Big Ten releases pre-seeds for 2024 conference wrestling tournament

Drake Ayala earned the best seed for Iowa’s men’s wrestling team entering postseason competition.

The Big Ten Conference announced the pre-seeds Monday for the conference tournament Saturday and Sunday at University of Maryland in College Park, Md.

Ayala is the No. 2 seed at 125 pounds. The Hawkeyes’ 2022 NCAA qualifier is behind only Purdue returning national finalist Matt Ramos.

NCAA finalist and defending Big Ten champion Real Woods (141) is among five Hawkeyes to receive a No. 3 seed. The senior is joined by Caleb Rathjen (149), Michael Caliendo at 165, Patrick Kennedy (174) and 197-pounder Zach Glazier are all seeded third.

Jared Franek is seeded fourth and heavyweight Bradley Hill is the No. 7 seed. NCAA qualifier Brody Teske is the No. 14 seed and Aiden Riggins is 13th at 184.

The pre-seeds answer the questions about postseason starters at 133, 149, 184 and heavyweight.

Hawkeye freshmen Gabe Arnold and Ben Kueter will keep their redshirts intact with full eligibility in the future.

Top-ranked Penn State leads the way with five top seeds.

Below is the full list of pre-seeds for each weight:

125 POUNDS

1. Matt Ramos (PUR)

2. Drake Ayala (IOWA)

3. Eric Barnett (WIS)

4. Patrick McKee (MINN)

5. Caleb Smith (NEB)

6. Braeden Davis (PSU)

7. Michael DeAugustino (MICH)

8. Brendan McCrone (OSU)

9. Dean Peterson (RUT)

10. Tristan Lujan (MSU)

11. Justin Cardani (ILL)

12. Massey Odiotti (NU)

13. Tommy Capul (MD)

14. Blaine Frazier (IND)

133

1. Dylan Ragusin (MICH)

2. Dylan Shawver (RUT)

3. Nic Bouzakis (OSU)

4. Jacob Van Dee (NEB)

5. Aaron Nagao (PSU)

6. Tony Madrigal (ILL)

7. Braxton Brown (MD)

8. Tyler Wells (MINN)

9. Nicolar Rivera (WIS)

10. Cayden Rooks (IND)

11. Dustin Norris (PUR)

12. Andrew Hampton (MSU)

13. Patrick Adams (NU)

14. Brody Teske (IOWA)

141

1. Beau Bartlett (PSU)

2. Jesse Mendez (OSU)

3. Real Woods (IOWA)

4. Brock Hardy (NEB)

5. Sergio Lemley (MICH)

6. Danny Pucino (ILL)

7. Mitch Moore (RUT)

8. Jordan Hamdan (MSU)

T9. Dan Fongaro (IND)

T9. Vance VomBaur (MINN)

11. Kal Miller (MD)

12. Greyson Clark (PUR)

13. Kolby McClain (NU)

14. Felix Lettini (WIS)

149

1. Ridge Lovett (NEB)

2. Austin Gomez (MICH)

3. Caleb Rathjen (IOWA)

4. Tyler Kasak (PSU)

5. Dylan D’Emilio (OSU)

6. Ethen Miller (MD)

7. Joseph Zargo (WIS)

8. Graham Rooks (IND)

9. Drew Roberts (MINN)

10. Michael Cetta (RUT)

11. Marcos Polanco (PUR)

12. Braden Stauffenberg (MSU)

13. Aiden Vandenbush (NU)

14. Jake Harrier (ILL)

157

1. Levi Haines (PSU)

2. Michael Blockhus (MINN)

3. Brayton Lee (IND)

4. Jared Franek (IOWA)

5. Peyton Robb (NEB)

6. Chase Saldate (MSU)

7. Will Lewan (MICH)

8. Joey Blaze (PUR)

9. Trevor Chumbley (NU)

10. Isaac Wilcox (OSU)

11. Al DeSantis (RUT)

12. Michael North (MD)

13. Luke Mechler (WIS)

14. Logan Swaw (ILL)

165

1. Dean Hamiti (WIS)

2. Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU)

3. Michael Caliendo (IOWA)

4. Caleb Fish (MSU)

5. Antrell Taylor (NEB)

6. Cameron Amine (MICH)

7. Stoney Buell (PUR)

8. Bryce Hepner (OSU)

9. Tyler Lillard (IND)

10. Blaine Brenner (MINN)

11. Chris Moore (ILL)

12. Maxx Mayfield (NU)

13. Anthony White (RUT)

14. AJ Rodrigues (MD)

174

1. Carter Starocci (PSU)

2. Shane Griffith (MICH)

3. Patrick Kennedy (IOWA)

4. Edmond Ruth (ILL)

5. Rocco Welsh (OSU)

6. Jackson Turley (RUT)

7. Max Maylor (WIS)

8. DJ Washington (IND)

9. Andrew Sparks (MINN)

10. Brody Baumann (PUR)

11. Dominic Solis (MD)

12. Bubba Wilson (NEB)

13. DJ Shannon (MSU)

14. David Ferrante (NU)

184

1. Isaiah Salazar (MINN)

2. Lenny Pinto (NEB)

3. Bernie Truax (PSU)

4. Ryder Rogotzke (OSU)

5. Jaden Bullock (MICH)

6. Layne Malczewski (MSU)

7. Shane Liegel (WIS)

8. Brian Soldano (RUT)

9. Troy Fisher (NU)

10. Roman Rogotzke (IND)

11. Dylan Connell (ILL)

12. James Rowley (PUR)

13. Aiden Riggins (IOWA)

14. Chase Mielnik (MD)

197

1. Aaron Brooks (PSU)

2. Jaxon Smith (MD)

3. Zach Glazier (IOWA)

4. Silas Allred (NEB)

5. Garrett Joles (MINN)

6. Luke Geog (OSU)

7. John Poznanski (RUT)

8. Evan Bates (NU)

9. Ben Vanadia (PUR)

10. Gabe Sollars (IND)

11. Kael Wisler (MSU)

12. Isiah Pettigrew (ILL)

13. Bobby Striggow (MICH)

14. Josh Otto (WIS)

HWT.

1. Greg Kerkvliet (PSU)

2. Nick Feldman (OSU)

3. Lucas Davison (MICH)

4. Yaraslau Slavikouski (RUT)

5. Seth Nevills (MD)

6. Nick Willham (IND)

7. Bradley Hill (IOWA)

8. Bennett Tabor (MINN)

9. Josh Terrill (MSU)

10. Nash Hutmacher (NEB)

11. Jack Jessen (NU)

12. Gannon Rosenfeld (WIS)

13. Peter Marinopoulus (ILL)

14. Hayden Filipovich (PUR)

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