FARGO, N.D. – Incoming University of Iowa wrestler Ryder Block won a national title at the Junior Nationals Freestyle Championships on Wednesday at the Fargo Dome. Block and incoming freshman Kale Petersen both earned All-America honors.
Block and Petersen were joined by incoming teammate Koye Grebel. Iowa’s three wrestlers in attendance posted a 17-3 record during the tournament.
Block rolled to his second Junior National title at 138 pounds, winning his seven matches by a combined score of 75-10. The Waverly, Iowa, native defeated California’s Daniel Zepeda in the title bout, 10-0.
Petersen made it all the way to finals before falling to Kyler Larkin of Arizona, 8-0. Petersen won his first six matches to earn All-America status. Petersen outscored his opponents, 56-20.
Grebel won his first two matches before losing to Block, 17-5, in a matchup of future Hawkeyes. He rattled off two more wins before falling to Tony Woods of Indiana, 13-11, to end his tournament.
Fargo All-Americans
Kale Petersen – 2nd place – 132 pounds
Ryder Block – 1st place – 128 pounds
Individual Results
Kale Petersen (132) – All-American (Second Place)
Def. Maddox McArthur (Georgia), 10-0
Def. Noah Torres (Arizona), 10-0
Def. Carson Bissey (Illinois), 12-0
Def. William Dekraker (New Jersey), 6-0
Def. Matthew Botello (Massachusetts), 9-6
Def. Dalton Perry (Pennsylvania), 9-6
Lost Kyler Larkin (Arizona), 8-0
Ryder Block (138) – All-American (First Place)
Def. Dylan Sherman (Connecticut), 8-0
Def. Nicholas Blackburn (Ohio), 10-0
Def. Koye Grebel (North Dakota), 17-5
Def. Chase Van Hoven (Virginia), 11-0
Def. Paul Kelly (California), 13-2
Def. Landon Robideau (Minnesota), 6-3
Def. Daniel Zepeda (California), 10-0
Koye Grebel (138)
Def. Taylor Tan (California), 10-0
Def. Quentin Harding (Washington), 11-0
Lost Ryder Block (Iowa), 17-5
Def. Gavin Suica (Pennsylvania), 11-0
Def. Charles Curtis (Ohio), 14-4
Lost Tony Wood (Indiana), 13-11