There was a time when the Hawkeyes & the Cyclones ruled the world of NCAA Division I within the state of wrestling also known as Iowa, as the Panthers sat back and accepted their place. Those days are over. It's all gold, and the purple wants in on it every bit as much as the black & cardinal, and they aren't taking a backseat to anyone. Will I live to see the day when all three DI schools in Iowa take home a team trophy from the NCAA tournament in the same season? I think that's a very real possibility. Doug Schwab continues to build something strong in Cedar Falls.
If you've ever been to a dual at Carver Hawkeye, you know that magic of that atmosphere. Having to walk half a mile from where you parked. Surrounded by 15,000 screaming people. The environment is electric. Hilton Coliseum is just as intense. It's 5 degrees outside on a freezing cold Sunday & you're in a sea of cardinal & gold ready to watch the Clones go to war. Schwab has the exact same thing going on when his Panthers get ready to do battle in the UNI Dome or at the McLeod Center. You want to hear the loudest sounds in Blackhawk county? It's not the jets at the Waterloo Airport. It's not the machines at John Deere. It's the purple & gold faithful screaming their heads off for Northern Iowa wrestling.
I told Doug Schwab that I bet he beats the all-time attendance record this year when he host Iowa for a home dual. I sincerely believe that will be the case, and I'll be one of the ones in attendance for it. While he does lose some talent, he brings back one of his best squads ever.
Gone...
"Leave it all out on the mat" was a saying my Coach told us multiple times every season & you tell me if anyone resembled that mark better than Julian Farber. The three-time NCAA DI qualifier took 3rd at the BIG 12's the past two seasons in a row, and those two bronze medals came via a guy who went 100% all 7 minutes. The Georgia native never did earn All-American honors, but in his last match he gave a 2025 NCAA DI champion probably the hardest fought victory of his life, in a 5-4 classic. Not sure what the future has in store for Farber, but if they're looking for someone to play Gambit in the next X-MEN movie, I found their man.
Kyle Gollhofer another Georgia native, I believe is also out of eligibility. I'm not 100% positive that he's done, but I'm pretty sure he is.
Jack Thomsen was not varsity this past season, but he was an NCAA DI qualifier in 2024 & 2025.
Jarred Simma ends his career at three-time NCAA DI qualifier.
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| 125 Trever Anderson |
One match from being an NCAA DI All-American in 2025, many were not happy that Trever Anderson was left off the At-Large Wildcard list for 2026. Anderson included. Among his wins last season a 12-0 major decision over Mack Mauger & an 8-7 decision over Jett Strickenberger.
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| 133 Garrett Rinkin |
Garrett Rinkin went 18-5 last year as a reserve for Julian Farber. Among his wins, a 6-3 victory over Marcel Lopez & for whatever it is worth, a 10-9 decision over Richard Figuera.
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| 141 Cory Land |
It seems at Northern Iowa they're either locals or Georgians, and in this case it's a Georgian. Cory Land unfortunately ended up hurt last season, but showed on more than one occasion what he's capable of moving forward. A 9-8 win over two-time All-American Vance VomBaur.
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| 149 Caleb Rathjen |
Caleb Rathjen enters '26-'27 with back-to-back BIG 12 finals appearances.
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| 157 R.J. Weston |
It was a roller coaster of a season for R.J. Weston last year, but among his ups, a 4-3 win over Laird Root.
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| 165 Ryder Downey |
76 career wins, Ryder Downey has thus far been one match away from being an All-American twice in his career. He'll look to surpass that 100 win mark & earn that top 8 finish in 2027.
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| 174 Izzy Moreno |
Among those from Iowa & those from Georgia, Izzy Moreno happens to be from Montana. I think he's capable of doing some good things for the purple & gold this year.
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| 184 Nick Fox |
The Osage native was an NCAA DI qualifier for the Panthers las season.
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| 184 Waylon Cressell |
I'll be anxious to see with both Nick Fox & Waylon Cressell at 184, if one doesn't move up to 197. Cressell has already competed at 197, and I wouldn't be surprised if ends up being him. State titles in both North Dakota & Indiana, he also accomplished things in & for the state of Iowa. So don't ask me where he's from, I'll just say, "Oh, here and there." Ask me where he is? Northern Iowa!
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| HWT Wyatt Voelker |
One match from being an All-American at 197 lbs in 2025 & hurt last season, I have high expectations for Wyatt Voelker in 2026-2027. Among the testimony, a 5-1 win over Ashton Davis, an 8-5 win over Luke Luffman & a 21-6 tech over Jarrett Stoner.
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