At the start of the season I do not believe many would have thought Michael Kemerer would end up as the #4 seed at Big Tens. With a 7-2 record that is where Kemerer is at. 174 is the mosted loaded weight at Big Tens with the top four ranked wrestlers in the country. That does not happen very often, if ever. Also five of the top seven wrestlers in the country. There will be some very good first round and quarterfinal round matches.

When the quarterfinals of a conference tournament looks to be nationally ranked #4 Kemerer vs. #7 Ethan Smith you have one tough weight class. Let’s take it one match at a time but the potential is there for a Kemerer-Starocci semifinals match. 

Of all the weights at Big Tens the excitement at 174 should be hard to top.

In an interview with me several years ago Tom Brands said that a loss can sometimes improve a wrestler’s hearing. The point was that a stinging loss can make a wrestler open up for technical changes that are needed. Michael Kemerer is going to have to finish his shots and score takedowns to be a national champion this season. The next step is Big Tens.

NCAA Allocations for the Big Ten Conference at 174 for NCAA National Tournament Qualifiers is 8.

Sat/Sun March 5-6 at Big Tens (Lincoln, Nebraska)

Th-Sat, March 17-19  at NCAA National Tournament (Detroit, Michigan)

174 lbs. Big Tens Pre-Seeds (8 NCAA Qualifiers)

1.       Carter Starocci (PSU)
2.       Logan Massa (MI)
3.       Mikey Labriola (NEB)
4.       Michael Kemerer (IA)
5.       Ethan Smith (OSU)
6.       Bailee O’Reilly (MN)
7.       Gerit Nijenhuis (PUR)
8.       Troy Fisher (NU)
9.       Dominic Solic (MD)
10.     DJ Shannon (IL)
11.     Andrew McNally (WI)
12.     Nick South (IN)
13.     Connor O’Neill (RUT)
14.     Nate Jimenez (MSU)

*All Rankings by InterMat.

174 lbs. Rankings in the Big Ten:

#1 Carter Starocci (Penn State)

#2 Logan Massa (Michigan)

#3 Mikey Labriola (Nebraska)

#4 Michael Kemerer (Iowa)

#7 Ethan Smith (Ohio State)

#18 Bailee O’Reilly (Minnesota)

#21 Gerrit Nijenhuis (Purdue)

#30 Andrew McNally (Wisconsin)

Michael Kemerer 174, Senior– Murrysville, Pennsylvania (Franklin Regional)

#23 Bailee O’Reilly (Minnesota) W-D 9-2

#21 Gerrit Nijenhuis (Purdue) W-TF 17-1

Ankhaa Enkhmandakh (Northwestern) W-Pin 2:36

Baan Rachal (Illinois) W-Pin 2:35 

#7 Ethan Smith (Ohio State) W-D 6-3 

#1 Carter Starocci (Penn State) L-D 2-1 SV 2 

#23 Andrew McNally (Wisconsin) W-MD 11-2 

#10 Dustin Plott (Oklahoma State) W-D 6-1

#6 Mikey Labriola (Nebraska) L-D 5-4

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!  

Alex “Bull” Marinelli enters Big Tens with an 18-1 record and #5 national ranking. It looks as though Marinelli will get a #2 seed at Big Tens at 165 where he is one of four wrestlers ranked in the top nine in the country.

I have said it before and I am going to stick with it. I believe the one loss this season against Carson Kharchla of Ohio State back on January 21 has made Marinelli a better wrestler. 

I do not have a lot more to say here. The next big battle is Big Tens and you can count on Alex Marinelli going hard. 

I am a big fan of Bull. Always have been, always will be. Marinelli is in his last go as an Iowa Hawkeye and I want to see him finish this season and his career strong. 

NCAA Allocations for the Big Ten Conference at 165 for NCAA National Tournament Qualifiers is 7.

Sat/Sun March 5-6 at Big Tens (Lincoln, Nebraska)

Th-Sat, March 17-19  at NCAA National Tournament (Detroit, Michigan)

*All Rankings by InterMat.

165 lbs. Rankings in the Big Ten:

#4  Carson Kharchla (Ohio State) 

#5  Alex Marinelli (Iowa)

#6  Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin)

#9  Cameron Amine (Michigan)

#23  Creighton Edsell (Penn State)

#27  Danny Braunagel (Illinois)

#30  Bubba Wilson (Nebraska)

Alex Marinelli 165, R-Senior – Miamisburg, Ohio (St. Paris Graham High School)

165 Luther Open — 1st Place Kaleb O’Reilly (Wisconsin-LaCrosse) W-TF 23-7 

Ndayambaje John (University of the Ozarks) W-Pin 4:09 (1) 

Casey Allen (Cornell College) W-TF 25-10 

Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) W-D 3-2 

Grant Cuomo (Princeton) W-D 12-5 

Christian Hunt (Army) W-Pin 6:36 (2) 

Gant Stotts (Iowa State) W-MD 16-5 

Tracy Hubbard (Central Michigan) W-SDQ 

Brian Meyer (Lehigh) W-D 6-2 

Donald Cates (NC State) W-D 7-2 

Cael Carlson (Minnesota) W-D 6-5 

Hayden Lohrey (Purdue) W-TF 22-7

Northwestern) W-Forfeit

Dan Braunagel (Illinois) W-D 4-1 

#7 Carson Kharchla (Ohio State) L-D 3-2 

#11 Brady Berge (Penn State) W-MD 10-2 

#6 Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) W-D 8-5 

#8 Travis Wittlake (Oklahoma State) W-D 3-2 

#30 Bubba Wilson (Nebraska) W-D 8-2 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!  

Kaleb Young had a 6-5 record on January 7. He is now 14-5 with the longest winning streak on the Iowa Wrestling team. A recent 6-3 decision over #10 Peyton Robb was Young’s best outing of the season and was also his third straight win over a ranked opponent. This is a senior getting hot at the right time.

157 at Big Tens has eight ranked wrestlers so you can count on competitive matches in the first round. Young should be a #2 seed at Big Tens and have the opportunity to improve on his current ranking of #9 for a seed at Nationals.

As I have said on this blog before, Young has endured to many battles to not be an All American this year. The Young Guns combination of Murin and Young have the potential to score a lot of points at Nationals that many are not counting on at this time.

I predict Kaleb Young will finish his career in the Black and Gold of Iowa Wrestling on a real positive note. Next up is Big Tens.

NCAA Allocations for the Big Ten Conference at 157 for NCAA National Tournament Qualifiers is 7.

Sat/Sun March 5-6 at Big Tens (Lincoln, Nebraska)

Th-Sat, March 17-19  at NCAA National Tournament (Detroit, Michigan)

*All Rankings by InterMat.

#2  Ryan Deakin – Northwestern

#9 Kaleb Young – (Iowa)

#10 Will Lewan – (Michigan)

#11 Peyton Robb – (Nebraska)

#12 Kendalll Coleman (Purdue)

#13 Brady Berge (Penn State)

#16 Chase Saldate (Michigan State)

#31 Garrett Model (Wisconsin)

Kaleb Young 157, R-Senior – Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (Punxsutawney Area)

Luther Open — 1st Place Patrick Chambers (Coe) W-Pin 1:40 

Justin Stammer (Wartburg) W-Pin 1:01 

Ryan Steffen (Upper Iowa) W-MD 13-4 

Chance Throndson (Upper Iowa) W-TF 20-4 

#7 Quincy Monday (Princeton) L-D 9-5 

#29 Markus Hartman (Army) W-D 3-1 

#1 David Carr (Iowa State) L-D 6-2 

#19 Johnny Lovett (Central Michigan) W-D 6-0 

#10 Josh Humphreys (Lehigh) L-MD 11-2 

#23 Ed Scott (NC State) L-Pin 1:10 

#4 Brayton Lee (Minnesota) L-D 4-3 

Cooper Noehre (Purdue) W-MD 12-4 

Trevor Chumbley (Northwestern) W-D 6-4 

Joel Roberts (Illinois) W-TF 16-1 

Jashon Hubbard (Ohio State) W-D 4-0 

Terrell Barraclough (Penn State) W-D 2-0 

#28 Garrett Model (Wisconsin) W-D 8-3 

#18 Wyatt Sheets (Oklahoma State) W-D 

#10 Peyton Robb (Nebraska) W-D 6-3

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!  

Max Murin at 149 for the Hawks is my sleeper pick for the team. I believe that Murin has been forgotten in the mix with his limited action due to injuries. With an 8-2 record Murin is ranked #10 in the country. His only two losses were in overtime in December and 3-2 to the #2 ranked wrestler in the country. Murin is that close to the top wrestlers in the country.

149 is yet another tough weight in the Big Ten with eight nationally ranked wrestlers. If national rankings hold up then we would see Murin seeded #4 at Big Tens. 

Last season did not end the way that Murin wanted due to injury and I think that will be an added motivator in play here. I believe if he can come into Big Tens and Nationals healthy that Iowa will get a lot more points at 149 than most are thinking. 

My gut feeling is that I am looking for a good showing by Murin at Big Tens and an even better run at Nationals.

NCAA Allocations for the Big Ten Conference at 149 for NCAA National Tournament Qualifiers is 7.

Sat/Sun March 5-6 at Big Tens (Lincoln, Nebraska)

Th-Sat, March 17-19  at NCAA National Tournament (Detroit, Michigan)

*All Rankings by InterMat.

#2 Sammy Sasso – Ohio State

#5 Austin Gomez – Wisconsin

#6 Ridge Lovett – Nebraska

#10 Max Murin – Iowa

#11 Yahya Thomas – Northwestern

#15 Mike Van Brill – Rutgers

#17 Beau Bartlett – Penn State

#29 Christian Kanzler – Illinois

#30 Michael Blockhus – Minnesota

Max Murin 149, Senior – Ebensburg, Pennsylvania (Central Cambria)

National ranking: #10

Record: 8-2

*Rankings at the time of the match

2021-22 Results:

149 Ian Parker (Iowa State) W-D 3-2 

Corbyn Munson (Central Michigan) W-MD 14-5 

#30 Manzona Bryant (Lehigh) L-D 7-5 SV1 

#25 Michael Blockhus (Minnesota) W-D 3-1 

Trey Kruse (Purdue) W-MD 10-2 

#5 Yahya Thomas (Northwestern) W-D 4-3 

Christian Kanzler (Illinois) W-D 9-3 

#2 Sammy Sasso (Ohio State) L-D 3-2 

#19 Beau Bartlett (Penn State) W-D 5-1 

#13 Kaden Gfeller (Oklahoma State) W-D 5-2

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!  

Victoria Francis of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club placed fifth at 76 KG at the Yasar Dogu in Istanbul, Turkey. After dropping a first round match to 2018 World Silver medalist Kuenz of Austria, Francis won her next two matches to qualify for the bronze medal match. In the medal round Francis dropped a 5-1 decision to Yerkebayeva of Kazakhstan.

The Yasar Dogu was an elite International tournament loaded with former World and Olympic champions and medalists. This was also a UWW Ranking Series Event.

Francis joined the HWC in September and is currently ranked third at 76 kg on Team USA.

2022 Yasar Dogu in Istanbul, Turkey

76 kg: Victoria Francis (Hawkeye WC) – FIFTH

LOSS Martina Kuenz (Austria), 10-2

WIN Melike Kozgun (Turkey), fall 2:54

WIN Catalina Axente (Romania), 2-1

LOSS Gulmaral Yerkebayeva (Kazakhstan), 5-1

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!  

The Big Ten has the top three ranked wrestlers at 141 in the entire country. The Big Tens will be a shootout as #2 ranked Jaydin Eierman takes on the competition. The most anticipated matches of the Big Ten Tournament for me will be the semifinals and finals at 141. 

Should seeds hold true from rankings at 141, and they should, the potential will be there for us to see Eierman face #3 Sebastian Rivera of Rutgers in the semifinals with the winner taking on #1 Nick Lee in the finals. Folks, that will be some great wrestling. I would not be surprised to see that exact sequence of matches take place at the NCAA National Tournament as well.

We cannot overlook the entire field at 141 in the Big Ten that has seven wrestlers ranked in the top seventeen in the country. Stevan Micic of Michigan may only be ranked #15 in the country but he is very dangerous. There will be some close and entertaining quarterfinal matches at this weight.

I like the way Eierman has looked over the last three weeks in competition. This guy has the complete skill set to win it all. He has had some close matches during the season but Eierman has the athleticism to turn it on and get hot at the right time. That is why I call Eierman a gamer. He likes the bright lights of the big stage. 

Wrestling fans will be entertained at 141 for Big Tens and the NCAA National Tournament. 

NCAA Allocations for the Big Ten Conference at 141 for NCAA National Tournament Qualifiers is 7.

Sat/Sun March 5-6 at Big Tens (Lincoln, Nebraska)

Th-Sat, March 17-19  at NCAA National Tournament (Detroit, Michigan)

*All Rankings by InterMat.

141 lbs. Rankings in the Big Ten:

#1 – Nick Lee (Penn State)

#2 – Jaydin Eierman (Iowa)

#3 – Sebastian Rivera (Rutgers)

#10 – Chad Red, Jr (Nebraska)

#15 – Stevan Micic (Michigan)

#16 – Dylan Duncan (Illinois)

#17 – Dylan D’Emilio (Ohio State)

#18 – Jake Bergeland (Minnesota)

#22 – Joe Zargo (Wisconsin)

#31 – Parker Filius (Purdue)

Jaydin Eierman 141, R-Senior – Columbia, Missouri (Father Tolton/Missouri) 

National ranking: #2

Record: 15-1

*Rankings at the time of the match

2021-22 Results:

141 Luther Open — 1st Place

Reilly Dolan (Cornell College) W-Pin 3:26 (1)

Jake Dado (University of the Ozarks) W-Pin 3:37 (2) 

Leif Schroeder (Iowa) W-MFF 3-0 Jacob Mann (Princeton) W-MD 15-7

#26 Cory Shie (Army) W-Pin 5:54 (3) 

#19 Zach Redding (Iowa State) W-MD 15-7 

#7 Dresden Simon (Central Michigan) W-D 13-12 

Connor McGonagel (Lehigh) W-D 8-3 

#16 Ryan Jack (NC State) W-D 7-6 

#19 Jake Bergeland (Minnesota) W-D 6-2 

#25 Parker Filius (Purdue) W-D 7-6

#23 Dylan D’Emilio (Ohio State) W-D 4-0 

#1 Nick Lee (Penn State) L-D 6-4 SV1 

Joseph Zargo (Wisconsin) W-MD 13-5 

#21 Carter Young (Oklahoma State) W-D 6-1 

#10 Chad Red Jr. (Nebraska) W-D 6-3

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!  

I have said it in this blog before and I will say it again. Austin DeSanto is tough even by Iowa Wrestling standards. I am going to soak up every match at Big Tens and Nationals for this very entertaining senior.

DeSanto enters Big Tens as the #3 ranked wrestler in the country and wrestling his best of the season. DeSanto has looked better and better as the season goes. His most recent tech fall against Nebraska was his 10th of the season and 37th of his career. DeSanto has scored 20 points or more in 28 matches in his career. 

I cannot imagine anything but a #2 seed at Big Tens for DeSanto at 133. A common theme for Big Tens but 133 is loaded with seven of the top eleven and ten of the top twenty-nine wrestlers in the entire country. That is some serious depth.

With ten ranked wrestlers in one weight we can count on some very good matches at 133. I really like where DeSanto is for peaking at the right time of year. I cannot wait to watch him compete.

NCAA Allocations for the Big Ten Conference at 133 for NCAA National Tournament Qualifiers is 10.

Sat/Sun March 5-6 at Big Tens (Lincoln, Nebraska)

Th-Sat, March 17-19  at NCAA National Tournament (Detroit, Michigan)

*All Rankings by InterMat.

133 lbs. Rankings in the Big Ten:

#1 – Roman Bravo-Young (Penn State)

#3 – Austin DeSanto (Iowa)

#6 – Lucas Byrd (Illinois)

#7 – Rayvon Foley (Michigan State)

#8 – Dylan Ragusin (Michigan)

#9 – Chris Cannon (Northwestern)

#11 – Brock Hudkins (Indiana)

#15 – Joey Olivieri (Rutgers)

#23 – Matt Ramos (Purdue)

#29 – Jake Gliva (Minnesota)

Austin DeSanto 133, R-Senior – Exeter, Pennsylvania (Exeter/Drexel)

National ranking: #3

Record: 14-2

*Rankings at the time of the match

2021-22  results:

133 Luther Open — 1st Place 

Dylan Albrecht (Wartburg) W-TF 16-0 

Wyatt Bieschke (Coe) W-TF 20-5 

Donny Schmit (Upper Iowa) W-TF 21-5 

Cullan Schriever (Iowa) W-D 8-4

Nick Masters (Princeton) W-TF 22-6 

Dominic Carone (Army) W-TF 21-6 

Ramazan Attasauov (Iowa State) W-D 6-4

Vince Perez (Central Michigan) W-TF 16-1 

Satoshi Abe (Lehigh) W-TF 20-5

#17 Kai Orine (NC State) W-MD 16-7 

Jake Gilva (Minnesota) W-D 7-5 

Dylan Kuntz (Ohio State) W-TF 19-4 

#1 Roman Bravo-Young (Penn State) L-D 3-2 

Kyle Burwick (Wisconsin) W-TF 26-11 

#2 Daton Fix (Oklahoma State) L-D 5-3 

Alex Thomsen (Nebraska) W-TF 22-7 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!  

After a huge weekend of state tournaments across the country, Willie Saylor of MatScouts has released a new high school rankings. There were few changes for our recruits.

Nate Jesuroga went from #9 to #11 in the P4P (Pound For Pound) rankings and is still #1 at 126. Aiden Riggins remained #21 P4P and #1 at 160. Ben Kueter remained #3 at 220 and #23 in P4P. 

Also staying the same was Gabe Arnold #9 at 170, Brad Hill #20 at 195 and Ryder Block #14 at 138. 

Easton Fleshman is now back in the rankings at #24 at Hwt.

The future looks great for Iowa Wrestling.

Incoming Iowa Wrestling recruits in the MatScouts Rankings by Willie Saylor on Rokfin.

Nate Jesuroga

Class of 2023 

Southeast Polk HS, Iowa

#11 P4P

#1 at 126 lbs. 

Ryder Block

Class of 2023 

Waverly-Shell Rock HS, Iowa

#14 at 138 lbs.

Aiden Riggins

Class of 2022

Waverly-Shell Rock HS, Iowa

#21 P4P

#1 at 160 lbs.

Gabe Arnold

Class of 2023

Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania

#9 at 170 lbs.

Brad Hill

Class of 2022

Bettendorf, Iowa

#20 at 195 lbs.

Ben Kueter

Class of 2023 

City High HS, Iowa

#23 P4P

#3 at 220 lbs.

Easton Fleshman 

Class of 2022

West Lyon HS, Iowa 

#24 at Hwt.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

It is tournament time. Iowa is very well known for sending a nationally ranked wrestler out on the mat at 125 to start each round at Big Tens and the NCAA National Tournament. Spencer Lee was looking for his fourth NCAA title before it was announced on January 1 that he had to take a medical redshirt. Next man in.

Drake Ayala is a true freshman from Fort Dodge, Iowa that has stepped in and done real well. Ayala came into the program with a long list of accolades and is more than ready to take the mat when every point counts in the team race. For starters, Ayala is from Fort Dodge Iowa. A town that has been well known for its toughness and wrestling for decades. Ayala also grew up in the Sebolt Wrestling Academy. That background is tough to beat and a big part of why I am so confident in this guy. 

It will not take you very long into a match to see just how quick Ayala is. Being on the attack is expected from an Iowa wrestler. That quickness getting deep in a shot is a noticeable advantage that Ayala has and what sets him apart.

As with most weights, 125 is loaded in the Big Ten. You have #1 ranked Suriano of Michigan and four of the top eight wrestlers in the country. Ayala is ranked #11 in the entire country and is the only the seventh highest ranked wrestler in the Big Ten. That is a tough weight.

With a win over Schroeder of Purdue who is ranked #7 nationally I would think Ayala would be seeded #6 at Big Tens. I like that a lot. I would also like a #7 seed if it comes to that. I am confident either way.

NCAA Allocations for the Big Ten Conference at 125 for NCAA National Tournament Qualifiers is 10.

As a fan I am really looking forward to watching Ayala compete and I like his chances of having a real good or even great Big Ten Tournament.

Sat/Sun March 5-6 at Big Tens (Lincoln, Nebraska)

Th-Sat, March 17-19  at NCAA National Tournament (Detroit, Michigan)

*All Rankings by InterMat.

125 lbs. Rankings in the Big Ten:

#1 – Nick Suriano (Michigan)

#5 – Drew Hildebrandt (Penn State)

#6 – Eric Barnett (Wisconsin)

#7 – Devin Schroeder (Purdue)

#9 – Malik Heinselman (Ohio State)

#10 – Patrick McKee (Minnesota

#11 – Drake Ayala (Iowa)

#13 – Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern)

#22 – Justin Cardani (Illinois)

#27 – Dylan Shawver (Rutgers)

Drake Ayala 125, True Freshman – Fort Dodge, Iowa 

National ranking:  #11

Record: 14-4 

*Rankings at the time of the match

2021-22  results:

Harold Nichols Open – 1st place 

Aime Mukiza (Iowa State) W-Pin 1:49 (1) 

Lane Cowell (Iowa Central) W-Pin 1:34 (2) 

Conor Knopick (Iowa State) W-MD 16-8 

UNI Open – 2nd place 

Maximo Renteria (Illinois) W-MD 16-7 

Caleb Fuessley (Iowa State) W-TF 22-7 

#9 Patrick McKee (Minnesota) L-D 8-4 

Southern Scuffle – 3rd place 

Alex Cottey (Chattanooga) W-TF 23-7 

Reece Witcraft (Oklahoma) W-MD 17-6 

#12 Noah Surtin (Missouri) W-D 9-3 

#9 Patrick McKee (Minnesota) L-D 6-5 

#32 Caleb Smith (Appalachian State) W-D 5-2 

#12 Noah Surtin (Missouri) W-D 14-10

#7 Patrick Mckee (Minnesota) L-D 8-6 

#5 Devin Schroeder (Purdue) W-D 6-1 

#7 Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern) W-D 6-5 

Justin Cardani (Illinois) W-D 7-4 

#18 Malik Heinselman (Ohio State) L-D 7-5 

Jeremiah Reno (Nebraska) W-D 13-6

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!  

InterMat released their final rankings of the season. Iowa remained ranked second in the team race. The Hawks dropped from 88 to 84 points and are now 39.5 points behind #1 Penn State. Iowa was 16 points ahead of #3 Michigan last week. That lead for second place is now at 5.5 points. 

Young went from 12 to 9 at 157 after a good match at Nebraska. Ayala went from 12 to 11 at 125. Ayala looked real good Sunday against Nebraska in his first match since January 21.

Michael Kemerer went from second to fourth at 174 and Assad went from 15 to 20 at 184. The remaining lineup stayed the same.

Only the tournament season remains with Iowa at Big Tens on March 5-6 and the NCAA National Tournament on March 17-19. 

InterMat Rankings -February 22, 2022

Tournament Team Rankings/Points

1. Penn State  123.5
2. Iowa  84
3. Michigan  78.5
4. Arizona State  68

Dual Meet

1. Penn State
2. Iowa
3. Michigan
4. NC State

125  Drake Ayala – 11th

133  Austin DeSanto – 3rd

141 Jaydin Eierman – 2nd

149 Max Murin – 10th

157 Kaleb Young – 9th 

165 Alex Marinelli – 5th

174 Michael Kemerer – 4th

184 Abe Assad – 20th

197 Jacob Warner – 4th

Hwt Tony Cassioppii – 4th

For the complete InterMat rankings:

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

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!