I always consider the Monday following the NCAA National Tournament to be the first day of the next season. Let’s take a look at the Iowa Wrestling lineup for the 2022-2023 season.

125 – Spencer Lee will hopefully be back next season. Lee had season ending surgery in early January. I am hoping for a full and quick recovery. Lee will be looking to become the first in Iowa Wrestling history to win four NCAA titles to cap off his amazing career. Lee’s return will be the biggest story in college wrestling leading into next season. I can only speculate that Drake Ayala will redshirt.

133 – Cullan Schriever looks to be the front runner and will be a redshirt sophomore next season. Schriever was a three-time state champion out of Mason City, Iowa. Schriever competed for Sebolt Wrestling Academy where he won a Cadet and Junior Freestyle national title in Fargo. Schriever was 15-5 this season with four of those losses against Top 10 ranked opponents.

141 – Wyatt Henson is all set to take over at 141. Henson, from Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, will be a redshirt freshman next year. He had a good true freshman season by placing first at the Luther, Lindenwood, and Harold Nichols Open at 141 while compiling a 15-1 record. Henson’s only loss on the season was at the Southern Scuffle where he placed fifth. Henson may be stepping into the lineup next season at a weight that will wide open due to graduating seniors.

149 – Max Murin will be back for his senior year. Murin lost in the Blood Round of 12 at Nationals. It is impossible for me to not be a fan of this guy because of the way that he fights and competes so hard. I am hoping a fully healthy Max Murin will be ready to make a run at the top next year. Should Murin improve even half as much this coming year as he just did this season then contending for the national title is within reach. No way I put limitations on someone with that type of work ethic and fight.

157 – Caleb Rathjen/Cobe Siebrecht/Bretli Reyna/Aiden Riggins will compete for the starting spot. Rathjen, Siebrecht, and Reyna competed at 149 this season. I can only speculate that they will move up to replace long time starter Kaleb Young at 157. Rathjen, from Ankeny, Iowa was 4-1 this season that did not start until the first of the year due to injury. Rathjen did not place at the Southern Scuffle and won the Last Chance Open in Ames last month with three solid wins against wrestlers from Minnesota. Siebrecht, from my hometown of Lisbon, Iowa, had an impressive season with a 5-2 record. His only losses were to the #22 and #3 ranked wrestler in the country. He won the Luther Open and looked good when he wrestled varsity at 149 including a first period tech fall win over Princeton. 

Reyna, from Homestead, Florida, was 6-2 this season at 149 as a redshirt freshman. Aiden Riggins of Waverly-Shell Rock, Iowa will be a true freshman next season. Riggins has been ranked #1 at 160 lbs. for most of the high school season and may be ready to challenge for the starting spot at 157. True freshman competing right away has become more and more popular over the last five years as more recruits come out of high school ready to go. Riggins is also Sebolt trained.

I expect some intense action in the Iowa Wrestling room starting next August or even sooner as these four young wrestlers work to establish themself as the man to beat for the varsity spot at 157 for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

165 – Patrick Kennedy will be the most anticipated newcomer to the varsity lineup next season. He was a top recruit in the Class of 2020 from Kasson-Mantorville, Minnesota. With a 17-2 record this season Kennedy recorded three pins and six tech falls. After placing second to teammate Alex Marinelli at the Luther Open, Kennedy won titles at the UNI and Harold Nichols Open, placed sixth at the Southern Scuffle and then won the Last Chance Open. 165 is loaded nationally with top young wrestlers the same age or even younger than Kennedy so we will have to wait and see how he fits into the national picture. Pretty sure Iowa is confident in what Kennedy can do right away in his first year in the lineup.

174 – Nelson Brands will return to the starting lineup after posting a 5-1 record this season. Brands has been out this calendar year due to injury but I am expecting that a healthy Nelson Brands will have a real solid season next year at 174.

184 – Abe Asssad will be back as a junior and I look for him to be much improved. Assad was out with injuries last season and just ended his full full year in the lineup by going 1-2 at the NCAA National Championships. I will keep saying that this guy has all of the tools to be an elite wrestler.

197 – Jacob Warner will be back for his senior year and in a new role as a leader for the team. Warner is coming off of an NCAA runner-up finish and I look for him to get better in the off season. Even though he was so close to winning a national title I still believe Warner has another level and gear in him. The momentum of this year’s finish should be a boost not only to Warner, but to the entire program. Just what you want from a leader.

Hwt – Tony Cassioppi was slowed by injuries when he just placed seventh at nationals. Big Cass put the time in during the off season last year to transform his body and performance. It will be interesting to see what next year will bring. You just gotta believe that winning it all next season is a realistic goal for Cassioppi.

The Transfer Portal is a new and powerful influence on college wrestling. It will be interesting to see if Iowa goes that route or if wrestlers out there decide that they want to be an Iowa Hawkeye.

As I have said several times over the last season the Iowa Wrestling room is loaded with talent and more is on the way with ten incoming freshmen this August. I have already labeled the Class of 2023 as the best Junior class in Iowa Wrestling recruiting history. One more big recruit that I have in mind and the Class of 2023 will be the best recruiting class in the history of Iowa Wrestling. Think about that for a bit.

Ground wil be broke this summer for “The greatest wrestling training facility…in the world.” That will crate an added buzz as fans roll into town next year on a football Saturday. I cannot wait. Add in the return of Spencer Lee with a talented team and I expect preseason ticket sales to be impressive yet again.

Iowa Wrestling is my entertainment. This is day one of a new year and I will continue to be entertained. I do not have the skill set as a writer to put into words how much I respect, admire, and support the hard work the Iowa wrestlers do. Especially when you compare Iowa wrestlers to their peers in society. 

You can bet I will be here on this blog to keep you up to date on all things Iowa Wrestling. I will get everyone ready for the 2023 NCAA National Wrestling Championships that begin on March 16, 2023 in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the BOK Center at 11 AM CST. The Iowa Wrestling Nation will be ready. 

Let’s get ‘em in the middle.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!  

The University of Iowa National I-Club will host events during the National Wrestling Championships March 17-19 in Detroit, Michigan. The I-Club parties will be held at the Tin Roof in Detroit (47 East Adams Ave) that is located less than a mile from Little Caesars Arena.

On Friday from 3-5 PM the I-Club will host a great event featuring former Iowa Hawkeye national champions: 

Chuck Yagla 

Jim Heffernan

Troy Steiner

Terry Steiner

Mark Ironside

Matt McDonough

This will be a great event between the Quarterfinals and Semifinals of Nationals.

2022 NCAA Wrestling Championships March 17-19

*All times list are CST

Session I: Thursday 11 AM  [ESPNU]

Session II: Thursday 6 PM  [ESPN2]

Quarterfinals: Friday 10 AM  [ESPNU]

Semifinals: Friday 7 PM  [ESPN]

Consolations: Saturday 10 AM  [ESPN2]

Finals: Saturday 6 PM  [ESPN]

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks! 

The 2022 NCAA National Wrestling Tournament is near. As wrestling fans we will be entertained with exciting wrestling. It is time to break it down weight by weight on where the points will be scored. Every single point and half point counts.

There are seveal formulas that have been posted online recently. There are quite a few variables that are difficult to judge. With average points scored by placewinners in the past I will use the formula that was posted by Mendozza77 on Hawkeye Report.

Average points scored in past NCAA tourneys (includes placement, advancement and bonus)

1st = 23.5

2nd = 18.5

3rd = 16.5

4th = 14.5

5th = 12

6th = 10.5

7th = 8

8th = 7

Rd12 = 3

According to this formula

PSU = 127

Mich. = 114

Iowa = 96

NCAA National Tournament seeds for Iowa

125 Ayala – #13 (No points)  

133 DeSanto – #5 (12 points)

141 Eierman – #2 (18.5 points)

149 Murin – #8 (7 points)

157 Young – #9 (3 points)

165 Marinelli – #3 (16.5 points)

174 Kemerer – #5 (12 points)

184 Assad – #18 (No points)

197 Warner – #6 (10.5 poins)

Hwt Cassioppi – #3 (16.5 points)

With this formula Iowa is 31 points behind Penn State and 18 points behind Michigan. I am sure I am not the only Iowa Wrestling fan that is fired up about some of the seeds of our wrestles. The points are there to be had.

EVERY. POINT. COUNTS. 

Iowa won the 1978 NCAA National title by .5 over Iowa State, 94.5 – 94. ½ a point. Think about that. ½ a point. This was Gable’s second year as head coach and his first national team title. Also the first of nine national titles in a row for the Hawks. 

1978 NCAA National Wrestling Championships team scores:

1. Iowa  94.5
2. Iowa State  94
3. Oklahoma State  86.25
4. Wisconsin  77.25

The scoring system was different in that era with the ¼ point difference between a major and superior decision. They only placed the top six for All American status instead of eight and there was not a tech fall.

Iowa was the first team in NCAA history to win a national team title without a national champion. 

The 1978 All Americans:

Randy Lewis (2nd, 126)

Bruce Kinseth (2nd, 150)

Dan Glenn (3rd, 118)

Scott Trizzino (3rd, 142)

John Bowlsby (5th, HWT)

Mike DeAnna (6th, 167)

I will keep stating the following:

1. The level of competition this year is at possibly a record best in the history of the NCAA National Wrestling Tournament. We have wrestlers competing from eight recruiting classes due to Olympic redshirts, the Covid year, and rules granting an additional year of eligibility due to injury. This tournament is stacked at every weight. The word “Upset” is going to be used quite a bit in this tournament.
2. The tougher the competition, the better it is for Iowa to win the team title.

2022 NCAA Wrestling Championships March 17-19

*All times list are CST

Session I: Thursday 11 AM  [ESPNU]

Session II: Thursday 6 PM  [ESPN2]

Quarterfinals: Friday 10 AM  [ESPNU]

Semifinals: Friday 7 PM  [ESPN]

Consolations: Saturday 10 AM  [ESPN2]

Finals: Saturday 6 PM  [ESPN]

Let’s get ‘em in the middle.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks! 

Iowa Athletic Director Gary Barta announced that Tom Brands has received a contract extension through 2029. Iowa will be competing in the NCAA National Tournament this Thursday-Saturday in Detroit, Michigan as the defending NCAA National champions.

Plans have been announced to begin construction of what I called: “The greatest wrestling training facility…in the world.” Construction is to begin this summer. The recruits that Iowa has coming in for the Recruiting Class of 2022 and 2023 are outstanding. You can also add in record breaking ticket sales and support from the Iowa Wrestling Nation.

The present and future looks great for Iowa Wrestling with Tom Brands as our head coach.

From HawkeyeSports.com:

Brands is in his 16th season as Iowa’s head wrestling coach. His teams have won four NCAA and six Big Ten titles, and enter this week’s NCAA tournament as defending national champions.

“There is no better person to lead the Iowa Wrestling program than Tom Brands. His sustained success at the University of Iowa is unmatched,” said Barta. “Tom epitomizes the Win. Graduate. Do it Right. philosophy.  I could not be happier for Tom, his staff, student-athletes, and our fans.”

Brands became the eighth head coach in program history in 2006. He is a five-time Big Ten Coach of the Year and three-time National Coach of the Year. He has coached 13 NCAA individual champions, 89 All-Americans, 24 Big Ten champions and 142 academic All-Big Ten honorees.

Brands has a 250-24-1 (.911) overall and 120-11 (.916) Big Ten coaching record at Iowa. He has a 267-44-1 (.857) career mark and a 119-13 (.902) record at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Iowa has led the nation in attendance every year since Brands’ first season in 2006-07. The Hawkeyes set a national dual average attendance record in 2021-22, averaging 14,905 fans at each of their six home dates and selling out season tickets for the first time in program history.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

When the Iowa Hawkeyes take to the mats for the NCAA Wrestling Championships on Thursday-Saturday it will be the final appearance as a Hawkeye for five seniors. Michael Kemerer, Alex Marinelli, Kaleb Young, Austin DeSanto, and Jaydin Eierman have definitely left their mark on Iowa Wrestling. 

Michael Kemerer of Murrysville, Pennsylvania (Franklin Regional) was the star recruit in the Recruiting Class of 2015. After a redshirt season Kemerer placed third at 157 as a freshman and fourth as a sophomore. He then missed 2019 due to injury. Kemerer returned to the lineup in 2020 and was seeded #2 at 174 when the NCAA National Tournament was canceled. Last season Kemerer won a Big Ten title and placed second in the country at 174. Kemerer enters Nationals this year as the #5 seed.

Alex Marinelli of Miamisburg (St. Paris Graham), Ohio was the top recruit in the Recruiting Class of 2016. After a redshirt, Marinelli placed sixth at 165 at the NCAA’s. As a sophomore he won a Big Ten title and placed seventh at Nationals. In 2020 Marinelli was a Big Ten Champion and seeded #1 at 165 when the NCAA’s were canceled. Last season Marinelli won another Big Ten title and did not place at Nationals. This season Marinelli won his fourth Big Ten title and is seeded #3 at 165 heading into the National Tournament

Kaleb Young of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania was in the Recruiting Class of 2016. Young was the first Iowa Wrestler from the Young Guns Wrestling Club to commit to the Hawks. After a redshirt season Young competed at 165 and 174 in 2018. As a sophomore in 2019 Young placed fifth in the country at 157. In 2020 Young was seeded eighth when the NCAA Tournament was canceled. Last season Young placed seventh. Young enters Nationals as the #9 seed at 157.

Austin DeSanto of Exeter, Pennsylvania started his career at Drexel where he was an NCAA Qualifier as a true freshman at 133 in 2018. DeSanto did not redshirt at Drexel and immediately stepped into the starting lineup when he arrived at Iowa and placed fifth in 2019. He was seeded sixth in 2020 when the NCAA’s were canceled. Last season DeSanto placed third. DeSanto is seeded fifth at 133 for the upcoming NCAA National Tournament.  

Jaydin Eierman of Columbia, Missouri (Father Tolton) transferred to Iowa from Missouri where he placed fifth (2017), fourth (2018), and third (2019) in the country at 141. After transferring to Iowa he did not compete in 2020. Last season for the Hawks Eierman was a Big Ten champion and placed second in the country. Heading into Nationals Eierman is the #2 seed at 141.

This is a great group of wrestlers that I wanted to highlight before they compete for the Iowa Hawkeyes for the last time. They were instrumental in Iowa winning the NCAA team title last season and are leading the way into Nationals this year.

Best of luck to this group of seniors at Nationals.

2022 NCAA Wrestling Championships March 17-19

*All times list are CST

Session I: Thursday 11 AM  [ESPNU]

Session II: Thursday 6 PM  [ESPN2]

Quarterfinals: Friday 10 AM  [ESPNU]

Semifinals: Friday 7 PM  [ESPN]

Consolations: Saturday 10 AM  [ESPN2]

Finals: Saturday 6 PM  [ESPN]

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!  

It is officially Nationals week. The 2022 edition of the NCAA Wrestling Championships will take place in Detroit, Michigan this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The Little Caesars Arena will be full of excited fans for all of the great wrestling.

Tickets are still available online. I checked Ticketmaster and this is the highest ticket prices that I can remember for wrestling. The best seats available last night were on the floor in row 3 for the Finals at $665 each. They were gone this morning. Supply and demand. There are other seats available including for the Finals with the highest being $333 at this time.

Tickets for Nationals:

https://www.ticketmaster.com/2022-ncaa-division-i-wrestling-championships-detroit-michigan-03-19-2022/event/08005B6CCCC85117

TV, radio, and online will be available for wrestling fans. Steven Grace and Mark Ironside will be calling all of the action at Nationals on 800 KXIC that is available on iHeartRadio at iheart.com.  

ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU will provide TV and online coverage. You can get all of your mat assignments and results from TrackWrestling.

There is a good chance that the competition will be at an all time high at the NCAA National Tournament this year.  Wrestling fans should be entertained. You will not want to miss it.

2022 NCAA Wrestling Championships March 17-19

*All times list are CST

Session I: Thursday 11 AM  [ESPNU]

Session II: Thursday 6 PM  [ESPN2]

Quarterfinals: Friday 10 AM  [ESPNU]

Semifinals: Friday 7 PM  [ESPN]

Consolations: Saturday 10 AM  [ESPN2]

Finals: Saturday 6 PM  [ESPN]

Let’s get ‘em in the middle.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!  

In my book Domination: An inside look at Iowa Wrestling I had a chapter called: “Magic Time.” That is how I described what I had seen in Iowa Wrestling this time of year. This is when you can see some real changes in a wrestler that sets them apart at Nationals.

Instead of a full practice with the entire team, Iowa will have one on one sessions with each of the varsity wrestlers. A teammate will be chosen as a workout partner. The coaches will go over specific scenarios to work on with live wrestling. For example down by one point with :15 left. It is usually short goes to emulate situations in a live match.

These one on one sessions are my favorite part of coaching in the sport of wrestling. It is the fine tuning of technique that can make a big difference at the national tournament between a win and a loss. A position or situation that a Hawkeye wrestler has struggled with during the season, possibly against a specific wrestler, is ironed out and then executed at nationals. It is a fun process to watch.

It may sound obvious, but finishing takedowns at the national tournament is of utmost importance for several reasons. In a close match that may be the difference. Also opportunities are limited to as low as one opportunity getting in on a shot so the takedown needs to be finished to win the match.

One year at nationals I talked to the older brother of an Iowa wrestler that eventually became a national champion later in his career. In the time between Big Tens and Nationals the younger brother figured out how to get out from underneath. Always a challenge for a freshman. If I remember right it was a sitout series that made the difference.

What Jesse Whitmer did in 1997 was legendary. He had just placed fourth at Big Tens and as was a #6 seed at 118 lbs. for nationals in his only season in the lineup. His training partner for the one on one session that I saw was two-time World champion Terry Brands. Whitmer did not score a point as Gable put him through numerous situations to compete in. It must have worked because Whitmer won a national title that year and Gable called him “The strongest man in the world!”.

I remember Daryl Weber in his senior season in 1996. He seemed to find an extra gear of confidence in the week leading up to the national tournament. It was easy to see that he was feeling good and ready to rumble. It was like he knew something that nobody else did and he had a swagger about him. On Friday as the #5 seed Weber won in the quarterfinals and then took out the #1 seed and defending national champion in the semifinals.  That’s a pretty good day for a #5 seed. Weber won the national title the next night. What is it that Weber knew that nobody else did? That he was the national champion.

I asked Gable about Ed Banach. Bannach had won a national title as a freshman and sophomore and placed second as a junior at 177. He moved up to 190 as a senior. Banach had lost to Mike Mann of Iowa State three times that season. Twice in the dual meets and at Midlands. Gable said he had extra 4 AM workouts for Bananch and several other Hawkeyes for weeks leading up to the national tournament. #2 seed Banach beat Mann in the finals to be the 190 lbs. national champion in 1983 and go on to be an Olympic Gold medalist the next year.

Spencer Lee won his first two national titles without winning a Big Ten title. He placed third at Big Tens as a freshman and second as a sophomore. There must have been some effective practices leading up to the national tournament because Lee won the national title. I also believe injuries were a factor especially last year when he won the national title.

Who can forget Cory Clark winning a national title in 2017 with one arm? An injured shoulder and hand did not stop him. I am still not sure how Clark won that national title. Oh, and Clark was the #4 seed. You can bet the prep time leading up to nationals in the individual sessions was an influence.

What do the above wrestlers that I mentioned of Whitmer, Weber, Banach, and Clark all have in common other than overcoming the odds to win a national title as an Iowa Hawkeye? They were all seniors and none of them were seeded #1 at nationals. They were seeded #6,5,2, and 4. Lee was the #3 seed in 2018, #3 in 2019, and #1 in 2021. We have some seniors on the team at Iowa that are tougher than hell and more than capable of being a national champion right now.

I have seen some great improvements made leading up to nationals that made the difference in a Hawkeye making the awards stand as an All American. Not many fans across the country were expecting the Iowa wrestler to place or to not place as high as they did. They were wrong. That is Iowa Wrestling.

As a fan I love seeing an Iowa wrestler avenge an earlier loss at nationals. We’re gonna need some of that next week and I believe we will.

Fans have a tendency to live in the past. Iowa Wrestling does not.

So what I am saying is that a lot can happen between last weekend at Big Tens and the 2022 NCAA National Tournament. I have seen this a time or two over the years. 

I asked Gable if it was technical or mental changes that were made leading up to the national tournament that made the difference. His response: 

“It’s winning.”

We will see soon enough when the NCAA National Tournament begins at 11 AM CST this Thursday, March 17.

Let’s get ‘em in the middle.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!  

The brackets to the 2022 NCAA National Tournament have been released. If this does not get you excited as a wrestling fan then nothing will. As always there are a few head scratchers for the seeds but that is to be expected. Overall I like the draws for the Hawks. After competing in the Big Ten all season and at the brutal Big Tens last weekend us Hawks fans should be accustomed to the tough competition.

125 – #13 seed for Drake Ayala. I believe that is what was expected. Ayala will face #20 seed Fabian Gutierrez of Chattanooga in the first round. Gutierrez has a 20-5 record. The winner will face the winner of  #4 Brandon Courtney of Arizona State and #29 Joe Manchio of Columbia. Courtney placed second to Spencer Lee last year at 125.

133 – #5 seed for Austin DeSanto. I have no idea where this seed came from at all. I must admit though, I do like it. DeSanto will face #28 Sydney Flores of  Air Force in the first round. The next opponent would be the winner of #21 Cody Russell of Appalachia St and #12 Micky Phillippi of Pitt in the Round of 16. Philippi is a dangerous wrestler. As a wrestling fan a DeSanto-RBY semifinals match would be tough to beat for entertainment with the team race on the line.

141 – #2 seed for Jaydin Eierman. First round match against #31 Wilfredo Gil of F&M. Possible semifinals match with #3 Sebastian Rivera of Rutgers. That would be a prime time match between two tough wrestlers that are both injured. Lots of wrestling to be done before but I believe we will see that match happen.

149 – #8 for Max Murin which is what I thought he would get. First round match with #25 Corbyn Munson of Central Michigan. Potential Round of 16 match with #9 Kaden Gfeller of Oklahoma State would be a really big match. I do believe Murin is wrestling the best of his career right now and is going to have a real good tournament for the Hawks.

157 – #9 seed Kaleb Young will face #24 Doug Zapf of Penn in the first round. The depth at this weight looks much tougher now that I see the bracket. When a defending national champion (Austin O’Connor at 149) is the #11 seed you have a real tough weight. It is going to take a top performance for Young to find his way on the stand as an All American.

165 – #3 for Alex Marinelli. This is the last go for Bull to win a title. He will face #30 Evan Barczak of Drexel in the first round. I am only looking at one match at a time for Bull. I like his chances to win it all.

174 – #5 Michael Kemerer will face #28 Benjamin Pasiuk of Army in the first round. Neither Pasiuk of Kemerer competed in the Iowa-Army dual meet on November 28 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Kemerer is just like Marinelli for me. One match at a time in yet another loaded and tough bracket.

184 – #18 seed for Abe Assad who will face #15 Hunter Bolen of Virginia Tech in the first round. Assad had his best match of the season last weekend at Big Tens. We sure need him now.

197 – #6 Jacob Warner will face #17 Alan Clothier of Northern Colorado in the first round. I still say Warner can beat anyone in the country at 197 lbs. He has all of the potential.

Hwt. – #3 for Tony Cassioppi which I believe is a great draw. Cass will face #30 Josh Heindselman of Oklahoma in the first round. I could not have asked for more with this draw for Cassioppi.

As you can tell I stopped looking ahead to possible matchups as I went along. This is such a tough and loaded tournament I believe that old saying is in order. Just take it one match at a time. This may be the toughest NCAA National Tournament I have ever seen. We have seven years of recruits competing in this tournament. Add in all of the wrestlers that took an Olympic or Covid redshirt last year along with the Ivy League back in there and we are in for one heck of a great tournament.

This tournament is so tough that everyone in the team race is going to have one or maybe even two wrestlers that they were counting on for big points that will not even place. I also suspect that there will not be as many bonus points as we are used to seeing at Nationals. 

The team title of the 2022 NCAA Wrestling Championships will be won by attrition. This will be one tough and entertaining tournament to watch.

I have been saying for quite some time that this NCAA’s will be tougher than last year and that the tougher the competition the better it is for Hawks. We will soon find out.

Action begins Thursday, March 17 with Round 1 at 11 AM CST where we will take it one match at a time.

Let’s get ‘em in the middle.

For all of the NCAA brackets on TrackWrestling:

https://www.trackwrestling.com/predefinedtournaments/MainFrame.jsp?newSession=false&TIM=1646869992021&pageName=%2Fpredefinedtournaments%2FBracketViewer.jsp&twSessionId=lultwvfulq

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!  

The updated InterMat Rankings were just released based off of all the Conference Tournaments and NCAA Qualifiers. There was quite a bit of change in the team race. Iowa went from second to third and Michigan is the new #2. 

The glaring difference is Michigan took a huge increase from 78.5 last week to 104 this week.  Penn State went from 123.5 points last week to 113.5 this week. That is a huge movement in points from the results of just one event, Big Tens.

The Hawks were at 84 points last week and are now listed at 86.

Ayala went from 11 to 12, Murin 10 to 8, Young 9 to 11, Marinelli 5 to 3, Kemerer 4 to 5, Assad 19 to 20, Warner 4 to 6, and Cassioppi 4 to 3. DeSanto (3) and Eierman (2) remained the same. 

So the Hawks went from 39.5 points behind #1 Penn State last week to 27.5 points behind this week. A reminder that with all that went wrong for Iowa Wrestling last weekend at Big Tens with injuries and we were still in the team race until the end. I am not letting 27.5 points in a rankings scare me. 

The NCAA will release brackets for Nationals tomorrow (Wednesday).

We are down to the NCAA National Tournament on March 17-19. 

Let’s get the Hawks on the mend and send them out there in Detroit wrestling their best of the year. I will keep saying that the level of competition will be very fierce and tougher than last year at Nationals. With that in mind the tougher the tournament the better Iowa’s chances are of winning it all. 

To my fellow Iowa Wrestling fans, we’re very much in this. Onward.

Let’s get ‘em in the middle.

InterMat Rankings – March 8, 2022

Tournament Team Rankings/Points

1. Penn State  113.5
2. Michigan  104
3. Iowa  86
4. Arizona State  68

125  Drake Ayala – 12th

133  Austin DeSanto – 3rd

141 Jaydin Eierman – 2nd

149 Max Murin – 8th

157 Kaleb Young – 11th 

165 Alex Marinelli – 3rd

174 Michael Kemerer – 5th

184 Abe Assad – 19th

197 Jacob Warner – 6th

Hwt Tony Cassioppii – 3rd

For the complete InterMat rankings:

https://intermatwrestle.com/rankings/college?

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!  

The level of competition was as advertised at Big Tens as the Hawks placed third in the team race and qualified their entire team for Nationals. Let’s take a look at each weight.

I believe the toughest loss for me over the weekend was Ayala dropping a 4-3 decision to Barnett of Wisconsin in the Quarterfinals. This Ayala guy fights so damned hard he is already a fan favorite. What a tough competitor. Ayala had a medical forfeit for the 7th place match. I have no doubt Ayala will be ready to battle hard at Nationals. What a future Drake Ayala has for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Austin DeSanto dropped a close 3-1 decision to RBY in the finals. That was a tough loss. The top three at 133 will provide some serious competition and entertainment at Nationals. I am going to enjoy every last match for this intense competitor. I believe DeSanto should still get the #3 seed at Nationals.

For anyone that saw Eierman wrestle in the quarterfinals with that knee brace and still questions why he took the MFF did not see what I did. There is no way Eierman should have wrestled another match and he didn’t. I am hoping he gets healed up for Nationals.

That is the best I have ever seen Max Murin wrestle as an Iowa Hawkeye by placing third at 149. Murin has come a long ways over the past year. With the right seed at Nationals I believe Murin can go deep on the championship side. I definitely see Murin being an All American at Nationals.

Kaleb Young placed fourth at 157. With a seed outside of the top eight at Nationals, Young will have a big matchup with a ranked opponent on Thursday night in the Round of 32. I still see Young as an All American.

It was great to see Bull win his fourth Big Ten title. As he stated in a post match interview, people only remember what happens at Nationals. Currently ranked #5 I can see Marinelli getting a #3 seed at Nationals.

We all knew of Kemerer’s injury coming into Big Tens and it was very apparent in the Quarterfinals. I can only hope that Kemerer can channel his inner Cory Clark and put a five match winning streak together at Nationals. Michael Kemerer is one tough dude.

Assad placed seventh at 184. I thought his opening round win over eventual third place finisher Braunagel of Illinois was the best I have seen Assad this season. It is a matter of getting Assad to compete at the level every match at Nationals.

Warner placed fourth at a loaded weight with both of his losses to Brucki of Michigan by a score of 3-1. With every match being close and low scoring, Warner needs to increase his percentage of finishing shots or take more shots to get to the next level.

I do not believe there was a better moment at Big Tens than when Cassioppi came from behind to win the semifinals match over Kerkvliet of Penn State. Cassioppi is currently ranked #4 at Hwt. Will he move up to be the #3 seed at Nationals or stay at #4? Time will tell.

The big talk surrounding Iowa Wrestling is all of the medical forfeits that the Hawks took at Big Tens. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. One thing I do not doubt is the fact that the wrestlers from Iowa are indeed injured. Absolutely no way I question their toughness. I just hope they can heal up to some extent and be ready for the NCAA National Tournament that begins on Thursday, March 17. 

As Bull said in his interview, people do not remember Big Tens, they remember Nationals. Onward.

I have been saying for over a year that the level of competition will be at a higher level in 2022 than the 2021 National Tournament. The tougher the competition the better chance Iowa has of winning the team title. To me the team race is wide open for Nationals and yes the Iowa Hawkeyes are right in the mix.

As I have said many times on this blog Iowa Wrestling is my entertainment. I plan on being entertained on March 17, 18, and 19 as the Hawks do battle chasing the team title at the 2022 NCAA National Tournament. 

2022 Big Ten Championships

125 – Drake Ayala (11-6) placed 8th and scored 5.5 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Drake Ayala (Iowa) 11-6 won by decision over Tristan Lujan (Michigan State) 11-12 (Dec 4-0)
• Quarterfinal – Eric Barnett (Wisconsin) 14-3 won by decision over Drake Ayala (Iowa) 11-6 (Dec 4-3)
• Cons. Round 2 – Drake Ayala (Iowa) 11-6 won by major decision over Jacob Moran (Indiana) 11-10 (MD 12-3)
• Cons. Round 3 – Patrick McKee (Minnesota) 13-7 won by decision over Drake Ayala (Iowa) 11-6 (Dec 5-2)
• 7th Place Match – Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) 18-7 won by medical forfeit over Drake Ayala (Iowa) 11-6 (M. For.)

133 – Austin DeSanto (12-3) placed 2nd and scored 15.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Austin DeSanto (Iowa) 12-3 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Austin DeSanto (Iowa) 12-3 won by decision over Chris Cannon (Northwestern) 15-5 (Dec 7-3)
• Semifinal – Austin DeSanto (Iowa) 12-3 won by decision over Lucas Byrd (Illinois) 21-3 (Dec 4-3)
• 1st Place Match – Roman Bravo-Young (Penn State) 17-0 won by decision over Austin DeSanto (Iowa) 12-3 (Dec 3-1)

141 – Jaydin Eierman (14-2) placed 2nd and scored 17.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Jaydin Eierman (Iowa) 14-2 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Jaydin Eierman (Iowa) 14-2 won by decision over Dylan D`Emilio (Ohio State) 17-9 (Dec 10-3)
• Semifinal – Jaydin Eierman (Iowa) 14-2 won by medical forfeit over Sebastian Rivera (Rutgers) 20-3 (M. For.)
• 1st Place Match – Nick Lee (Penn State) 17-0 won by medical forfeit over Jaydin Eierman (Iowa) 14-2 (M. For.)

149 – Max Murin (12-3) placed 3rd and scored 15.5 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Max Murin (Iowa) 12-3 won by major decision over Peyton Omania (Michigan State) 8-13 (MD 12-0)
• Quarterfinal – Max Murin (Iowa) 12-3 won by decision over Yahya Thomas (Northwestern) 12-6 (Dec 6-5)
• Semifinal – Sammy Sasso (Ohio State) 17-2 won by decision over Max Murin (Iowa) 12-3 (Dec 3-1)
• Cons. Semi – Max Murin (Iowa) 12-3 won by decision over Mike Van Brill (Rutgers) 20-5 (Dec 6-1)
• 3rd Place Match – Max Murin (Iowa) 12-3 won by medical forfeit over Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) 15-3 (M. For.)

157 – Kaleb Young (3-2) placed 4th and scored 10.5 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Kaleb Young (Iowa) 3-2 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Brady Berge (Penn State) 9-2 won by decision over Kaleb Young (Iowa) 3-2 (Dec 5-3)
• Cons. Round 2 – Kaleb Young (Iowa) 3-2 won by decision over Robert Kanniard (Rutgers) 11-7 (Dec 10-5)
• Cons. Round 3 – Kaleb Young (Iowa) 3-2 won by decision over Chase Saldate (Michigan State) 26-8 (Dec 5-3)
• Cons. Semi – Kaleb Young (Iowa) 3-2 won by decision over Peyton Robb (Nebraska) 11-7 (Dec 8-1)
• 3rd Place Match – Brady Berge (Penn State) 9-2 won in sudden victory – 1 over Kaleb Young (Iowa) 3-2 (SV-1 3-1)

165 – Alex Marinelli (17-1) placed 1st and scored 19.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Alex Marinelli (Iowa) 17-1 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Alex Marinelli (Iowa) 17-1 won by decision over Creighton Edsell (Penn State) 11-5 (Dec 8-2)
• Semifinal – Alex Marinelli (Iowa) 17-1 won by decision over Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) 21-2 (Dec 3-2)
• 1st Place Match – Alex Marinelli (Iowa) 17-1 won by decision over Cameron Amine (Michigan) 12-3 (Dec 2-1)

174 – Michael Kemerer (9-5) placed 6th and scored 10.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Michael Kemerer (Iowa) 9-5 won by fall over Connor ONeill (Rutgers) 9-14 (Fall 2:31)
• Quarterfinal – Michael Kemerer (Iowa) 9-5 won by decision over Ethan Smith (Ohio State) 16-5 (Dec 5-4)
• Semifinal – Carter Starocci (Penn State) 18-0 won by medical forfeit over Michael Kemerer (Iowa) 9-5 (M. For.)
• Cons. Semi – Troy Fisher (Northwestern) 16-9 won by medical forfeit over Michael Kemerer (Iowa) 9-5 (M. For.)
• 5th Place Match – Mikey Labriola (Nebraska) 15-4 won by medical forfeit over Michael Kemerer (Iowa) 9-5 (M. For.)

184 – Abe Assad (11-7) placed 7th and scored 8.5 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Abe Assad (Iowa) 11-7 won by decision over Zac Braunagel (Illinois) 15-7 (Dec 6-4)
• Quarterfinal – Taylor Venz (Nebraska) 13-7 won by decision over Abe Assad (Iowa) 11-7 (Dec 4-2)
• Cons. Round 2 – Abe Assad (Iowa) 11-7 won by major decision over Layne Malczewski (Michigan State) 22-10 (MD 9-0)
• Cons. Round 3 – Kyle Cochran (Maryland) 23-9 won by decision over Abe Assad (Iowa) 11-7 (Dec 4-3)
• 7th Place Match – Abe Assad (Iowa) 11-7 won by medical forfeit over Isaiah Salazar (Minnesota) 10-6 (M. For.)

197 – Jacob Warner (14-5) placed 4th and scored 13.5 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Jacob Warner (Iowa) 14-5 won by major decision over Nick Willham (Indiana) 11-9 (MD 17-4)
• Quarterfinal – Patrick Brucki (Michigan) 17-5 won by decision over Jacob Warner (Iowa) 14-5 (Dec 3-1)
• Cons. Round 2 – Jacob Warner (Iowa) 14-5 won by major decision over Jaron Smith (Maryland) 16-11 (MD 10-1)
• Cons. Round 3 – Jacob Warner (Iowa) 14-5 won by decision over Gavin Hoffman (Ohio State) 10-10 (Dec 4-2)
• Cons. Semi – Jacob Warner (Iowa) 14-5 won by decision over Cameron Caffey (Michigan State) 27-7 (Dec 5-3)
• 3rd Place Match – Patrick Brucki (Michigan) 17-5 won by decision over Jacob Warner (Iowa) 14-5 (Dec 3-1)

Hwt – Tony Cassioppi (15-3) placed 2nd and scored 15.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) 15-3 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) 15-3 won by decision over Trent Hillger (Wisconsin) 15-6 (Dec 9-3)
• Semifinal – Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) 15-3 won in sudden victory – 1 over Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) 18-2 (SV-1 6-4)
• 1st Place Match – Gable Steveson (Minnesota) 13-0 won by medical forfeit over Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) 15-3 (M. For.)

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!