With six returning All Americans graduating at the end of the 2021-2022 season, it would be easy to think that next season will be a rebuilding year for the storied Hawkeye wrestling program. While it will in fact be exactly that, and we should expect to see a lot of new faces in the lineup next year at this time. Often times the phrase rebuilding year, is interpreted as a season with less than desirable results. However, it’s this writers belief that the 2022-2023 Iowa wrestling team will contend for a National Title.
In this article we will take a look at this years team, as well as what we should expect down the road for our beloved Hawkeyes.
The 2021-2022 team is the top team in the country for the 3rd straight season,they are the defending NCAA Champion Team, and carry the longest current winning streak in division 1 wrestling. The team is lead by NCAA title contenders, Spencer Lee, Austin DeSanto, Jaydin Eierman, Alex Marinelli, and Michael Kemerer, as well as U23 World Champion Tony Cassioppi.
This amazing lineup looks like this:
125 Spencer Lee 3x defending NCAA Champion, and 2x Hodge Trophy winner.
133 Austin DeSanto 3x All American.
141 Jaydin Eierman 4x All American.
149 Max Murin 1x All American
157 Kaleb Young 3x All American
165 Alex Marinelli 3x All American
174 Michael Kemerer 4x All American
184 Abe Assad 1x All American
197 Jacob Warner 3x All American
HWT Tony Cassioppi 2x All American and U23 World Champion
All you have to do is take one look at this line up to see how truly special it is. Its easy to see why the 2021-2022 Iowa Hawkeyes are the number 1 ranked team in the country. But what these stats don’t show, is that Iowa has graduating seniors at 125, 133, 141, 157, 165, and 174. Those 6 are among the most accomplished on the Iowa squad. So it’s easy to see, why so many think Iowa will drop off the podium next season.
@iowahawkeyewrestling
I for one don’t think that is the case at all. In fact I think next years team will have an outstanding season and should again contend for a national title. Lets take a look at the squad that will represent Iowa in the 2022-2023 season.
125 Iowa has two strong contenders competing for the starting spot.
Jesse Ybarra 3x state champion from Arizona, was ranked number 1 in the country at 120 lbs in high school.
or
Drake Ayala 3x state champion from Iowa, super 32 champion.
I expect Ybarra to red-shirt next season, giving Ayala the starting position. From everything I’ve seen of Drake Ayala, I fully expect him to be Iowa’s next 4x All American, finishing somewhere on the podium between 3rd and 6th next season.
133 Cullan Schriever Will likely get the starting position for the Hawks at 133. Schriever is ready to wrestle right away and has been very impressive this year. I believe he would be an all American contender this season if it wasn’t for Austin DeSanto holding down the starting spot. Schriever is another potential 4x all american. Next year I see him finishing in the 4th -7th place range, maybe higher depending on how the weight shapes out.
141 Wyatt Henson is the leading contender at this weight, and so far he is off to a fantastic start. Wyatt is a 3x state champion, winning his first title in Missouri before moving to the wrestling rich state of Pennsylvania and winning 2 more. Since entering the college ranks he has won 2 tournament championships and sports a perfect 9-0 record. It’s also noteworthy to mention, that his father Sammie Henson was a 2x NCAA champion, a world champion, and an Olympic Silver Medalist!
149 Max Murin returns for his senior season with a career record of 40-18 (as of now). Max is a returning All- American and will be looking to return to the podium for his senior year.
157 Several wrestlers will compete for the starting spot at 157, among them are Jack McClimon, and Joe Kelly. With neither of these two winning a state title in high school, I’m a little concerned about this weight class and its ability to compete amongst the nations best. However with Max Murin holding down the 149 spot for his senior season, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Caleb Rathjen or Bretli Reyna make the move to 157 in an attempt to secure the starting spot. Caleb was a 4x state finalist and 2x champion from Ankeny Iowa, he was also a multi time Fargo all- american. Bretli was a 4x Florida state champion, and saw limited action last season.
165 Patrick Kennedy is the future of this weight class and wow he has certainly been impressive this far. This kid is the real deal, he was a 4x state champion in wrestling rich Minnesota, he was a Super 32 Champion, as well as a Fargo champion in High School. In college, he has been just as impressive. Last year his only loss was a 7-4 decision against #4 ranked Mikey Labriola of Nebraska. This year his only loss was against teammate Alex Marinelli. It’s my opinion that Kennedy would finish top 3 in the NCAA if he was our starter this year. Next season I predict nothing short of an NCAA title.
174 The Hawks have two contenders for the starting spot at 174. Both Nelson Brands and Brennan Swafford, are excellent candidates for the position.
Brennan was a 2x state place winner at state in High School, but it was at Graceland College that his skills really began to shine. Brennan would go on to become a 3x All-American, and a 2x National Champion at the NAIA level. What I really like about this kid, is that it wasn’t enough. It would of been easy to stay at Graceland and likely become a 3x National Champion. Rather than take the easier path Brennan, transferred to Iowa in an attempt to compete for a Division 1 National Title.
Nelson Brands has seen a lot of action with the Hawkeyes over the last few seasons, and has shown mixed results. He’s had impressive sometimes even dominating wins over Taylor Venz, Rocky Jordan, Samuel Colbray, and Zach Braunagel. But he’s also had some frustrating loses along the way as well. Hopefully the move down to 174 will help Nelson overcome some of those setbacks he faced at 184. So far this year he is off to a perfect start and is currently undefeated while filling in for an injured Michael Kemerer.
I could see either of these two reaching the NCAA podium next season, somewhere between the 6th-8th range.
184 Abe Assad was a highly touted recruit coming out of high school as a 2x Illinois state champion, he was also a cadet world bronze medalist. As a true freshman Abe didn’t disappoint beating out Cash Wilkie and Nelson Brands for the starting spot, he finished 2nd at Midlands, and 4th in the Big Ten. He finished the season with a 22-7 record and achieved all-american status. However, Abe missed all of last season due to injury, and hasn’t looked the same this season either. If Assad can remain injury free the sky’s the limit and he should again reach all-american status.
197 Jacob Warner will return for his senior season, with one goal: winning a NCAA title. He is already a 3x All-American, and will likely be a 4x all american at the conclusion of this season. Next year I see Warner finishing no lower than 3rd at the NCAA tournament and possibly winning the top prize.
HWT Tony Cassioppi Is one of the best heavyweights Iowa has ever had, and expectations will be sky high for him next season. At this point anything less than a national title will be disappointing for Tony.
If my predictions hold true, I see the Hawkeyes with 7 maybe 8 All-Americans with 3 in the finals. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Wyatt Henson surpass my expectations and reach the podium as well. The only real hole in the line up I see is at 157, however that could just be my lack of knowledge on the the wrestlers competing for the starting spot. I could also see someone transferring in to fill that spot. 184 also has some questions, will Assad be healthy enough to compete at the highest levels? Hopefully this question is answered before the conclusion of this season.
This talent rich team will likely feature 5 freshman, setting Iowa up for years to come. If that wasn’t enough, the Hawkeyes have an incredible recruiting class coming in the next two years. Yes, for the Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling program, the future looks bright!!!