Four-time state champion and UNI bound Max Thomsen tops yet another list among Iowans as he comes in at #12 on Associated Wrestling Press’s (AWP) Final Class of 2015 Grade Rankings. AWP ranked the top 100 seniors, and then considered an additional 50 wrestlers for honorable mention (101-150), and another 50 for special mention (151-200). All and all 12 Iowans ended up on the list, with seven of them landing in the top 100.
As mentioned in the opening Thomsen led all Iowa native wrestler by coming in with the #12 ranking on the list. After ending one of the most storied careers in Iowa high school wrestling history, Thomsen added an exclamation point by winning his final folkstyle match with a win over Iowa recruit Mike Kemerer in the Iowa vs Dream Team Classic in Independence this April. The win was his first in three meetings with Kemerer, and gave him a big boost in the final rankings.
Also making the top 15 was Bettendorf three-time state champion Fredy Stroker, coming in at #15. Stroker has been considered the top Iowan in his grade for most of his career, and had it not been for a loss at the Keith Young Invitational in December to Thomsen, he might have ended it that way. Stroker is headed to the University of Minnesota to continue his storied career.
Waverly’s Bryce Steiert has had an amazing past 10 months going from fringe 100 prospect top #28 in the final rankings. After winning his first state title for the Go-Hawks in 2014, Steiert bumped to 160 pound where he placed fourth in a tough bracket at Fargo. Steiert would add additional wins over Top 50 seniors Dayton Racer and Josh Shields to help him inside the top 30. Steiert will be continuing his career at Northern Iowa as well.
Speaking of Racer the Bettendorf 3A state runner-up is the final Iowan in the top 50, coming in at #43. Racer announced his commitment to Virginia Tech on IA Wrestle this Spring. Racer is the first Iowan to select Virginia Tech since Jay Borschel, Dan LeClere, and Joey Slaton followed Tom Brands out east in 2005.
Southeast Polk’s Jake Marnin (#79), Maquoketa Valley’s Ryan Parmely (#90), and Mediapolis’s Steven Holloway (#92) round out Iowans in the top 100. Marnin will head to Southern Illinois for football, and Parmely selected division II program Upper Iowa to play football and wrestle. Holloway was a late addition to the 2015 recruiting class for the Hawkeyes.
Making the honorable mention list was Nolan Hellickson (Harvard), Jacob Schwarm (Northern Iowa), Jacob Holschlag (Northern Iowa), Isaiah Patton (Northern Iowa), and Cash Wilcke (Iowa).
As apparent, UNI dominates the Iowa native commitment list, with five wrestlers on the list. The Panthers also have Georgia native Taylor Lujan at #19 (interview) and Minnesota prep Paden Moore at #99 (interview). Giving the Panthers seven top 150 recruits.
Out of state recruits for the Hawkeyes were headlined by Pennsylvania’s Mike Kemerer, who finished the year at #9 according to AWP. In addition to Kemerer, Illinois wrestler Vince Turk came in at #63 on the list.
Iowa State finished with just Oklahoma prep Markus Simmons in the top 100 portion of the 2015 recruiting class. They also have Missouri native Colston DiBlasi on the honorable mention list.
North Iowa Area college also picks up a top commitment in Illinois wrestler Tyler DeMoss, who is listed as a special mention wrestler.
[…] AWP releasing their Top 100 Grade Rankings, they were also able to get around to announcing recruiting team rankings for teams #11-20. The […]
I never understood why U of I would drop tje $ on an out of state kid when theres better at home.
Sore fan I guess but when you donate a lot of money to the SCHool you will understand.
Ill still love my hawks but state kids matter the most.
The incoming class is whete we drop off
To be fair Kemerer is ranked #9 and Thomsen is #12