Incoming Iowa Wrestling recruits dominated the annual Dan Gable Ms. and Mr. Wrestler of the Year Awards.

Lilly Luft of Charles City was named as the Dan Gable Ms. Wrestler of the Year. Luft recently won her third state title and finished her career with a 125-6 record. Luft was 40-0 this season and won a state title at 130 lbs. 

Luft committed to the University of Iowa last September. Iowa Women’s Wrestling will start their first official year of competition next season.

It was clean sweep for incoming Hawkeyes in the top three spots for the Dan Gable Mr. Wrestler of the Year in 3A. Ben Kueter was named as the Wrestler of the Year and Gabe Arnold and Ryder Block were also finalists for the award.

Kueter of City High (Iowa City) finished his career as the 32nd four-time state champion in state history and just the seventh to have a career undefeated record (111-0). He is the overall #1 recruit in the country pound for pound by MatScouts. Kueter won a Junior World Freestyle title last summer in Sophie, Bulgaria at 97 kg/213 lbs. Kueter is also an elite linebacker in football and received All American honors. He committed to both Iowa Wrestling and Iowa Football.

Gabe Arnold of City High (Iowa City) captured a state title at 182 lbs. in 3A. He is currently ranked #2 nationally at 182 lbs. by MatScouts. Ryder Block won his third state title for Waverly-Shell-Rock and is ranked #2 nationally at 138 lbs. by MatScouts.

Kale Petersen of Greene County was named as the Dan Gable Mr. Wrestler of the Year in 2A. Petersen recently won his third state title. Petersen was 32-0 this year in winning the state title at 132 lbs.

Luft, Kueter, Arnold, Ryder, and Petersen are high school seniors and will enroll at the University of Iowa in August.

The future looks great for Iowa Men’s and Women’s Wrestling.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Incoming Iowa Wrestling recruits dominated the annual Dan Gable Ms. and Mr. Wrestler of the Year Awards.

Lilly Luft of Charles City was named as the Dan Gable Ms. Wrestler of the Year. Luft recently won her third state title and finished her career with a 125-6 record. Luft was 40-0 this season and won a state title at 130 lbs. 

Luft committed to the University of Iowa last September. Iowa Women’s Wrestling will start their first official year of competition next season.

It was clean sweep for incoming Hawkeyes in the top three spots for the Dan Gable Mr. Iowa Wrestler of the Year in 3A. Ben Kueter was named as the Wrestler of the Year and Gabe Arnolds and Ryder Block were also finalists for the award.

Kueter of City High (Iowa City) finished his career as the 32nd four-time state champion in state history and just the seventh to have a career undefeated record (111-0). He is the overall #1 recruit in the country pound for pound by MatScouts. Kueter won a Junior World Freestyle title last summer in Sophie, Bulgaria at 97 kg/213 lbs. Kueter is also and elite linebacker in football and received All American honors. He committed to both Iowa Wrestling and Iowa Football.

Gabe Arnold of City High (Iowa City) captured a state title at 182 lbs. in 3A. He is currently ranked #2 nationally at 182 lbs. by MatScouts. Ryder Block won his third 3A state title for Waverly-Shell-Rock and is ranked #2 nationally at 138 lbs. by MatScouts.

Kale Petersen of Greene County was named as the Dan Gable Mr. Wrestler of the Year in 2A. Petersen recently won his third state title. Petersen was 32-0 this year in winning the state title at 132 lbs.

Luft, Kueter, Arnold, Ryder, and Petersen are high school seniors and will enroll at the University of Iowa in August.

The future looks great for Iowa Men’s and Women’s Wrestling.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

This is part two of my Big Tens preview.

It is tournament time. The Big Tens will be in Ann Arbor, Michigan this Saturday and Sunday, March 4-5. It is a tradition for this tournament to have great if not amazing competition. 

The Big Ten was awarded 88 of the 284 automatic qualifiers to the 2023 NCAA National Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma on March 16-18. There will also be 46 at-large bids for all of the qualifiers. Each of the ten weight classes at Nationals will have 33 wrestlers seeded out 1-33.

Iowa faced eight Big Ten teams in the regular season. I have listed the results of those matches. I also listed the Big Ten Pre-Seeds and where the wrestlers are ranked nationally by InterMat.

149

Another stacked weight at Big Tens. #2,3,4, and 6 and nine of the top thirty wrestlers in the entire country here at 149. That’s the Big Ten for you. The Big Ten has nine automatic qualifiers at 149 and there are four At-Large bids to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

There will be some real good matches in the quarterfinals at this weight with ranked wrestlers that could provide some upsets. Murin needs to be ready to go.

For Murin to beat the elite at Big Tens and Nationals he cannot wait and then turn up the pace and intensity later in the match. He needs to start and wrestle the entire match at a very high level of intensity and pace to win. 

Murin is a great example of being a grinder who will not be out fought or out wanted. Yes, I am a real big fan of that. Max Murin is a senior that I expect to finish the season wrestling his career best.

Big Ten Pre-Seed/InterMat Ranking

149 lbs. (9 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Sammy Sasso (OSU) – #3
2. Austin Gomez (WIS) – #2
3. Yahya Thomas (NU) – #4
4. Max Murin (IOWA) – #6
5. Shayne Van Ness (PSU) – #13
6. Michael Blockhus (MINN) – #15
7. Graham Rooks (IND) – #28
8. Ethen Miller (MD) – #18
9. Chance Lamer (MICH) – #30
10. Tony White (RU)
11. Dayne Morton (NEB)
12. Jake Harrier (ILL)
13. Peyton Omania (MSU)
14. Jaden Reynolds (PUR)

Max Murin vs. Big Ten opponents this season

Kaven Davenport (Illinois) W-Pin, 3:34 (Davenport will not compete at Big Tens)

Trey Kruse (Purdue) W-TF 22-7 (5:37) (Kruse will not compete at Big Tens)

#5 Yahya Thomas (Northwestern) L-D 3-2

Dayne Morton (Nebraska) W-Pin, 3:47 

#2 Austin Gomez (Wisconsin) L-D 5-2

#12 Shayne Van Ness (Penn State) W-D 4-1

#15 Michael Blockhus (Minnesota) W-D 11-7

Chance Lamer (Michigan) W-D 10-4

157

To have a wrestler ranked #33 in the country and yet listed as the Pre-Seed #13 at 157 is amazing. Thirteen ranked wrestlers out of fourteen teams. That has to at least tie if not set a record for the Big Ten Championships. Even for the Big Ten this is nuts.

The Big Ten has ten automatic qualifiers and there are four At-Large bids for Nationals.

Cobe Siebrecht has run a gauntlet of competition this year competing in the Big Ten and I believe he is more than ready. Siebrecht is the type of guy that nobody really wants to wrestle. He keeps his opponents and fans wondering what is coming next. I look for his mat wrestling to play a big role this weekend to win the close matches.

Nearly every single match at 157 will be two nationally ranked wrestlers going at it. Every match, every point, every position will be contested by a nationally ranked wrestler. That non-stop intensity and grind over two days bids well for a Hawkeye. I look for a real good tournament out of Siebrecht.

Big Ten Pre-Seed/InterMat Ranking

157 lbs. (10 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Peyton Robb (NEB) – #1
2. Levi Haines (PSU) – #7
3. Kendall Coleman (PUR) – #6
4. Chase Saldate (MSU) – #12
5. Cobe Siebrecht (IOWA) – #14
6. Will Lewan (MICH) – #15
7. Michael Carr (ILL) – #13
8. Trevor Chumbley (NU) – #16
9. Garrett Model (WIS) – #19
10. Derek Gilcher (IND) – #24
11. Brayton Lee (MINN) – #18
12. Paddy Gallagher (OSU) – #25
13. Andrew Clark (RU) – #33
14. Michael North (MD)

Cobe Siebrecht vs. the Big Ten opponents this season

Michael Carr (Illinois) L-D 12-7

#9 Trevor Chumbley (Northwestern) W-D 6-3

#1 Peyton Robb (Nebraska) L-D 7-2 

#18 Garrett Model (Wisconsin) W-D 3-2

#6 Levi Hanes (Penn State) L-D 3-2

#17 Brayton Lee (Minnesota) W-D 4-0

#10 Will Lewan (Michigan) W-D 3-1, SV1

Caleb Rathjen vs. Big Ten opponents this season

#3 Kendall Coleman (Purdue) L-D 3-2

165

It is time for Patrick Kennedy to take a step up and Big Tens is a great platform to do just that. Another real tough weight at Big Tens. A weight that may see some upsets. The Big Ten has eight automatic bids and there are five At-Large bids for Nationals at 165.

Kennedy is 6-1 in Big Ten competition this year with his one loss to Hamiti of Wisconsin, 4-3.

I would be more than OK if the Pre-Seeds hold up. I love Kennedy at #3.

I believe Kennedy is at the point that anything less than a Big Ten title will be disappointing to him. I like our chances here to bring home a Big Ten title. It’s time for Kennedy.

Big Ten Pre-Seed/InterMat Ranking

165 lbs. (8 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Dean Hamiti (WIS) – #6
2. Cameron Amine (MICH) – #4
3. Patrick Kennedy (IOWA) – #7
4. Alex Facundo (PSU) – #9
5. Carson Kharchla (OSU) – #12
6. Caleb Fish (MSU) – #20
7. Maxx Mayfield (NU) – #17
8. Danny Braunagel (ILL) – #25
9. Andrew Sparks (MN) – #28
10. Bubba Wilson (NEB) – #33
11. Nick South (IND)
12. Robert Kanniard (RU)
13. Stony Buell (PUR)
14. John Martin Best (MD)

Patrick Kennedy vs. Big Ten opponents this season

#11 Danny Braunagel (Illinois) W-MD 15-4

#19 Maxx Mayfield (Northwestern) W-D 4-2

Bubba Wilson (Nebraska) W-MD 12-4

#6 Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) L-D 4-3

#13 Alex Facundo (Penn State) W-D 2-1, TB2

Cael Carlson (Minnesota) W-D 13-8  (Carson not competing at Big Tens)

Alex Wesselman (Michigan) W-Pin, 2:31 (Wesselman not competing at Big Tens)

Aiden Riggins vs. Big Ten opponents this season

Stoney Buell (Purdue) W-D 9-4

Big Ten Championships

Saturday, March 4

Session I – 9 AM

Session II 

Consolations and Wrestlebacks – 4:30 PM

Semifinals – 6:30 PM

Sunday, March 5

Session III Consolation Semifinals and 7th place – Noon

Session IV 1sr/3rd/5th place matches – 3:30 PM

*****All times listed are CST

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

It is tournament time. The Big Tens will be in Ann Arbor, Michigan this Saturday and Sunday, March 4-5. It is a tradition for this tournament to have great if not amazing competition. Wrestling fans are in for a great weekend of entertainment from the Big Tens.

The Big Ten was awarded 88 of the 284 automatic qualifiers to the 2023 NCAA National Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma on March 16-18. There will also be 46 at-large bids. Each of the ten weight classes at Nationals will have 33 wrestlers seeded out 1-33.

I like to break it down weight by weight for my preview.

Iowa faced eight Big Ten teams in the regular season. I have listed the results of those matches. I also listed the Big Ten Pre-Seeds and where the wrestlers are ranked nationally by InterMat.

A review of each weight will be in upcoming blogs to be released later this week. 

125

The depth at 125 is impressive with seven of the top ten wrestlers in the country. There are 10 wrestles ranked in the top 17 in the country but the Big Ten only has nine qualifiers. That means at least one nationally ranked wrestler will have to depend on one of the four At-Large bids to just qualify for the NCAA’s. Not a concern for Hawk fans.

Big Ten Pre-Seed/InterMat Ranking

125 lbs. (9 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Spencer Lee (IOWA) – #1
2. Liam Cronin (NEB) – #3
3. Matt Ramos (PUR) – #4
4. Eric Barnett (WIS) – #5
5. Patrick McKee (MINN) – #6
6. Michael DeAugustino (NU) – #9
7. Malik Heinselman (OSU) – #10
8. Braxton Brown (MD) – #15
9. Dean Peterson (RU) – #16
10. Jack Medley (MICH) – #17
11. Gary Steen (PSU)
12. Tristan Lujan (MSU)
13. Jacob Moran (IND)
14. Maximo Renteria (ILL)

Spencer Lee vs. Big Ten opponents this season

Maximo Renteria (Illinois) W-Pin, 2:22 

#9 Matt Ramos (Purdue) W-Pin, 2:54 

#3 Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern) W-Pin, 2:01

#7 Liam Cronin (Nebraska) W-Pin, 0:38

#6 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin) W-Pin, 4:38

Marco Vespa (Penn State) W-TF 18-2 (Vespa not competing at Big Tens)

#6 Patrick McKee (Minnesota) W-D 7-1

 #14 Jack Medley (Michigan) W-MD 11-2

133

The Big Ten has nine automatic qualifiers at 133 and Brody Teske is at #8 in the Pre-Seeds. There are 5 At-Large bids at 133.

Teske was 3-1 vs. Big Ten opponents in the regular season that are in his bracket this weekend. 

As I mentioned in an earlier blog I like where Brody Teske is at and where he is going. His conditioning and pace will be a factor in this incredibly tough two-day tournament. This guy is hungry and I like his chances to not only place above his seed but above his seed quite a bit.

The longer the tournament goes the less Big Ten opponents are going to want to face Teske. That is good news for Iowa.

Big Ten Pre-Seed/InterMat Ranking

133 lbs. (9 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Roman Bravo-Young (PSU) – #1
2. Jesse Mendez (OSU) – #8
3. Lucas Byrd (ILL) – #9
4. Chris Cannon (NU) – #12
5. Dylan Ragusin (MICH) – #11
6. Aaron Nagao (MINN) – #13
7. Joe Heilmann (RU) – #15
8. Brody Teske (IOWA) – #18
9. RayVon Foley (MSU) – #21
10. Taylor LaMont (WIS) – #32
11. Henry Porter (IND) – #20
12. Kyle Burwick (NEB) – 
13. Dustin Norris (PUR)
14. Jackson Cockrell (MD)

Brody Teske vs. Big Ten opponents this season

Dustin Norris (Purdue) W-MD 16-4

Kyle Burwich (Nebraska) W-D 5-2

#28 Taylor LaMont (Wisconsin) W-D 4-0

 #1 Roman Bravo-Young (Penn State) L-Pin, 6:49

Jake Gliva (Minnesota) W-D 4-3 (Gliva not competing at Big Tens)

Wilfred Tanefeu (Michigan) W-TF 19-3 (Tanefeu not competing at Big Tens)

Cullan Schriever vs. Big Ten opponents this season

#8 Lucas Byrd (Illinois) L-Pin, 2:59

#10 Chris Cannon (Northwestern) L-D 4-1

141

When you have the #2,4,6, and 7 ranked wrestlers in the country at a weight you know we are in for some great wrestling. Eleven wrestlers at 141 are ranked in the top 31 in the country and there are nine automatic bids to Nationals in play. There are 4 At-Large bids at 141.

Woods has definitely earned the top seed here by going 6-0 vs. Big Ten opponents this season. Woods defeated the #4 pre-seed (and #6 in the country) Tal Shahar of Northwestern by a 17-2 tech fall in the dual meet. A potential Bartlett-Hardy semifinals will be a tough match. 

The old saying of one match at a time seems like the thing to say about Woods. I am picking Woods to win the national title so Big Tens is the place to get started.

Big Ten Pre-Seed/InterMat Ranking

141 lbs. (9 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Real Woods (IOWA) – #2
2. Beau Bartlett (PSU) – #4
3. Brock Hardy (NEB) – #6
4. Frankie Tal Shahar (NU) – #7
5. Jakob Bergeland (MINN) – #14
6. Danny Pucino (ILL) – #20
7. Joseph Olivieri (RU) – #18
8. Parker Filius (PUR) – #13
9. Dylan D’Emilio (OSU) – #19
10. Cole Mattin (MICH) – #28
11. Joseph Zargo (WIS) – #31
12. Jordan Hamdan (MSU)
13. Cayden Rooks (IND)
14. Kal Miller (MD)

Real Woods vs. Big Ten opponents this season

#6 Frankie Tal-Sharar (Northwestern) W-TF 17-2

#4 Brock Hardy (Nebraska) W-D 6-4

#26 Joseph Zargo (Wisconsin) W-D 9-2

#8 Beau Bartlett (Penn State) W-D 4-1

#15 Jake Bergeland (Minnesota) W-D 8-1

Pat Nolan (Michigan) W-MD 15-1

Additional results of Iowa vs. Big Ten opponents at 141

Drew Bennett

Danny Pucino (Illinois) L-MD 20-8

Cullan Schriever

#16 Parker Filius (Purdue) L-D 6-2

Big Ten Championships

Saturday, March 4

Session I – 9 AM

Session II 

Consolations and Wrestlebacks – 4:30 PM

Semifinals – 6:30 PM

Sunday, March 5

Session III Consolation Semifinals and 7th place – Noon

Session IV 1st/3rd/5th place matches – 3:30 PM

*****All times listed are CST

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The Big Ten Conference released Pre-Seeds for the Big Ten Wrestling Championships. The complete tournament brackets and official seeds will be released Friday afternoon following the Big Ten Conference coaches meeting.

I am sure there will be changes made from this list to the final seedings on Friday.

The Big Ten Championships will be this Saturday and Sunday (March 4-5) in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

I will have a preview of each weight in upcoming blogs to be released later this week. 

I have no doubt that Big Tens will be a great tournament once again.

2023 Big Ten Championships

Iowa Pre-Seeds 

125     #1 Spencer Lee

133     #8 Brody Teske

141     #1 Real Woods

149     #4 Max Murin

157     #5 Cobe Siebrecht

165     #3 Patrick Kennedy

174     #7 Nelson Brands

184     #5 Abe Assad

197     #5 Jacob Warner

285     #3 Tony Cassioppi

125 lbs. (9 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Spencer Lee (IOWA)
2. Liam Cronin (NEB)
3. Matt Ramos (PUR)
4. Eric Barnett (WIS)
5. Patrick McKee (MINN)
6. Michael DeAugustino (NU)
7. Malik Heinselman (OSU)
8. Braxton Brown (MD)
9. Dean Peterson (RU)
10. Jack Medley (MICH)
11. Gary Steen (PSU)
12. Tristan Lujan (MSU)
13. Jacob Moran (IND)
14. Maximo Renteria (ILL)

133 lbs. (9 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Roman Bravo-Young (PSU)
2. Jesse Mendez (OSU)
3. Lucas Byrd (ILL)
4. Chris Cannon (NU)
5. Dylan Ragusin (MICH)
6. Aaron Nagao (MINN)
7. Joe Heilmann (RU)
8. Brody Teske (IOWA)
9. RayVon Foley (MSU)
10. Taylor LaMont (WIS)
11. Henry Porter (IND)
12. Kyle Burwick (NEB)
13. Dustin Norris (PUR)
14. Jackson Cockrell (MD)

141 lbs. (9 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Real Woods (IOWA)
2. Beau Bartlett (PSU)
3. Brock Hardy (NEB)
4. Frankie Tal Shahar (NU)
5. Jakob Bergeland (MINN)
6. Danny Pucino (ILL)
7. Joseph Olivieri (RU)
8. Parker Filius (PUR)
9. Dylan D’Emilio (OSU)
10. Cole Mattin (MICH)
11. Joseph Zargo (WIS)
12. Jordan Hamdan (MSU)
13. Cayden Rooks (IND)
14. Kal Miller (MD)

149 lbs. (9 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Sammy Sasso (OSU)
2. Austin Gomez (WIS)
3. Yahya Thomas (NU)
4. Max Murin (IOWA)
5. Shayne Van Ness (PSU)
6. Michael Blockhus (MINN)
7. Graham Rooks (IND)
8. Ethen Miller (MD)
9. Chance Lamer (MICH)
10. Tony White (RU)
11. Dayne Morton (NEB)
12. Jake Harrier (ILL)
13. Peyton Omania (MSU)
14. Jaden Reynolds (PUR)

157 lbs. (10 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Peyton Robb (NEB)
2. Levi Haines (PSU)
3. Kendall Coleman (PUR)
4. Chase Saldate (MSU)
5. Cobe Siebrecht (IOWA)
6. Will Lewan (MICH)
7. Michael Carr (ILL)
8. Trevor Chumbley (NU)
9. Garrett Model (WIS)
10. Derek Gilcher (IND)
11. Brayton Lee (MINN)
12. Paddy Gallagher (OSU)
13. Andrew Clark (RU)
14. Michael North (MD)

165 lbs. (8 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Dean Hamiti (WIS)
2. Cameron Amine (MICH)
3. Patrick Kennedy (IOWA)
4. Alex Facundo (PSU)
5. Carson Kharchla (OSU)
6. Caleb Fish (MSU)
7. Maxx Mayfield (NU)
8. Danny Braunagel (ILL)
9. Andrew Sparks
10. Bubba Wilson (NEB)
11. Nick South (IND)
12. Robert Kanniard (RU)
13. Stony Buell (PUR)
14. John Martin Best (MD)

174 lbs. (7 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Carter Starocci (PSU)
2. Mikey Labriola (NEB)
3. Ethan Smith (OSU)
4. Bailee O’Reilly (MINN)
5. Edmond Ruth (ILL)
6. DJ Washington (IND)
7. Nelson Brands (IOWA)
8. Troy Fisher (NU)
9. Max Maylor (MICH)
10. Jackson Turley (RU)
11. Ceasar Garza (MSU)
12. Dominic Solis (MD)
13. Josh Otto (WIS)
14. Cooper Noehre (PUR)

184 lbs. (9 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Aaron Brooks (PSU)
2. Kaleb Romero (OSU)
3. Isaiah Salazar (MINN)
4. Matt Finesilver (MICH)
5. Abe Assad (IOWA)
6. Layne Malczewski (MSU)
7. Lenny Pinto (NEB)
8. Brian Soldano (RU)
9. Dylan Connell (ILL)
10. Tyler Dow (WIS)
11. Evan Bates (NU)
12. Ben Vanadia (PUR)
13. Clayton Fielden (IND)
14. Kevin Makosy (MD)

197 lbs. (9 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Max Dean (PSU)
2. Silas Allred (NEB)
3. Zac Braunagel (ILL)
4. Cameron Caffey (MSU)
5. Jacob Warner (IOWA)
6. Jaxon Smith (MD)
7. Gavin Hoffman (OSU)
8. Braxton Amos (WIS)
9. Michial Foy (MINN)
10. Nick Willham (IND)
11. Billy Janzer (RU)
12. Andrew Davison (NU)
13. Brendin Yatooma (MICH)
14. Hayden Filipovich (PUR)

285 lbs. (9 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Mason Parris (MICH)
2. Greg Kerkvliet (PSU)
3. Tony Cassioppi (IOWA)
4. Lucas Davison (NU)
5. Trent Hillger (WIS)
6. Boone McDermott (RU)
7. Tate Orndoff (OSU)
8. Jacob Bullock (IND)
9. Jaron Smith (MD)
10. Hayden Copass (PUR)
11. Garrett Joles (MINN)
12. Ryan Vasbinder (MSU)
13. Matt Wroblewski (ILL)
14. Austin Emerson (NEB)

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Three members of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club competed at the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Event in Alexandria, Egypt today. Cody Chittum (70 kg) won the silver, Austin DeSanto (61 kg) a bronze and Pat Lugo (65 kg) did not place.

Chittum had three solid wins to make the finals. A tech fall over Agudamu of China, a 6-3 decision over Budak of Turkey and a 14-9 decision over Nykyforuk of Ukraine. In the finals Chittum dropped a 10-0 tech fall to Akmataliev of Kyrgyzstan.

Chittum was the overall pound for pound #1 recruit in the country for the Class of 2022. He is taking a grey shirt year while training and competing for the HWC. He will enroll at Iowa in August with the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2023.

DeSanto started the tournament with a tech fall over wrestlers from Egypt and Kyrgyzstan. He lost in the semifinals to Markovych of Ukraine. DeSanto qualified for the bronze medal match when Markovych made the finals. In the bronze match DeSanto pinned Phartenadze of Georgia in 3:22.

Lugo started with a 10-3 win over Mukhtar of Kazakhstan and a 5-1 decision over Grigorev of Poland. He then dropped a 5-2 match to Jalolov of Uzbekistan. Jalolov did not make the finals and Lugo was eliminated from the tournament.

HWC coach Daniel Dennis was on the coaching staff.

This tournament scored points towards the UWW Ranking Series standings that determines the seeds for the 2023 Senior World Championships and provided prize money to the medalist.

Team USA won the team title by a large margin over 30 countries.

Men’s freestyle final team standings

No. 1 United States 155

No. 2 Ukraine 117

No. 3 Georgia 98

No. 4 Turkey 90

No. 5 Kazakhstan 78

61 kg: Austin DeSanto (HWC), BRONZE MEDAL

WIN Mahmoud Shorbaby (Egypt), 10-0, 0:48

WIN Ulukbek Zholdoshbekov (Kyrgyzstan), 17-1, 2:04

LOSS Taras Markovych (Ukraine), 10-0, 2:31

WIN Shota Phartenadze (Georgia), fall, 3:22

65 kg: Pat Lugo (HWC), DNP/7th

WIN Sanzhar Mukhtar (Kazakhstan), 10-3

WIN Eduard Grigorev (Poland), 5-1

LOSS Umidjon Jalolov (Uzbekistan), 5-2

70 kg: Cody Chittum (HWC), SILVER MEDAL

WIN Agudamu Agudamu (China), 11-0, 3:12

WIN Cuneyt Budak (Turkey), 6-3

WIN Ihor Nykyforuk (Ukraine), 14-9

LOSS Ernazar Akmataliev (Kyrgyzstan), 10-0, 4:57

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

InterMat released their American Men’s Freestyle Rankings. We are just a year out from the next Olympics. A good representation of former and current Iowa Hawkeyes are in the rankings.

American Men’s Freestyle Rankings – February 20

61 kg  Austin DeSanto – #3

65 kg  Pat Lugo – #7

74 kg  Kaleb Young – #9

74 kg  Patrick Kennedy – #10

79 kg  Alex Marinelli – #5

125 kg  Tony Cassioppi – #6

Pound for Pound

Alex Marinelli – #22

Austin DeSanto – #25

Complete rankings:
https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/26517

Three members of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club will be competing at the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Event in Alexandria, Egypt on Sunday, February 26. Austin DeSanto (61 kg), Pat Lugo (65 kg), and Cody Chittum (70 kg) of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club will be among the 21 men’s freestyle wrestlers representing Team USA in this major international tournament. 

HWC coach Daniel Dennis will be on the coaching staff.

All of the wrestling will be streamed live on the premium service of FloWrestling.

I anticipate that all members of the HWC will compete at the 2023 U.S. Open for men’s freestyle on April 27-28 in Las Vegas.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The NCAA released allocations for the NCAA National Tournament. The Big Ten was awarded 88 of the 284 automatic qualifying bids. Each allocation is based entirely on placing at the conference tournament. The Big Ten Championships are on March 4-5 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

There are 46 at-large qualifiers. On March 7 the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee will meet in person to select the remaining 46 at-large qualifiers.

Each weight class at Nationals will have 33 wrestlers that will all be seeded 1-33.

The complete brackets with seedings will be released on NCAA.com at 5 PM CST on Wednesday, March 8.

The NCAA National Wrestling Championships will be in Tulsa, Oklahoma on March 16-18.

Big Ten Allocations for the NCAA National Tournament

125 – 9

133 – 9

141 – 9

149 – 9

157 – 10

165 – 8

174 – 7

184 – 9

197 – 9

Hwt – 9

For complete listing:

https://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling/article/2023-02-23/ncaa-division-i-wrestling-committee-releases-qualifying-tournament-allocations-2023

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

We have a break in the action for Iowa Wrestling so I wanted to do an update.

To start off the Hawks are looking good. Actually I believe they are looking real good. I was impressed with the Michigan and Oklahoma State dual meets.

The Iowa Hawkeyes looked real tough in a 33-8 win over Michigan and even tougher in a 28-7 win over Oklahoma State.

A few stats to start with. The Hawks won eight of ten matches against both Michigan and Oklahoma State. That is an impressive 16-4 in matches against two real good teams. 

Against Michigan Iowa had eight wins including one pin, two tech falls, and two major decisions. The two major decision were from the two highest nationally ranked Hawks – #1 Lee and #2 Woods. Iowa won the takedown battle with Michigan, 21-6. I saw in a Gazette article that Iowa outscored Michigan 51-17 in the first period. That is some impressive stats.

In the eight wins over Oklahoma State, Iowa won two matches that where an upset according to the rankings at 174 and 184. Those two matches really stood out for me. 

125 – Spencer Lee is…Spencer Lee. Nothing else to say except National champion.

133 – Brody Teske continues to impress me with every match. He put up 19 points in 4:09 for a 19-3 tech fall against Michigan. I have never seen a 11-3 major decision look that close as with Teske vs. Daton Fix of OSU. Teske had the match close with a tired opponent in the third period and rushed things too much and it cost him four back points.

Makes me wonder how that match may have been different had it been the second match instead of the seventh after a 20 minute break. I like where Brody Treske is at and where he is going. 

141 – Real Woods – National champ. As with at 125 – nothing else to say.

149 – I miss Max Murin already and his career has a lot to go in the last part of the season. I really like watching this guy. Just keep grinding Max Murin.

157 – Cobe Siebrecht had two overtime matches in two dual meets with different outcomes. First a thrilling win in OT over #8 Will Lewan of Michigan off of a great scramble for the takedown and a 3-1 victory. Against OSU Siebrecht come up short in OT against #9 Kaden Gfeller, 3-2 TB1.

Currently ranked #14 Siebrecht has endured a tough stretch over the last seven matches to close out the season against the at the time #9,1,18,6,17,8, and 9th ranked wrestler in the country. Siebrecht was 4-3 in those matches that were all close. 

Siebrecht has come a long way this season and I sure would not bet against him at Nationals. I am real confident that he will wrestle above his current ranking of #14.

165 – This is the Patrick Kennedy that fans like me were expecting to see this year. He looks more confident with every match. I said in the preseason that 165 was so tough with competition that I labeled it “Epic.” I do not care who is out there. I like Kennedy a lot and I cannot wait to see where he ends up at Nationals.

174 – It was great to see Nelson Brands back in action with two wins. He looked good in a 5-1 win over Michigan. Brands looked very good with a 3-2 decision over #7 Dustin Plott of Oklahoma State. Nelson Brands is difficult to score on, strong, in shape, and peaking at the right time. I look for his career best at Nationals.

184 – For me as a fan the highlight of the Oklahoma State dual meet was the return and performance of Abe Assad at 184. A 4-2 decision over #10 Travis Wittlake of Oklahoma State was h-u-g-e. That match really excited me. 

I have been saying in this blog for quite some time that Abe Assad has the goods to be elite. Tournament time is here and Assad looks like he is ready to go. 

197 – I loved the fire out of Jacob Warner in the 16-1 tech fall in 2:26 over the varsity Michigan guy. You do not see scoring at 197 like that…ever. A 3-2 decision over #19 Luke Surber of Oklahoma State, who defeated the at the time #1 undefeated wrestler in the country at 197 a month ago, was a solid win.

Let the haters hate. I still believe Warner will win it all this year. 

Hwt – Even though I am disappointed in the 9-7 loss against #1 Mason Parris of Michigan I feel more confident moving forward about Tony Cassioppi after that match. I can see a lot of good coming out of the two losses on the season that will benefit Cassioppi at Nationals. Everything is fixable here at Hwt.

Big Cass is close to the top. Real close.

Something caught my eye on TV during the Penn State dual and in person at the Oklahoma State meet. It has been obvious to me that Iowa is taking a different approach to this season all along. What I saw off the mat in both duals is also different and I like it. A lot. Maybe is was nothing. Maybe is it was everything. Time will tell.

According to all of the rankings Iowa is not even a threat to win the National Tournament. No chance. At all. They might as well not even have Nationals and just hand Penn State the title and team trophy.

Any time you have a leader like Spencer Lee, additional senior leadership on a close team, a very talented team up and down the lineup getting healthy at tournament time and IOWA on their singlet with the backing of the Iowa Wrestling Nation – you have my fullest attention.

It’s gonna be fun as a fan watching this play out over the upcoming weeks.

Let’s get ‘em in the middle.

Big Ten Wrestling Championships

Ann Arbor, Michigan

March 4-5

NCAA Wrestling Championships

Tulsa, Oklahoma

March 16-18

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Three members of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club will be competing at the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Event in Alexandria, Egypt on Sunday, February 26. Austin DeSanto (61 kg), Pat Lugo (65 kg), and Cody Chittum (70 kg) of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club will be among the 21 men’s freestyle wrestlers representing Team USA in this major international tournament. 

HWC coach Daniel Dennis will be on the coaching staff.

DeSanto was a four-time All American and Lugo a two-time All American for the Iowa Hawkeyes. 

Chittum was the overall pound for pound #1 recruit in the country for the Class of 2022. He is taking a grey shirt year while training and competing for the HWC. He will enroll at Iowa in August with the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2023.

The Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Event will have competition in men’s and women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman from February 23-26.

This tournament scores points towards the UWW Ranking Series standings that determines the seeds for the 2023 Senior World Championships and provides prize money to the medalist.

All of the wrestling will be streamed live on the premium service of FloWrestling.

 Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Event schedule

*All times listed are CST

Sunday, February 26

2:30 AM – Qualification and repechage (MFS 57, 61, 65, 70, 74, 79, 86, 92)

10:00 AM – Finals (MFS 57, 61, 65, 70, 74, 79, 86, 92)

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!