This weekend, on April 11th at the Independence high school, Team Iowa will take on the Dream Team in an all-star battle for bragging rights. Below are the predicted matchups for the two teams, and the IA Wrestle team has gone ahead and highlighted matchups and give a breakdown of the two wrestlers.
The event gets underway at 6:00 PM, with tickets available at the door. For those interested in following along with the event, but are unable to attend can do so through Hupke Wrestling Productions by clicking the “Watch Live” link to catch the action. The webcast is scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM.
Projected matchups for Iowa vs USA Dream Team
113 – #13 Brennen Doebel – Clear Lake vs #2 Devin Brown – (Franklin Regional, PA) (West Virginia)
120 – #11 Jacob Schwarm – Bettendorf (UNI Commit) vs (Unknown)
126 – #10 Nolan Hellickson – Southeast Polk (Harvard) vs #6 Eli Seipel (St. Paris Graham, OH) (Wisconsin)
132 – #22 Paul Glynn – Bettendorf (Iowa) vs #1 Kaid Brock (Stillwater, OK) (Oklahoma State)
138 – Josh Wenger – Prairie, Cedar Rapids (Grand View) vs #1 Sam Krivus (Hempfield, PA) (Virginia)
145 – #3 Max Thomsen – Union, La Porte City (UNI) vs #1 Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional, PA) (Iowa) or #5 Tristan Moran (Stillwater, OK) (Oklahoma State)
152 – Chase Straw – Independence (Iowa State) vs #1 Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh CC, PA) (Penn State)
160 – #7 Bryce Steiert – Waverly-Shell Rock (UNI) vs #3 Josh Shields (Franklin Regional, PA) (Arizona State)
170 – #11 Jacob Hoschlag – Union, La Porte City (UNI) vs #25 Luke Entzel (Missoula Big Sky, MT)
182 – #16 Evan Hansen – Elk Horn Exira (Grand View) vs #7 Kollin Moore (Norwayne, OH) (Ohio State)
195 – #8 Cash Wilcke – OA-BCIG -(Odebolt Arther-Battle Creek-Ida Grove) (Iowa) or #10 Steven Holloway Mediapolis vs #2 Bobby Steveson (Apple Valley, MN) (Minnesota) or #7 Tyler Johnson (Lockport, IL) (NC State)
220 – #6 Ryan Parmely – Maquoketa Valley (Upper Iowa) vs Jay Nino, (Genoa, OH) (Notre Dame)
285 – Mario Pena – Hampton-Dumont vs #4 Tate Orndorff (University, WA) (Oregon State)
**(Rankings are Wrestling USA National Rankings)
Ross Bartachek: 113 – #13 Brennen Doebel – Clear Lake vs #2 Devin Brown – Franklin Regional, PA (West Virginia)
This should be an a good matchup for Team Iowa as Doebel is coming off a strong fourth place finish at folkstyle nationals this past weekend, and was a state champion for Clear Lake this year. His opponent will be West Virginia commit Devin Brown of Franklin Regional. Brown is coming off a strong all-star performance at the Dapper Dan when he upset the then #1 ranked wrestler Jabari Moody.
Kirk Crittenden: 126 – #10 Nolan Hellickson – Southeast Polk (Harvard) vs #6 Eli Seipel – St. Paris Graham, OH (Pittsburgh)
Nolan Hellickson will be representing team Iowa at 126, the senior from SE Polk has been a solid piece of the Rams lineup for the last 3 years. Over those 3 years he was at Polk, Nolan won 135 matches to just 3 defeats placing 3rd, 3rd and 1st at the Iowa State Tournament. Hellickson is great at staying in good position and will look to score from his feet early. Look for the Harvard recruit to get the home crowd on their feet with a big win over the future Pittsburgh grappler.
For Team USA at 126 we will see Eli Seipel out of the very well known Graham High School in St Paris, Ohio coached by former Wisconsin All-American Jeff Jordan. The 4-time Ohio state place winner is coming off a season where he won the prestigious Ironman title and helped his team claim their 15 straight State title. Seipel is committed to the University of Pittsburgh and coach Jason Peters. Seipel was also named to the All-Ohio third team at 126 by Josh Lowe.
Ross Bartachek: 132 – #22 Paul Glynn – Bettendorf (Iowa) vs #1 Kaid Brock – Stillwater, OK (Oklahoma State)
Glynn has proven he is a tough wrestler as he has finished runner-up back-to-back years in the state of Iowa, but he will be going up against the best in #1 Kaid Brock. Brock is headed to his local Oklahoma State for his college and is a part of what could be a top five recruiting class for John Smith. Glynn is following in his father’s footsteps and is headed to the University of Iowa.
Ross Bartachek: 138 – Josh Wenger – Prairie, Cedar Rapids (Grand View) vs #1 Sam Krivus – Hempfield, PA (Virginia)
3A state champion Josh Wenger will look to take on another #1 ranked wrestling in Sam Krivus who is a Virginia commit. Both Krivus and Wenger were in the same bracket at Super 32 and while the two never met, Krivus wound up winning the 138 pound bracket, while Wenger didn’t even make the round of 12. Wenger is headed to NAIA champions Grand View for college.
Nic Ryder: 145 – #10 Max Thomsen – Union, Le Porte City (UNI) vs #1 Michael Kemerer – Franklin Regional, PA (Iowa)
This will be the third matchup between Thomsen and Kemerer, with Kemerer holding a 2-0 lead in the series. Thomsen has closed the gap a bit after a 9-3 loss at the Super 32 this past season, dropping a 6-3 decision to the future Hawkeye at Dapper Dan. Kemerer was the last wrestler to defeat Thomsen in folkstyle.
The future Panther last saw time on the mat at the Border Brawl, where he defeated Austin Eveler 12-2. Thomsen is the most recent four-time Iowa State Champion, and holds the record for most wins as an Iowa prep with 210. We last saw Kemerer in action at Agon V, where he defeated Freddy Stroker 5-4. Kemerer improved to 1-2 against Stroker, scoring the deciding points on a late takedown in the match.
Ross Bartachek: 152 – Chase Straw – Independence (Iowa State) vs #1 Vincenzo Joseph – Pittsburgh CC, PA (Penn State)
Four weights in a row an Iowa wrestler could face a top #1 ranked wrestler and while all Iowans face a tough challenge in knocking off the top ranked wrestler, Straw may have the biggest challenge yet. The future Cyclone captured his first state title this past season for Independence (who also happens to host the Classic) will be going against Penn State bound Vincenzo Joseph, who is a top five ranked wrestler in the 2015 recruiting class. The only wrestler to give Joseph fits in the past 10 months was Isaiah White of OPRF, but everyone else he has handled with relative ease. Prime example might be his 14-4 major decision over Iowan Fredy Stroker at the Dapper Dan.
Lars Underbakke: 160 – #7 Bryce Steiert – Waverly-Shell Rock, IA vs #3 Josh Shields – Franklin Regional, PA
At 160 pounds team Iowa will send out 2 time state champion Bryce Steiert of Waverly Shell Rock. Steiert placed 7th at state as a freshman and 2nd as a Sophomore before winning 2 consecutive titles to cap off a great high school career. His latest state title came in perhaps the most anticipated final of the year as he knocked off nationally ranked Dayton Racer of Bettendorf. Steiert also raised his stock when he placed 4th in freestyle at Fargo last summer. Steiert is ranked 4th in the country at 160 pounds by InterMat and is committed to wrestle for coach Doug Schwab at the University of Northern Iowa in college.
Team USA will be represented by Josh Shields of Franklin Regional high school in Pennsylvania who comes in with a career record of 164-18. Shields is a 3 time state place winner with 6th, 3rd and 2nd place finishes at the PA state tournament. Shields also placed 3rd at both Fargo and Flonationals in 2014. This will be the second time that he will wrestle in eastern Iowa in 8 days as he lost to Iowa commit Alex Marinelli at AGONV in Cedar Rapids last Friday. Shields is ranked 2nd in the country at 160 pounds by InterMat and is committed to wrestle for coach Zeke Jones at Arizona State University in college.
Ross Bartachek: 170 – #11 Jacob Hoschlag – Union, La Porte City (UNI) vs #25 Luke Entzel – Missoula Big Sky, MT
Iowa will look to take a win in a match that they should be the big favorite in when 2A state champion Jacob Hoschlag takes that mat against his Dream Team opponent. Hoschlag started his tournament off on the right foot as he captured the preseason folkstyle national title in Cedar Falls. Hoschlag then went on to win the 2A state title helping his team to a runner-up finish. He followed that up with a third place finish at the postseason folkstyle national tournament, losing to the eventual runner-up. Hoschlag committed to wrestle for Doug Schwab at the University of Northern Iowa where he is a part of the top ten ranked recruiting class.
His opponent will be Montana state champion Luke Entzel of Missoula, Big Sky high school. Entzel dominated the Montana state tournament by earning three falls and also picked up a major decision en route to his title. Of those pins, two of them came within the first period, with his third fall coming in 2:28 in the finals. It was the third state title for the Montana native.
Ross Bartachek: 182 – #16 Evan Hansen – Elk Horn Exira (Grand View) vs #7 Kollin Moore – Norwayne, OH (Ohio State)
Hansen put together a solid junior season, one that saw him capture his first Iowa high school state title and because of his domiance opened the season at #9 on Iowa’s pound-for-pound senior list. This past season was also a good one for the Grand View bound Hansen as he went undefeated capturing his second state title for Exira. His opponent will be Ohio state champion Kollin Moore who is headed to NCAA team champion Ohio State squad.
Eric Schares: 195 – #9 Cash Wilcke – OA-BCIG (Iowa) vs. #2 Bobby Steveson – Apple Valley, MN (Minnesota)
Wilcke has committed to The University of Iowa while Steveson has committed to The U in Minnesota. Both wrestlers are projected at 184lbs in college. Could this be a preview of many matches to come? Steveson was a 2014 Fargo Freestyle National Champ at 195lbs while Wilcke finished 6th at 182lbs. The Apple Valley Senior dropped just 1 bout all season losing 3-2 to Lance Benick of Totino Grace Minnesota. Steveson was a state champion in Indiana before transferring to Apple Valley and winning Minnesota State Titles his Junior and Senior seasons. Wilcke was a 2x state champ for OA-BCIG.
#10 Steven Holloway – Mediapolis vs. Tyler Johnson – Lockport, IL (NC State)
Steven won the 2A 195 title for Mediapolis this last February. He only had 1 loss on the season to Keegan Moore of Jackson County, MN. Holloway is a 4x state qualifier placing 2nd as a Sophomore and winning titles his Junior and Senior seasons. Tyler Johnson of Lockport comes in as the 4th place finisher at 195 in Illinois class 3A. Johnson is a 3x state qualifier with his top honor coming last year where he finished 2nd. The Lockport Senior is ranked #48 in the InterMat’s Senior Recruiting Class and has committed to NC State. He is projected to wrestle 197.
Ross Bartachek: 220 – #6 Ryan Parmely – Maquoketa Valley (Upper Iowa) vs Jay Nino – Genoa, OH (Notre Dame)
This is an interesting matchup between two future Division II wrestlers. Parmely is a two-time state champion and four-time state place winner for Maquoketa Valley. Not only is Parmely accomplished on the mat, he is a very good football player and is headed to Upper Iowa for the chance to play both sports. Nino is also a two-time state champion and will be continuing his career at Notre Dame (home of DII’s most dominant wrestler Joey Davis). Parmely is the heavy favorite in the match, and is one of the nation’s best upper-weight’s at the 220 pound weight class.
Ross Bartachek: 285 – Mario Pena – Hampton-Dumont vs #4 Tate Orndorff – University, WA (Oregon State)
In what should have been a great heavyweight battle between to very familiar opponents it looks like Hampton-Dumont’s Mario Pena will be given the nod for Team Iowa. Pena was a state runner-up this psat season in the 2A state championships, falling in sudden victory to Iowa State bound Alex Silberstein of Ballard. Orndorff is a two-time state champion in Washington and is headed to Oregon State to wrestle for former Hawkeye star Jimmy Zalesky. Without Marnin this is a match that should favor Team USA, but one big move can change everything.