A year ago, it was three Iowans who took Ohio by surprise as Ethan Andersen, Carter Happel, and Drew West all took tournament titles to represent Team USA in the Czech Republic at the Cadet World Championships. This year Drew West is the only Iowan who will look to defend his title, but at least one other Iowan is considered a legitimate title threat.
Kyle Biscoglia of Waukee may be the name to watch this weekend in the 46 KG weight class with him currently being ranked #9 according to Flowrestling. Willie Saylor even went as far as to pick the Iowan as his favorite to win the weight class(Requires FloPro $$). Saylor makes his prediction based off of the Waukee wrestlers folkstyle national championship performance earlier this year, where he beat the second Cody Phippen.
Bryce West and Drew West each placed fifth and sixth respectively a year ago at this tournament, and it won’t get any easier this year. This weight class features four highly ranked wrestlers: Spencer Lee, Daton Fix, Austin Gomez, and Cade Olivas. This is as good a time as any for the West twins to make some noise. In the other style Drew won this tournament a year ago, but his brother Bryce was the Fargo runner-up so both should be in contention for that title.
Ryan Leisure will be fun to watch in Greco-Roman at 58 KG. After finishing runner-up as a freshman, Leisure recently captured his first state title this past year for Clear Lake. He also competed at the Northern Plains Regional, where he won his bracket over some of Iowa’s biggest names at his weight. Among that group was a top 100 senior Nolan Hellickson, and the state’s top ranked freshman Alex Thomsen. Leisure definitely fits the bill as one to watch.
AJ Geers will also be making his return to Cadet Nationals. Last year he lost to some tough opponents like Kaleb Young (top 50 2016 recruit) in freestyle and Mason Manville (top 10 2016 recruit) in Greco.
Saylor lists Conrad Braswell as one of the top four contenders in the 42 KG weight class, and Billy Higgins will be competing in both styles. Higgins was an All-American in Greco last year at Fargo.
Freestyle
42 KG Conrad Braswell (8th) DC Elite
46 KG Kyle Biscoglia (8th) Waukee
54 KG Bryce West (10th) Eastern Iowa Wrestling
54 KG Drew West (10th) Eastern Iowa Wrestling
63 KG AJ Geers (11th) Eastern Iowa Wrestling
69 KG Billy Higgins (10th) MWC Wrestling Academy
Greco-Roman
54 KG Bryce West (10th) Iowa Eastern Iowa Wrestling
54 KG Drew West (10th) Iowa Eastern Iowa Wrestling
58 KG Ryan Leisure (10th) Iowa North Iowa Wrestling Club
63 KG AJ Geers (11th) Iowa Eastern Iowa Wrestling
69 KG Billy Higgins (10th) Iowa MWC Wrestling Academy