Iowa Sends 11 to Soldier Salute Finals

CORALVILLE, Iowa – The second-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team has 11 finalists at eight different weight classes heading into Friday night’s finals at Soldier Salute at Xtream Arena. Iowa leads the team race with 187 points.

There will be Hawkeye vs. Hawkeye matchups at 125, 149 and 197 pounds. Iowa went 11-2 during its semifinal matches and one wrestler – senior Brennan Swafford – medically forfeited.

Top-ranked Spencer Lee started things off with a 15-5 major decision over Wyoming’s Jore Volk and sophomore Drake Ayala followed with a 5-2 win over Army’s Ethan Berginc to set up the first all-Iowa final at 125.

The Hawkeyes got a decision from Cullan Schriever at 133 when he knocked off Army’s Ryan Franco, 8-2, and senior Real Woods followed with a 12-1 major decision over South Dakota State’s Caleb Gross to advance at 141.

At 149, senior Max Murin moved on to the final with an 8-3 win over Hawkeye teammate Joel Jesuroga and redshirt freshman Caleb Rathjen advanced to meet Murin in the final after defeating Anthony Echmendia, 4-3.

Sophomore Patrick Kennedy and junior Abe Assad advanced at 165 and 184 pounds, respectively. Kennedy won a 9-6 decision over Wyoming’s Cole Moody and Assad posted a 9-6 decision over South Dakota State’s Roman Rogotzke.

Senior Jacob Warner moved on at 197 with a 4-1 win over UNI’s Wyatt Voelker to set up a final matchup against Iowa freshman Kolby Franklin. Franklin got the best of teammate Zach Glazier in the other semifinal, winning 4-3.

Senior Tony Cassioppi continued his fall streak, pinning the Jackrabbits’ Luke Rasmussen in 2:17 to advance at 285. Cassioppi has pinned his way through the tournament heading into tonight’s finals bout.

The final session begins at 6 p.m. (CT) and it will be streamed live on B1G+.

SEMIFINALS RESULTS
125 – Spencer Lee (UI) major dec. Jore Volk (WYO), 15-5
125 – Drake Ayala (UI-UNA) dec. Ethan Berginc (Army), 5-2
133 – Cullan Schriever (UI) dec. Ryan Franco (Army), 8-2
141- Real Woods (UI) major dec. Caleb Gross (SDSU), 12-1
149 – Max Murin (UI) dec. Joel Jesuroga (UI-UNA), 8-3
149 – Caleb Rathjen (UI) dec. Anthony Echmendia (ISU-UNA), 4-3
165 – Patrick Kennedy (UI) dec. Cole Moody (WYO), 9-6
174 – Benjamin Pasiuk (Army) medical forfeit over Brennan Swafford (UI-UNA)
184 – Abe Assad (UI) dec. Roman Rogotzke (SDSU), 9-6
197 – Jacob Warner (UI) dec. Wyatt Voelker (UNI), 4-1
197 – Kolby Franklin (UI-UNA) dec. Zach Glazier (UI), 4-3
285 – Tony Cassioppi (UI) pinned Luke Rasmussen (SDSU), 2:17

CONSOLATION RESULTS
125 – Trevor Anderson (UNA) major dec. Charles Matthews (UI), 12-1
125 – Charles Matthews (UI) medical forfeit Tony Burke (VMI)
125 – Garret Ricks (WYO) major dec. Charles Matthews (UI), 16-2
133 – Jace Rhodes (UI-UNA) dec. Dylan Coy (WIS-UNA), 6-2
133 – Jace Rhodes (UI-UNA) dec. Ryan Franco (ARMY), 5-2
141 – Drew Bennett (UI) dec. Darren Green (WYO), 3-1 (SV1)
141 – Caleb Gross (SDSU) dec. Drew Bennett (UI), 8-6 (SV1)
149 – Leif Schroeder (UI) medical forfeit Gable Fox (UNI)
149 – Leif Schroeder (UI) dec. Matthew Williams (ARMY), 10-3 – 9th place
149 – Wil Guida (UNC) dec. Joel Jesuroga (UI-UNA), 8-1
149 – Cade Siebrecht (UI-UNA) dec. Aiden Medora (UNA), 5-3
149 – Cade Siebrecht (UI-UNA) dec. Carson DesRosier (CIT), 4-3
149 – Logan Brown (ARMY) major dec. Cade Siebrecht (UI-UNA), 13-0
165 – Aiden Riggins (UI) dec. Braxton Lewis (VMI), 8-3
165 – Dalton Harkins (ARMY) dec. Aiden Riggins (UI), 5-2
165 – Drake Rhodes (UI-UNA) dec. Geno Quodala (Navy), 4-0
165 – Cole Moody (WYO) dec. Drake Rhodes (UI-UNA), 8-7
165 – Cole Nance (BU) dec. Carson Martinson (UI-UNA), 6-4
165 – Carson Martinson (UI-UNA) medical forfeit Raheem Rahamatulla (UNA)
165 – Carson Martinson (UI-UNA) pinned Alex. Rivera (BU), 1:41
174 – Devan Hendricks (BU) medical forfeit Brennan Swafford (UI-UNA)
174 – Graham Calhoun (WIS-UNA) medical forfeit Brennan Swafford (UI-UNA)
184 – Guillermo Escobedo (WYO) pinned Aidan McCain (UI-UNA), 1:47
184 – Micah Dicarlo (CIT) dec. Aidan McCain (UI-UNA), 7-3
184 – Mickey Griffith (UI-UNA) pinned Jai Sodhi (UNA), 0:24
184 – Mickey Griffith (UI-UNA) major dec. Kennedy Wyatt (BU), 12-1
184 – Eric Vermillion (IND TECH) wins by injury Mickey Griffith (UI-UNA), 2:33
197 – Zach Glazier (UI) pinned Tyler Mousaw (VMI), 2:00
285 – Bradley Hill (UI-UNA) dec. Terren Swartz (WYO), 3-2
285 – Gannon Rosenfeld (UW) dec. Bradley Hill (UI-UNA), 9-5
285 – Dan Conley (COL) medical forfeit Gage Marty (UI-UNA)
285 – Easton Fleshman (UI-UNA) dec. Jonah Schmidtke (UNA), 3-1
285 – Thad Huff (BU) dec. Easton Fleshman (UI-UNA), 3-1

FINALS MATCHUPS
125 – Spencer Lee (UI) vs. Drake Ayala (UI-UNA)
133 – Cullan Schriever (UI) vs. Angelo Rini (COL)
141 – Real Woods (UI) vs. Julian Sanchez (ARMY)
149 – Max Murin (UI) vs. Caleb Rathjen (UI)
165 – Patrick Kennedy (UI) vs. Jack Thomsen (SDSU-UNA)
184 – Abe Assad (UI) vs. Bennett Berge (SDSU-UNA)
197 – Jacob Warner (UI) vs. Kolby Franklin (UI-UNA)
285 – Tony Cassioppi (UI) vs. Ryan Catka (NAVY)

CONSOLATION MATCHUPS
133 – Jace Rhodes (UI-UNA) vs. Brendan Ferretti (NAVY) – 3rd place/4th place
141 – Drew Bennett (UI) vs. Jager Eisch (MINN-UNA) – 5th place/6th place
149 – Joel Jesuroga (UI-UNA) vs. Danny Fongaro (COL) – 5th place/6th place
165 – Drake Rhodes (UI-UNA) vs. Aiden Riggins (UI) – 5th place/6th place
197 – Zach Glazier (UI) vs. Wyatt Voelker (UNI-UNA) – 3rd place/4th place

(UI-UNA = Wrestling unattached)