149 is another fairly deep weight class for Iowa, with a returning leader and several strong back-ups.
Max Murin
Max is a familiar face within the Iowa program. He came to the Hawkeyes as a 2x Pennsylvania state champion, and has compiled a 69-26 career record. Despite battling injuries the last couple of years, Max has been a consistent leader both on and off the mat. If Max can shake the injury bug, he has the potential to finish high on the podium at the NCAA tournament.
Caleb Rathjen
Caleb was a 2x state runner up and a 2x Iowa state champion. He was also a 2x Fargo all-american in freestyle. Last season he won the Last Chance Open, and had a 4-1 record competing unattached.
Bretli Reyna
Bretli was a 4x Florida high school state champion,and had an impressive 223-8 record. Last season he had a 6-2 record at 149 pounds while competing unattached.
Cobe Siebrecht
Cobe was a state champion from nearby Lisbon High School. At Iowa Cobe has a 16-6 record, and won the title at the Luther Open.
Carter Martinson
Carter is another 4x Iowa state place winner from Southeast Polk High School. He will add depth to the weight class.
Joel Jesuroga
Is a former IHSAA state champion from South East Polk High School. Its unsure if Joel will compete at 141 or 149, so he will be entered on both listings. Joel is a serious talent with a very high ceiling. Its expected that he will redshirt this season.
At the conclusion of the 21-22 season Iowa lost its long time starter Kaleb Young to graduation. 157 appears to be a very thin weight class for the Hawkeyes. Hopefully someone can move up from 149, or maybe a transfer will find his way into the room.
Jack McClimon
Jack is an Illinois native and finished runner up at the 2021 IHSA state tournament. Last season Jack posted a 2-7 record at 165 pounds while competing unattached.
Joe Kelly
Joe is a 4x Iowa state place winner, finishing 8th, 2nd, 3rd, and 3rd, at nearby West Liberty. Joe has a 14-12 record at Iowa, and has competed at 157 and 165.
Jude Link
Jude was a Minnesota high school state champion last season at 160 pounds. He was also a 2x state runner-up, while compiling an impressive 150-15 record.
Carson Martinson
Carson is another multi time state place winner from Southeast Polk High School. He will join his brother Carter at Iowa, and both will contend for a starting spot.
Bretli Reyna
Bretli was a 4x Florida high school state champion,and had an impressive 223-8 record. Last season he had a 6-2 record at 149 pounds while competing unattached. Its unsure weather Bretli will compete at 149 or 157.
Aiden Riggins
Aiden is another Blue Chip recruit for the Hawkeyes. In high school he was a 2x state champion going 84-0 his final two years. He also placed 2nd and 3rd as a sophomore and freshman. Riggins was also a 2022 Fargo National Champion, and a U15 runner-up at the Junior World Team Trials. He had a high school record of 170-4. Riggins May compete at 157 or 165.
The graduation of Alex Marinelli has left a huge hole that needs to be filled at 165 pounds. Luckily for Iowa fans, they have a blue chip recruit who is more than ready to step up and man the spot.
Will Carano
Will was a 3x section 1, division II champion, champion from New York. He also placed 5th at the Eastern States Classic. Last season Will, red-shirted and did not compete.
Sebastian Robles
Sebastian is a 2x Arizona state champion, when he competed at Sunnyside High School. (The same school the produced Roman Bravo-Young and Jesse Ybarra) He red-shirted last season and had a 12-4 record while competing unattached.
Patrick Kennedy
Patrick was a 4x state champion, in wrestling rich Minnesota, he also won a Fargo title and even the prestigious Super 32 title in 2018. Kennedy will make an immediate impact for the team, and will likely finish high on the podium at the end of the season. He has an overall record of 19-4, while competing unattached.
Drake Rhodes
Drake was a 3x Montana State Champion with a 134-7 career high school record, including a perfect junior and senior season. Drake will add depth to the weight class.
Aiden Riggins
Aiden is another Blue Chip recruit for the Hawkeyes. In high school he was a 2x state champion going 84-0 his final two years. He also placed 2nd and 3rd as a sophomore and freshman. Riggins was also a 2022 Fargo National Champion, and a U15 runner-up at the Junior World Team Trials. He had a high school record of 170-4. Aiden may compete at 157 or 165.
The middleweights seem a little thin compared to the lightweights, but this is still a solid group. Murin is a serious threat to reach the podium for his senior season, and I also see Kennedy as an all-american in March. 157 is wide open and I’m not sure on who the starter will even be at this point. Thanks for reading.
To see the Lightweight Depth Chart 125-141, click here.