The first ever Iowa Women’s Wrestling All Girls Camp will take place this summer. A two day camp will be on Friday-Saturday, June 16-17. An Elite Camp will be Sunday-Wednesday, June 25-28. Both camps are for freestyle wrestling.

Members of the Iowa Women’s wrestling program will be the clinicians.

The camps will include freestyle technique, drilling, sparring, live wrestling, and conversations with Iowa wrestlers and staff with World Champion head coach Clarissa Chun.

The University of Iowa is the first Division I Power 5 Conference member to have women’s wrestling. The Hawks have their first year of official competition next season.

I will keep you up to date here on my blog when registration is open.

I anticipate a sellout so you may want to register as soon as you can.

For more information:

https://camps.athletics.uiowa.edu/womens-wrestling?fbclid=IwAR0aBtil_lSafsSqqxevBwvtsWEde89ITfRGy9HJmYSxrSEluziD3Y7LOaw

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Incoming Iowa Wrestling recruit Kale Petersen placed second at 132 lbs. at USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals in Cedar Falls this past weekend. Petersen rolled to the finals with a major decision, tech fall, DQ, and major decision.

In the Finals he dropped an 8-7 decision to Teegan Vasquez of Montana.

Petersen recently won his third state title at 132 lbs. for Greene County (Iowa) and ended the season with a perfect 42-0 record.

Petersen is a member of the outstanding Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2023.

USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals

132 lbs.

Champ. Round 1 – Kale Petersen (IA) won by major decision over Caleb Lavine (LA) (Maj 14-2)

Champ. Round 2 – Kale Petersen (IA) won by tech fall over Tyson Seibel (IL) (TF 20-4)

Quarterfinal – Kale Petersen (IA) won by disqualification over Tye Linser (IN) (DQ)

Semifinal – Kale Petersen (IA) won by major decision over Carter Schmidt (MT) (Maj 11-3)

1st Place Match – Teegan Vasquez (MT) won by decision over Kale Petersen (IA) (Dec 8-7)

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

An impressive list of incoming Iowa Wrestling recruits are registered for the U20 U.S. Open. The U20 Freestyle competition will be on Friday and Saturday, April 29-30 in the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Kale Petersen is registered at 57 kg/125 lbs. He won his third state title at 132 lbs. for Greene County and ended the season with a perfect 42-0 record.

Cody Chittum is registered at 70 kg/154 lbs. Last month Chittum won the Silver at the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Event in Alexandria, Egypt with over 20 countries competing. Chittum was the overall #1 recruit in the country in 2022. He is taking a grey shirt season while training and competing with the Hawkeye Wrestling Club and will enroll at Iowa with the Class of 2023 in August.

Gabe Arnold is listed at 79 kg/174 lbs. He recently won the 3A title at 182 lbs. for City High (Iowa City). He is ranked #2 in the country by MatScouts at 182.

Ben Kueter of City High (Iowa City) is currently ranked #5 at 97 kg/213 lbs. in the American Men’s Freestyle Rankings for the Open division. That is very impressive considering Kueter is a senior in high school. Kueter completed his amazing high school career as a four-time state champion and an undefeated record of 111-0. Kueter won a U20 World Freestyle title last summer in Sofia, Bulgaria. I have not heard if Kueter is competing at the U.S. Open. I can only speculate that if he does compete it will be in the Open division. I will let you know.

Petersen, Chittum, Arnold, and Kueter (along with Ryder Block) are all members of the outstanding Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2023.

I will also keep you posted on what members of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club will be competing at the U.S. Open.

Competition for the U.S. Open will be available on FloWrestling premium service.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Jacob Warner has been holding down 197 in the Iowa lineup for the past five years and is a rare five-time All American. Warner was a member of the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2017. Originally from Tolono, Illinois Warner competed for Washington High School. In high school Warner was a three-time state champion and four-time finalist.

He won a Cadet and Junior Freestyle and Greco-Roman national title. In 2016 Warner won a Bronze medal at the Cadet World Freestyle Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia.

During his true freshman year as a redshirt Warner was a UWW Junior Nationals champion and competed at the UWW Junior World Freestyle Championships in Trnava, Slovakia. He placed seventh in the country as a redshirt freshman. In the Covid year of 2020 Warner placed third at Big Tens and was seeded fifth at 197 when the NCAA Tournament was canceled.

After placing fourth in 2021 Warner was an NCAA National Runner up in 2022. After entering the tournament this year as a fourteenth seed Warner placed fifth at a deep and talented 197 lbs. weight class.

Off the mat Warner was very successful academically. Jacob Warner has already graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance. He is currently working on a Master’s degree in Business Analytics.

Warner is a five-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and has been named as an NWCA Scholar Athlete three times. At the awards banquet last week Warner received the J. Donald McPike, Sr. Award for the senior with the highest GPA and was co-recipient of the Most Courageous Award with Max Murin.

I also need to mention the memorable entrance song for Warner at home meets at Carver-Hawkeye Arena was Fat Bottomed Girls by Queen.

Even though Warner became a five-time all American and dropped a real close match in the NCAA Finals some fans were pretty harsh online with criticism. Those fans exercised their First Amendment rights to criticize Warner. I will now exercise my First Amendment rights by telling all of those Jacob Warner critics to kiss my ass.

Whatever field Warner goes into I look for him to continue winning. I can see him being a successful business owner with a high net worth.

Good luck and thank you Jacob Warner for representing Iowa Wrestling so well on and off the mat.

Jacob Warner – 197 lbs. Five-time All American

2019 – 7th 

2020 – All American

2021 – 4th

2022 – 2nd

2023 – 5th

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Cody Goodwin of the Des Moines Register announced on Twitter that Koye Grebel has committed to the University of Iowa. Grebel is from Valley City, North Dakota where he was named North Dakota’s Mr. Wrestler.

Grebel is a three-time state champion and four-time state finalist. Grebal was 44-2 this past season and won a state title at 138 lbs. with a 15-0 tech fall in the finals. He is projected to compete at 141 lbs. for the Hawks.

Grebel will be a member of the outstanding Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2023.

Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2023

Kale Petersen – Greene County 132 lbs.

Ryder Block – Waverly-Shell Rock 138 lbs. 

Koye Grebel – Valley City, North Dakota  138 lbs.

Cody Chittum – Cleveland, Tennessee 152 lbs.

Gabe Arnold – City High (Iowa City) 182 lbs. 

Ben Kueter – City High (Iowa City) 220 lbs.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

When the calendar turns to April we will be in the heart of Freestyle season. We will have a lot to follow as Iowa Wrestling fans.

Wrestling has great competition nearly the entire year. Freestyle season always provides great entertainment for all wrestling fans.

We will have tournaments to determine the Men’s and Women’s World Team for Senior, U23, and U20 divisions.

I will keep you up to date right here on my blog as current, former, and incoming Hawkeyes compete for an opportunity to represent on Team USA.

2023 Women’s National Championship

April 14-16

Spokane, Washington

U17, U20, and U23

2023 U.S. Open

April 26-30

Las Vegas, Nevada

Senior Men’s and Women’s, Men’s U20

2023 Senior World Team Trials Challenge

May 20-21

Colorado Springs, CO

Men’s and Women’s Freestyle, Greco-Roman

U23 and U20 World Team Trials – Men’s

June 2-4

Geneva, Ohio

Final X – Senior World Team Finals for Men’s and Women’s FS, Greco-Roman

June 10

Newark, New Jersey

Junior National Duals

June 16-17

Tulsa, Oklahoma

2023 Junior and U16 Nationals

July 15-23

Fargo, North Dakota

U20 World Championships (FS, GR, WW)

August 14-20

Warsaw Poland

Senior World Championships (FS, GR, WW)

September 16-24

Belgrade, Serbia

U23 World Championships (FS, GR, WW)

October 23-29

Tampere, Finland

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Incoming Iowa recruit Ryder Block was chosen to represent the USA All-Star Team in the Pittsburgh Classic on Saturday, March 25. Block faced Tyler Kasak (Bethlehem Catholic) of the Pennsylvania All-Star team at 139 lbs. Kasek is a Penn State commit.

Kasak defeated Block 3-2. Block was not awarded a takedown on a controversial call. 

Block recently won his third state title with a career record of 159-1 for Waverly-Shell Rock. In the recent national rankings for MatScouts Block is ranked #2 at 138.

Block is in the outstanding Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2023.

Keyan Hernandez competed at the NHSCA High School Nationals in Virginia Beach, Virginia on Friday-Sunday. Hernandez was 6-2 for the weekend and placed fourth at 120 lbs. in the Junior class division.

In the first four rounds Hernandez won by three falls and a major decision. In the quarterfinals Hernandez defeated two-time defending New York state champion Matthew Marlow, 2-1. In the semifinals Hernandez dropped a 5-1 decision to eventual champ Isaiah Quintero of California. After a consolation semifinal win Hernandez dropped the third place match 9-4 to Tanner Tishner of Indiana.

Hernandez recently won his third state title for Billings West (Montana) and is a member of the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2024.

Keyan Hernandez (MT) fall over Wayshaun Hicks (VA) 5:24

Keyan Hernandez (MT) fall over Hunter Woodle (GA) 1:20

Keyan Hernandez (MT) major decision over Reid Calml (MD)

Keyan Hernandez (MT) fall Joseph Calvin (TN 1:08 

Quarterfinals: Keyan Hernandez (MT) dec over Matthew Marlow (NY) 2-1

Semifinals Isaiah Quintero (CA) dec over Keyan Hernandez (MT) 5-1

Cons Semifinals: Keyan Hernandez (MT) dec over Alden Allen (2-1)

3rd Place: Tanner Tishner (IN) dec over Keyan Hernandez (MT) 9-4

I will keep you up to date here on my blog as our recruits compete this spring and summer.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Iowa Wrestling held their annual awards banquet in the Feller Club Room in Carver-Hawkeye Arena this evening. NCAA Runner-Up Real Woods was named as the Mike Howard Most Valuable. Woods won a Big Ten title and had a great season for the Hawks.

Max Murin was named as the Most Dedicated and also shared the Most Courageous Award with Jacob Warner. Nelson Brands was named as the Most Improved.

Jacob Warner was awarded the J. Donald McPike, Sr. Award for the senior with the highest GPA.

Iowa placed second at the NCAA National Tournament last weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma with six All-Americans.

2023 AWARD WINNERS
Mike Howard Most Valuable: Real Woods
Mike J. McGivern Award (Most Courageous): Max Murin, Jacob Warner
John and Dorothy Sill Award (Most Dedicated): Max Murin

Most Improved Award: Nelson Brands
J. Donald McPike, Sr., Award (High Senior GPA): Jacob Warner
Coaches Appreciation: Spencer Lee, Tony Cassioppi, Drake Rhodes

Most Pins Award: Tony Cassioppi (11)
All-American Award: Spencer Lee, Real Woods, Max Murin, Nelson Brands, Jacob Warner, Tony Cassioppi

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Incoming Iowa recruit Ryder Block has been chosen to represent the USA All-Star Team in the Pittsburgh Classic on Saturday, March 25. Block will face Tyler Kasak (Bethlehem Catholic) of the Pennsylvania All-Star team at 139 lbs. Kasek is a Penn State commit.

The Pittsburgh Classic will be held in the AHN Arena at Peters Township High School in McMurray, Pennsylvania. The USA All Stars-PA All Stars meet will begin at 5 PM CST and will be broadcast live on FloWrestling.

Block recently won his third state title with a career record of 159-1 for Waverly-Shell Rock. In the recent national rankings for MatScouts Block is ranked #2 at 138.

Block is in the outstanding Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2023.

Keyan Hernandez will compete at the NHSCA High School Nationals in Virginia Beach, Virginia on Friday-Sunday. The action begins at Noon Friday and the Finals are slated for 9 AM CST Sunday. All of the action can be found on the premium service of FloWrestling. 

Hernandez will be competing at 120 lbs. in the Junior class division. Hernandez recently won his third state title for Billings West (Montana) and is a member of the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2024.

I will have a follow-up blog with results.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The Big Ten just announced that 14 members of the Iowa Wrestling team were named to the 2023 Winter Academic All-Big Ten Team. 

From BigTen.org:

To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, students must be on a varsity team (as verified by being on the official squad list), have been enrolled full time at the institution for a minimum of 12 months and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.

Cullan Schriever was one of only twenty-two Big Ten athletes that were highlighted for having a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Also a mention that Tony Cassioppi, Max Murin, and Jacob Warner achieved this honor while pursuing a Masters degree.

This was the sixth straight year that Iowa Wrestling has had at least ten members named for this honor.

Drake Ayala – Business

Drew Bennett – Interdepartmental Studies (Business)

Nelson Brands – Sport and Recreation Management 

Tony Cassioppi – Masters degree in Management 

Zach Glazier – Sport and Recreation Management (Business)

Joe Kelly – Computer Science 

Patrick Kennedy – Sport and Recreation Management 

Charles Matthews – Business 

Max Murin – Masters degree in Sport and Recreation Management 

* Cullan Schriever – Sport and Recreation Management  (4.0 GPA)

Leif Schroeder – Social Studies Education/History 

Cobie Siebrecht – Enterprise Leadership 

Brennan Swafford – Art

Jacob Warner – Masters degree in Business Analytics 

Great job. That is getting it done on the mat and in the classroom.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!