ferrari is the first wrestler from Texas to win three Ironman titles. The Ironman is considered the toughest regular season high school tournament in the country every year and by quite a margin.

Ferrari was named as the Texas state winner of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award (DSHSEA). This award recognizes a wrestler for their excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship, and community service.

I do not believe that Ferrari has received the attention that he deserves as an elite recruit. I believe fans assumed Ferrari would redshirt and go after 184 next year. 

On the current roster Ferrari is listed at 184. Weight certification for college wrestling is usually in the first part of October. Ferrari won a state title at 175 last season.

I doubt anyone knows if Ferrari intends on redshirting or not this season or possibly even what weight he will go between 174/184. 

With the new rules a true freshman can wrestle in five varsity events and not use up a year of eligibility.

As an Iowa Wrestling fan I would like to see Ferrari come out to a sold out crowd in Carver for a big dual meet and get a taste of the crowd and show us what he can do.

Is Angelo Ferrari ready to go in the big time this year? A lot can happen between now and Big Tens over five months away.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Former Iowa Hawkeye wrestlers Tony Cassioppi, Michael Kemerer and Max Murin are climbing the college wrestling ranks in coaching.

Cassioppi was named as an assistant coach at Wisconsin, Kemerer at Minnesota and Murin at George Mason.

I have been writing about these three Hawks since they committed to Iowa in high school. I will continue to follow their career as coaches in college wrestling.

Originally from Roscoe, Illinois, Cassioppi was a member of the Recruiting Class of 2018 and was a four-time All American for the Hawks with a 90-17 career record. He was named as an All American in 2020 and placed third in 2021, seventh in 2022, and fourth in 2023 at Hwt.

Cassioppi won gold at the 2021 U20 World Freestyle Championships and bronze at the 2022 U23 World Championships. 

Cassioppoi earned a degree in Math and Sports and Recreation Management and a Masters degree in Finance from Iowa. He was named Academic All Big Ten four times and NWCA Scholar All American four times. In 2023 Cassioppi was named for the Coaches Appreciation Award.

Kemerer, originally from Murrysville, Pennsylvania, was a five-time All American for the Hawks with a 100-12 career record. He was the highest ranking member of the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2015.

After a redshirt season Kemer placed third in 2017 and fourth in 2018 before missing the 2019 season due to injury. He was named as an All American when the 2020 Nationals were canceled. In 2021 Kemerer placed second and fourth in 2022.

Following graduation Kemerer was a resident athlete for the Spartan Combat RTC in Ithaca, New York and last season he was an assistant coach at Brown University.

Kemerer was a six-time Academic All American and four-time NWCA Scholar Athlete. He graduated with a degree in Business Administration and a Masters of Finance with an investment concentration.

Murin is originally from Ebensburg, Pennsylvania and was a member of the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2017. With a career 78-30 record Murin was a five-time NCAA Qualifier. He placed sixth at 149 in 2023 and was named as an All American in 2020.

Murin and Kemerer grew up in the Young Guns Wrestling Club coached by former Hawk Jody Strittmatter.

In 2023 Murin was named for the John and Dorothy Sill Award for Most Dedicated and co-recipient of the Mike J McGivern Most Courageous award.

Following graduating Murin coached for the RTC at Brown University.

Murin graduated with a degree in Criminology, Law, and Justice and a Masters in Sports and Recreation Management. He was named as an NWCA Academic All American four times and was Academic All Big Ten four times.

I like the way that all three had academic honors while getting an undergraduate and masters degree at Iowa while being an All American on the mat.

Cassioppi, Kemerer, and Murin were standouts in the classroom and in competition. Best of luck to all three in their new position as Division I wrestling coaches.

Tony Cassioppi – Assistant Coach at Wisconsin

Michael Kemerer – Assistant Coach at Minnesota

Max Murin – Assistant Coach at George Mason

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The 2024 Sporting Clays Shoot for the Hawkeye Wrestling Club will be on Saturday, October 19. Highland Hideaway Hunting will once again host a great event as a fundraiser for the HWC.

Registration begins at 8 AM followed by a safety meeting at 9. The Event Kickoff is at 9:15. Lunch and awards will be at Noon.

Highland Hideaway Hunting is located at 3127 160th Street in Riverside, Iowa.

Wrestlers, coaches, and staff of the HWC will be in attendance.

2024 Sporting Clays Shoot for the Hawkeye Wrestling Club

Date: Saturday, October 19th, 2024

Registration Begins: 8:00am

Safety Meeting & HWC Announcements: 9:00am

Event Kickoff: 9:15am

Lunch & Thank You’s: 12:00pm

The deadline is October 4 to be a stand sponsor for the event.

To register as a single shooter, four person shooter team or stand sponsor:

https://boom.hawkeyewrestlingclub.com/event/2024-sporting-clays-shoot/e564475/register/new/select-tickets

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Macey Kilty(65kg) and Kylie Welker(72kg) of the University of Iowa won titles at the 2024 Senior World Team Trials in Omaha, Nebraska. Kilty and Welker will now represent Team USA at the 2024 World Championships in Tirana, Albania on October 29-30.

Non-Olympic weights were contested to qualify for the World Championships.

Kilty, Welker, and Hawkeye teammate Skye Realin have already qualified to represent Team USA at the U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania on October 23-27. 

Kilty qualified for the best of three finals from winning Silver at the 2023 World Championships at 65kg. In the finals Kilty defeated Aine Drury by a 10-0 and 12-1 tech fall to qualify for the 2024 World Championships for Team USA. Kilty transferred into the Iowa program in July for her final year of eligibility and has won five age group world medals for Team USA.

Welker defeated Skyler Grote by a 12-1 tech fall in the semifinals. In the best of three finals Welker defeated Yelena Makoyed by fall in 5:03 in the first match and 5-2 in the second match.

Welker defeated Makoyed at National Duals and the NCWWC National Finals at 170 but lost to her 6-4 OT in the semifinals of the Olympic Trials.

Welker won an NCWWC title at 170lbs. last season in leading Iowa to the team title. This is the second Senior World Championships for Welker representing Team USA.

Felicity Taylor was 2-2 and placed fourth at 55kg. Taylor won an NCWWC national title at 116 lbs. as a senior for Iowa last season.

Austin DeSanto dropped a match in the consolation semifinals and did not place at 61kg.

2024 Senior World Team Trials

Felicity Taylor – 55kg

Quarterfinals: Felicity Taylor(IWWC) VPO1  Elena Ivaldi (California) 6-4

Semifinals: Arena Villaescusa(Army VPO Felicity Taylor(IWWC) 5-0

Consisemis: Felicity Taylor(IWWC) VFA  Mateah Roel(NYAC) 2:18

3rd place: Elena Ivaldi (California) VPO1 Felicity Taylor(IWWC) 12-12

Macey Kilty – 65kg

Best of 3 Round 1: Macey Kilty(IWWC) VSU Aine Drury(NYAC) 10-0

Best of 3 Round 2: Macey Kilty(IWWC) VSU Aine Drury(NYAC) 12-1

Kylie Welker – 72kg

Semifinals: Kylie Welker(IWWC) VSU1 Sklyer Grote(USOPT) 12-1

Finals Best of Three Rd 1: Kylie Welker(IWWC) VFA Yelena Makoyed(Cardinal WC)  5:03

Finals Best of Three Rd 2: Kylie Welker(IWWC) VPO1 Yelena Makoyed(Cardinal WC) 5-2

Austin DeSanto – 61kg

Quarterfinals: Austin DeSanto(HWC) VPO1 Jax Forrest (Young Guns) 9-6

Semifinals: Daton Fix (Cowboy RTC) VPO Austin DeSanto(HWC) 6-0

Consi Semis: Liam Cronon (NWC) VFO Austin DeSanto(HWC) 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The Iowa Women’s Wrestling Club will host the Women’s Wrestling Academy on Saturday, September 28. This event will offer a great opportunity for fans to get an inside look at the Iowa Women’s Wrestling program. 

The Hawks won the 2024 NCWWC National title and National Duals in the first year of the program and the future looks great.

Registration is now open.

From IowaWomensWrestlingClub.com:

The Iowa Women’s Wrestling Academy will provide an incredible opportunity for you to spend a day immersed in the world of women’s wrestling. The academy will be a unique educational and fun experience designed for wrestling moms, grandparents, aunts, sisters and fans of the sport. 

Participants will enjoy exclusive insider-access to athletes and coaches and receive a behind-the-scenes tour of where the Hawkeye women prepare to be the best.

From scoring and strategy to nutrition and video review…to participating in the same daily drills as the athletes, you will learn everything it takes to be a women’s wrestler at Iowa. Your participation in the academy also will lay the foundation to support future athletes of the Iowa Women’s Wrestling Club. 

To register or donate to the program:

https://www.classy.org/event/2024-iwwc-womens-wrestling-academy/e564198

For questions you can contact IWWC Board Member Kylee Walker at [email protected]

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Iowa Wrestling will be represented at the Senior World Team Trials in Omaha, Nebraska on Saturday and Sunday, September 14-15. Non-Olympic weights will be contested to qualify for the 2024 World Championships in Tirana, Albania on October 29-30.

Austin DeSanto(61kg) will compete for the Hawkeye Wrestling Club.

Felicity Taylor(55kg), Macey Kilty(65kg) and Kylie Welker(72kg) will compete representing the Iowa Women’s Wrestling Club.

The following weights being contested:

Women’s freestyle: 55kg, 59kg, 65kg, and 72kg

Men’s freestyle: 61kg, 70kg, 79kg, and 92kg

DeSanto is the #3 seed at 61kg. DeSanto was a four-time All American at Iowa.

Taylor is the #3 seed at 55kg. Taylor won an NCWWC national title at 116 lbs. for Iowa last season.

Kilty won a silver medal at the 2023 Senior World Championships so she has already advanced to the best of three finals on Sunday at 65kg. Kilty transferred into the Iowa program in July for her final year of eligibility and has won five age group world medals for Team USA.

Welker is the #2 seed at 72kg. The #1 seed is Yelena Makoyed. Welker defeated Makoyed at National Duals and the NCWWC National Finals at 170 but lost to her at the Olympic Trials.

Kilty and Welker have already qualified to represent Team USA at the U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania on October 23-27. 

FloWrestling will have full coverage of the Senior World Team Trials on their premium service.

I will have a follow up blog with results.

Austin DeSanto – #3 seed at 61kg

Felicity Taylor – #3 seed at 55kg

Macey Kilty – Qualified for the Championship Series at 65kg

Kiley Welker – #2 seed at 72kg

2024 Senior World Team Trials

All styles and weights

*Times listed are CST

Saturday, September 14

Session I: Prelims, Quarterfinals and Consolations  10AM – 3PM

Session II: Semifinals and Consolations  5PM – 9PM

Sunday, September 15

Session III: Consolations, 3rd Place and Round 1 (2 out of 3) Finals 10AM – 2PM

Session IV: Round 2 (2 out of 3) Finals *Round 3 if necessary  2PM – 4PM

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The University of Iowa will have a home visit with elite recruit Bo Bassett on Friday, September 13. Bo is a junior and is the overall #1 recruit in the country for the Class of 2026.

In my opinion Bo Bassett is the biggest high school recruit since Spencer Lee in 2017. There are a lot of similarities between Bo and Spencer.

Bo is from Johnstown, Pennsylvania and has been a member of Young Guns Wrestling Club with former Hawk Jody Strittmatter for years. 

Bo won a bronze medal at the U20 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain last week at 65kg/143 lbs. He was a 2021 Cadet World champion at 45kg/99 lbs.

Competing for Bishop McCort, Bo won a AA state title last season at 139 lbs. 

From FloWrestling:

September 11 – Missouri

September 12 – Ohio State

September 13 – Iowa

September 13 – Virginia Tech

September 14 – Cornell

September 15 – Iowa State

September 16 – Arizona State

September 17 – Princeton

September 19 – Penn State

Bo will have his first official on campus visit on September 20-22 at Michigan. He currently has nineteen colleges remaining for his recruiting list. Every week he eliminates colleges from his recruiting list that started with eighty colleges.

Recruiting season is heating up and Bo is everyone’s #1. 

I will keep you up to date with recruiting news for Iowa Wrestling that will be coming in over the next two months.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

It is official. Jacori Teemer is now listed on the 2024-25 roster as a member of the Iowa Wrestling team. 

There has been speculation for months that Teemer would transfer to Iowa from Arizona State where he was a four-time All American and 2024 National Finalist. Teemer graduated from Arizona State and is listed as a graduate student on the roster and will have one year of eligibility remaining.

Teemer has competed at 157 for his career.

Teemer was an NCAA Qualifier in 2020. In 2021 he placed 4th and in 2022 he placed sixth. Last season Teemer placed second and defeated Jared Franek of Iowa 5-2 in the NCAA Quarterfinals. He was also named as an NWCA Scholar All American.

Teemer won four Pac 12 Conference titles at 157. 

Originally from Long Beach, New York, Teemer is one of only four five-time state champions in New York wrestling history.

In the Recruiting Class of 2018 Teemer was ranked #1 at 126 and #4 P4P by FloWrestling.

Teemer was a 2017 Cadet world bronze medalist at 63kg/139 lbs.

Teemer joins former Arizona State teammate Kyle Parco who transferred into the Iowa program in May. Parco was a four-time All American at 149 (6-8-3-5).

Stephan Buchanan announced in August that he was transferring in from Oklahoma. Buchanan is a three-time All American at 197 (NQ-8-3-3).

Transfers:

Kyle Parco – 149

Jacori Teemer – 157

Stephen Buchanan – 197

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!