Future Hawkeye Mike Kemerer named InterMat All-American

Today, InterMat released their All-Americans and Wrestler of the Year awards and among the list was two future Hawkeyes. Taking home the Wrestler of the Year honors was the nation’s top ranked junior prospect Mark Hall of Apple Valley. Hall recently captured a fifth state title for his powerhouse program in Minnesota and has been considered the nation’s top pound-for-pound high school wrestlers for the entirety of the 2015 season.

Bringing home All-American honors was 2015 Hawkeye signee Michael Kemerer at 145 pounds, who edged Iowan Max Thomsen for the top spot in the final rankings. Thomsen and Kemerer have met on three occasions in the past six months, with Kemerer taking the first two and Thomsen taking the most recent. Kemerer earned victories at the Super 32 preseason tournament and then again at the Dapper Dan over the four-time Iowa state champion, but Thomsen flipped the script at the Dream Team classic by winning 6-4. According to InterMat, Kemerer earned the #1 spot despite his loss for having a more impressive national resume in addition to having an advantage in the series vs Thomsen.

Kemerer’s resume is highly impressive as he made his fourth Super 32 finals and capture his second title, won a Walsh Ironman title, made his fourth trip to the PowerAde and captured his third title, made his fourth Pennsylvania state finals capturing his first title, and took out eight nationally ranked opponents during the regular season alone.

Also earning an All-American honor was 2016 Hawkeye verbal Alex Marinelli, who was also named the Ohio wrestler of the year last week by InterMat Ohio. Marinelli had quite the year earning a Super 32 runner-up in Novemeber and hasn’t lost a match since. He captured his fist Walsh Ironman title by defeating then #1 ranked Mason Manville 3-1 in the finals and won his third Ohio state championship for St. Paris Graham. He also earned an impressive post season victory over Josh Shields at AGON V.

Rankings and Notes from InterMat:

106-
#18 Brody Teske (Fort Dodge) – After a FR NHSCA runner-up finish, the 3A state champion has jumped up two spots in the final national rankings

113-
#2 Justin Mejia (Iowa 2017 verbal) – Falls one spot after losing to Austin Gomez at AGON V
#3 Jason Renteria (Iowa 2017 verbal)
#12 Jack Wagner (Bettendorf)

120-
#9 Brock Rathbun (Center Point)
#18 Jacob Schwarm (Bettendorf – UNI 2015 signee)

126-
#11 Markus Simmons (ISU 2015 signee)
#17 Nolan Hellickson (Southeast Polk – 2015 Harvard signee)

138-
#11 Carter Happel (Lisbon)

145-
#1 Michael Kemerer (Iowa 2015 signee)
#2 Max Thomsen (Union – UNI 2015 signee)
#3 Fredy Stroker (Bettendorf – Minnesota 2015 signee)
#9 Vince Turk (Iowa 2015 signee)

152-
#15 Kaleb Young (Iowa 2016 verbal)

160-
#1 Alex Marinelli (Iowa 2016 verbal)
#3 Bryce Steiert (Waverly-Shell Rock – UNI 2015 signee)
#6 Dayton Racer (Bettendorf – Virginia Tech 2015 verbal)
#16 Paden Moore (UNI 2015 verbal)

170-
#16 Jacob Holschlag (Union – UNI 2015 signee)
#17 Colston DiBlasi (ISU 2015 signee)
#18 Isaiah Patton (Dowling Catholic – UNI 2015 signee)

182-
#4 Taylor Lujan (UNI 2015 signee)
#18 Evan Hansen (Exira – 2015 Grand View singee)

195-
#12 Cash Wilcke (OA-BCIG – Iowa 2015 signee)
#13 Steve Holloway (Mediapolis)
#19 Sam Cook (Fort Dodge)

220-
#5 Ryan Parmely (Maquoketa Valley – Upper Iowa 2015 commit)
#9 Ethan Andersen (Southeast Polk – Missouri 2016 verbal)
#11 Gannon Gremmel (Dubuque Hempstead)
#13 Cordell Eaton (North Scott – North Dakota State 2015 verbal)

285-
#3 Jacob Marnin (Southeast Polk – Southern Illinois football)
#13 Landan Paulsen (Woodbury Central – Iowa football)