InterMat has released their top 50 list for the 2017, to be junior class and making that list was two University of Iowa commits and two Iowa natives. The Hawkeyes are fortunate enough to have two commits already locked down for the coming season and since they wrestle for out-of-state powerhouses, fans should have plenty of opportunities to track their progress over the next two seasons.
California two-time state champion Justin Mejia leads all wrestlers with Iowa ties coming in ranked at #16 on the list. Mejia is definitely an interesting prospect hailing from the Golden State with only one high school athlete in state history ever completing the feat of winning four state titles. Last season Mejia won his state title at 113 pounds, and this year he figures to wrestle either 120 or 126 for his junior season. He projects as a 125 pound wrestler for the University of Iowa, but depending on factors could end up at 133.
Similar to Mejia, his fellow 2017 Hawkeye recruit Jason Renteria sits just a few spots lower at #21 in the latest rankings. Renteria wrestles for the Illinois powerhouse Oak Park River Forest and was the state runner-up at 113 pounds this past winter. Renteria also projects at to wrestle either 120 or 126 for the next season, and will also be in the 125/133 pound range when he gets to Iowa.
Leading all native Iowans is Creston’s Chase Shiltz, who earns the #35 ranking. After sustaining an injury in football that held him out the first part of the season, Shiltz really came on strong to win his first state title in the 2A 160 pound bracket. As a freshman Shiltz took second in at 145 pounds losing to Zach Skopec. The move up certainly appears to have a positive effect on Shiltz.
The other Iowa prep to make the top 50 was Western Dubuque’s Max Lyon, who finished runner-up in a tough 3A 170 bracket. Lyon had a dominant run to the state finals winning by fall and two major decisions to reach the Saturday night match where he faced off with Dowling’s Isaiah Patton. Patton who is a part of UNI’s #4 ranked recruiting class needed sudden victory to win his title over Lyon, and all you need to know is that Lyon has a bright future ahead of him in wrestling.