2023 NCAA Division I The Season: Iowa

 *NOTE* - I want to make it clear what this is and what this is not.  What this is NOT is an overview of the entire team. What this is, is a who’s who preview of THIS season 2022-2023. Meaning that I am going to talk about the starters who I feel will have an impact THIS year. Those who will win big matches in duals. Those who will earn placings in major tournaments like CKLV, RENO, MIDLANDS, MATMEN INVITE, SOUTHERN SCUFFLE, CONFERENCES & NCAA’s.  In some cases a weight class will have multiple talented wrestlers. I will note that & I will also be making posts later on about the best wrestle-offs to look forward to this season.  Then after that is determined I will make post later into the season of who our best backups are in the nation.

This post will NOT include redshirts. Those who are redshirting this season will be included in a separate post entitled “22’-23’ Best Redshirts.”  

Some of the heavy artillery from Iowa's incredible lineup from last season has since graduated as the Hawkeyes reload with an arsenal that will challenge for an NCAA team title.  Gone is Energizer Bunny Norman Bates Austin DeSanto who left plenty to be desired in terms of sportsmanship but always poured his heart & soul out on the mat in earning NCAA DI finishes of 5th-3rd-3rd during his time as a Hawkeye. His efforts were always a huge help to the Hawks in team points & his absence will be felt.  Also gone is Jaydin Eierman who despite missing out on his fifth All American honor last season, was also vital to many of Iowa's successes.  Kaleb Young, who in my opinion never got the credit or recognition he deserved, a two time All American has graduated as we also say goodbye to Alex Marinelli who with four BIG 10 titles, three Midlands titles & finishes of 6th-7th-5th at the NCAA's, I feel perfectly comfortable in naming one of the best ever to never make an NCAA finals. At 3rd-4th-2nd-4th we'll add Mike Kemerer to the list as one of the best to never win an NCAA title.  Last but certainly not least I'm going to throw in a word for Vince Turk. He may not have been the varsity starter last season but it is guys like him that help to pump the blood that beats the Heart of Iowa wrestling. 

125 lbs
Spencer Lee 

When it comes to all of the things there is to do in collegiate wrestling you can take an ink pen and check off damn near every box when it comes to the Iowa Hawkeyes. One of the only things they have yet to do is crown a four time NCAA Division I champion. This is the year to do it & the man's name is Spencer Lee. 

133 lbs
Brody Teske           OR     Cullan Schreiver 

The Black & Gold faithful are pretty excited about the incoming of transfer Brody Teske & they should be. The former Northern Iowa Panther is a two time NCAA Qualifier & a BIG 12 champion. However, I wouldn't count out Cullan Shreiver. A 15-5 record he has wins over Kyle Biscoglia of Nothern Iowa as well as Derek Spann of Buffalo.  Let's keep in mind that Teske is a 125'er moving up to 133 lbs. That 8 lbs of difference at these lower weights is pure muscle. This will be a wrestle-off worth paying attention to. 

141 lbs
Real Woods 

Winters are going to be quite a bit colder in Iowa City than what they were in California. Stanford transfer Real Woods has thus far earned three trips to the NCAA championships, a 6th place finish this past season.  17-4 on the season, he was also a Southern Scuffle champion. 

149 lbs
Max Murin 

R12 in 2019. R12 in 2021. R12 in 2022. Dear lord somebody rest assure me that Max Murin is going to make All American status this season. Hell, as far as I'm concerned he's good enough to make the finals. I think Yianni Diakomihalis is the armor that can't be penetrated but there's nobody else here that Murin can't beat. He's as good as NCAA DI silver as far as I'm concerned. 

157 lbs
Bretli Reyna 

If you would have told me that I'd live to see the day when the varsity lineup at Iowa would feature both a Californian & a Floridian, I don't think I would have believed it. Yet, here we are.  IMO his most impressive win last season was his 6-5 tiebreaker victory over Turk. Anxious to see what this kid can do. 

165 lbs 
Patrick Kennedy 

Now that the varsity spot is his & he has free range, I am very excited to see Patrick Kennedy in full gear. 17-3 on the season, he was 6th at the Southern Scuffle.  In order for Iowa to make up for what they have lost in starters DeSanto, Eierman, Young, Marinelli & Kemerer, they are going to have to have guys step up & go above & beyond. I think Kennedy will do just that. 

174 lbs
Nelson Brands          OR    Brennan Swafford 

This is the wrestle-off I am looking most forward to when it comes to Iowa. 2021 NCAA qualifier Nelson Brands against two time NAIA national champion Brennan Swafford who finished 6th at the Southern Scuffle last season. I would say that this inner-feud will not be settled by the results of a first wrestle-off. Whether Iowa competes in the Midlands or the Mat Men Invitational this season, I would say that would be when we know who's suiting up for sure come March. 

184 lbs
Abe Assad 

A two time NCAA DI qualifier, it was a disappointing end to the season last year for Abe Assad. He has the tools to be an All American this season. 

197 lbs
Jacob Warner 

Senior Jacob Warner really stepped it up a notch last season & showed what he was made of by make the NCAA finals. The three time All American (7th in 19' & 4th in 21') will need to continue down that path & prove himself NCAA champion worthy as the Hawks prove themselves NCAA team champion worthy. 

HWT 
Tony Cassioppi 

3rd in 2021, Tony Cassioppi finished 7th in the nation this past season. As of right now, he seems to have Penn State's Greg Kerkvliet all figured out, but it is Michigan's Mason Parris who is giving him fits. BIG 10's, NCAA's, he'll need to figure out the Wolverine. He'll have other challenges this season, but if he makes the types of improvements that it's almost certain that he did, he too will challenge for an individual NCAA title.