This week Akron, Ohio will play host to two very significant UWW events with the Cadet and University Nationals for both freestyle and Greco-Romam being contested. This year every wrestler that wins their bracket will earn their way onto a World team, with the Cadet World Championships this September in Georgia and the University World Championships competing in Turkey. The wrestlers will have to battle their way through their respective brackets, and then win a best-of-three finals to claim the spot.
In freestyle, the University of Iowa will return four of the 2015 All-Americans led by third place finisher Alex Meyer (80 kg). The squad also features fourth place finisher Phil Laux (61 kg this year), who makes his return to the team, and fifth place medalists Brandon Sorensen (70 kg) and Sammy Brooks (86 kg). It looks as though Iowa will be without 2015 national champion Nathan Burak (97 kg) and they will also be without former Junior World bronze medalist Thomas Gilman.
We see a lot of youth in this contingent of Hawkeyes, notably led by freshman Michael Kemerer. After a standout redshirt season, Kemerer then proceeded to Las Vegas where he won a Junior U.S. Open title at 70 kg. Also of note it appears Burke Paddock is not listed among the Greco-Roman entries. Registration closes tonight, so he still has time to sign up, but at the present it appears he will be going in freestyle only.
Perez Perez – 57 kg
Phil Laux – 61 kg
Aaron Meyer – 65 kg
Brandon Sorensen – 70 kg
Logan Ryan 70 kg
Michael Kemerer – 70 kg
Burke Paddock – 74 kg
Jeremiah Moody – 74 kg
Logan McQuillen – 74 kg
Alex Meyer – 80 kg
Cash Wilcke – 86 kg
Mitch Bowman – 86 kg
Sammy Brooks – 86 kg
Steven Holloway – 97 kg