Iowa Wrestling Weekend That Was: Austin DeSanto captures men’s freestyle gold at Farrell International

University of Iowa, Iowa State and University of Northern Iowa were represented in the Bill Farrell Open. Iowa women crowned 5 at Waldorf. Hawkeyes land notable recruits and travel woes prevent UNI from wrestling in the first Wrestling Weekend That Was.

AUSTIN DESANTO WINS BILL FARRRELL OPEN TITLE

Former Iowa All-American and Hawkeye Wrestling Club competitor Austin DeSanto captured the 61-kilogram men’s freestyle title Saturday night at the Bill Farrell Memorial International at New York Athletic Club. DeSanto defeated Mongolia’s Bekhbayar Erdenebat, 2-1, in the gold-medal match.

“It was a stingy match,” DeSanto said in a post-match interview with USA Wrestling. “He wrestles a square stance. Hard to get your offense going when he doesn’t shoot. It’s hard to get my offense going when I don’t shoot.

“It’s just a stingy match and a good win for me.”

DeSanto dominated his way to the final, going 3-0 with a pin and two technical falls. He outscored his first three foes, 30-0, and wrestled a combined 4:46 before the final.

Former Ames standout and Iowa State All-American Marcus Coleman topped UNI NCAA champion Parker Keckeisen in the 86-kg final. Coleman overcame a 9-0 deficit with a takedown and recorded a fall in 2:23.

Keckeisen was joined in the finals by UNI assistant coach and former Cyclone Ian Parker. Tyler Kasak edged Parker, 3-2, in the final.

Former Hawkeye Marlynne Deede placed second at 76 kg in women’s freestyle.

IOWA WOMEN CROWN 5 AT WALDORF

The Hawkeyes finished with five champions and nine posted top-three performances Saturday at the Waldorf Open. Rianne Murphy at 103 pounds, Ava Bayless (110), 124-pounder Cali Leng, Emily Frost (131) and Skye Realin, who is ranked No. 9 at 131 but wrestled at 138, all won titles.

Sterling Dias (103), Ava Rose (124) and Mia Goodwin (131) placed second behind Iowa teammates. Former Mount Vernon state champion and Hawkeye freshman Libby Dix was third at 207.

“It’s been a great day,” Iowa Coach Clarissa Chun said. “It was a fun tournament to see our women compete against both NCAA and NAIA competition and get tested in different ways. I am proud of the way the group made mid-match adjustments and executed what they have each been working on individually.”

IOWA MEN LAND NOTABLE RECRUITS

The Hawkeye men’s program landed notable commitments from nationally-ranked wrestlers. No. 5 138-pounder Joe Bachmann, No. 2 126-pounder Paul Kenny and No. 6 132-pounder Israel Borge committed to Iowa from the Class of 2027. Highly-ranked 2028 prospects Fred Bachmann and Sean Kenny also committed. Kenny is a U17 World champion and a New Jersey state champion. Joe Bachmann is a two-time U17 World medalist and two-time Pennsylvania state champion, who is ranked No. 3 overall in the Class of 2027 by Flowrestling. Fred Bachmann is a U17 World silver medalist and a state titlist in Pennsylvania. Borge is the No. 11 overall in the Class of 2027, according to Flowrestling. Iowa boasts five wrestlers ranked in the top 30 of 2027. In addition to Bachmann, Kenny and Borge, Iowa received commitments from Don Bosco’s No. 29 Dawson Youngblut and No. 30 Sonny Amato, of New Jersey.

TRAVEL WOES PREVENT UNI’S START

UNI was scheduled to begin the season Sunday at the Journeymen Wrestling Collegiate Classic in Bethlehem, Penn. Unfortunately, the Panther suffered unspecified travel issues and were unable to make the trip. UNI and Iowa will be part of the 16-team field of the National Duals Invitational on Saturday and Sunday in Tulsa, Okla. UNI opens against North Carolina State, while top-seeded Iowa will face Missouri in the first round. UNI will also send wrestlers to the Grand View Open in Des Moines on Saturday.

LUTHER’S MCDONOUGH EARNS A-R-C HONOR

Luther’s Bryce McDonough earned American Rivers Conference men’s Wrestler of the Week honors. The senior 174-pounder and National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-American went 4-0 at Lakeland University’s Muskie Scramble on Saturday in Plymouth, Wis. McDonough won all four matches by technical fall.

Wartburg’s Afftynn Stusse claimed the A-R-C’s women’s Wrestler of the Week award. Stusse (110) had a pin in the No. 10 Knights’ 29-17 dual win over No. 18 Simpson last week.

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