Iowa not concerned with pre-seeds heading into Big Ten Wrestling Championships

The path has been tentatively set.

Second-ranked Iowa has a loose vision of what lies between it and the national tournament.

Eight Hawkeyes were seeded fourth or better, including five No. 2 seeds, for the Big Ten Wrestling Championships on Saturday and Sunday at University of Nebraska, in Lincoln, Neb. Iowa has won the last two conference tournaments.

The Hawkeyes aren’t concerned with the preliminary seedings, which could change slightly before the final brackets come out Friday night. They are focused on their own fine-tuning until the first whistle.

“I doubt our guys are paying that much attention to pre-seeds,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said during the team’s pre-tournament news conference Tuesday via Zoom. “I think they’re getting themselves ready to go with vague looks at who they could have and just getting ready.

“I think this is a sport where you’re better off focusing on yourself. That’s always been our philosophy.”

Three-time Big Ten champion Alex Marinelli (165) and NCAA champion Jaydin Eierman lead the way for the Hawkeyes. They are firm No. 2 seeds, along with Austin DeSanto at 133 pounds, Kaleb Young (157) and heavyweight Tony Cassioppi.

The seeds may not be indicative of talent or challenge. Marinelli said some wrestlers game for the postseason and take these matches a little more seriously than regular-season duals.

“It has prepared me to just be on my game right out of the gate, whether you get a bye first round or first-round match,” Marinelli said. “You have to treat every match like it’s the finals, taking care of business, and also bonus points. These matches are huge for the team race and I’m a bonus-point guy, so if there’s a pin there to get I’m going to get it, but also staying smart.”

Max Murin (149), Michael Kemerer at 174 and 197-pounder Jacob Warner are seeded fourth. Kemerer is the defending Big Ten champion and is a three-time conference finalist. He is looking for his fifth NCAA berth and All-America honor.

Murin said he has seen the seeds, but isn’t obsessed about it. He echoed Brands’ comments, fixing his attention on his own wrestling, regardless who it is against.

“I’m definitely aware of my opponents, but not dwelling on it,” Murin said. “I focus on myself and what I do, where I need to be and what I’m good at.”

Abe Assad is the fifth seed at 184, while freshman Drake Ayala is sixth at 125. Ayala removed his redshirt in January and missed time due to injury, returning for the regular-season finale at Nebraska, coincidentally. He posted a 13-6 decision over the Huskers’ Jeremiah Reno.

Here is a complete list of pre-seeds for this weekend’s competition.

125 pounds (10 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Nick Suriano (MI)

2. Drew Hildebrandt (PSU)

3. Eric Barnett (WI)

4. Malik Heinselman (OSU)

5. Devin Schroder (PUR)

6. Drake Ayala (IA)

7. Michael DeAugustino (NU)

8. Patrick McKee (MN)

9. Dylan Shawver (RUT)

10. Justin Cardani (IL)

11. Tristan Lujan (MSU)

12. Jacob Moran (IN)

13. Jeremiah Reno (NEB)

14. Zach Spence (MD)

133 (10 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Roman Bravo-Young (PSU)

2. Austin DeSanto (IA)

3. Lucas Byrd (IL)

4. RayVon Foley (MSU)

5. Dylan Ragusin (MI)

6. Brock Hudkins (IN)

7. Chris Cannon (NU)

8. Joe Olivieri (RUT)

9. Matt Ramos (PUR)

10. Dominick Serrano (NEB)

11. Kyle Burwick (WI)

12. Jake Gliva (MN)

13. King Sandoval (MD)

14. Dylan Koontz (OSU)

141 (7 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Nick Lee (PSU)

2. Jaydin Eierman (IA)

3. Sebastian Rivera (RUT)

4. Chad Red (NEB)

5. Jakob Bergeland (MN)

6. Stevan Micic (MI)

7. Dylan D’Emilio (OSU)

8. Joseph Zargo (WI)

9. Dylan Duncan (IL)

10. Frankie Tel Shahar (NU)

11. Parker Filius (PUR)

12. Matt Santos (MSU)

13. Cayden Rooks (IN)

14. Danny Bertoni (MD)

149 (7 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Sammy Sasso (OSU)

2. Austin Gomez (WI)

3. Ridge Lovett (NEB)

4. Max Murin (IA)

5. Yahya Thomas (NU)

6. Mike Van Brill (RUT)

7. Beau Bartlett (PSU)

8. Christian Kanzler (IL)

9. Graham Rooks (IN)

10. Michael Bockhus (MN)

11. Kanen Storr (MI)

12. Michael North (MD)

13. Payton Omania (MSU)

14. Alex White (PUR)

157 (7 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Ryan Deakin (NU)

2. Kaleb Young (IA)

3. Will Lewan (MI)

4. Kendall Coleman (PUR)

5. Peyton Robb (NEB)

6. Chase Saldate (MSU)

7. Garrett Model (WI)

8. Robert Kanniard (RUT)

9. Bryce Hepner (OSU)

10. Brady Berge (PSU)

11. Derek Gilcher (IN)

12. Joe Roberts (IL)

13. Lucas Cordio (MD)

14. Sebas Swiggum (MN)

165 (7 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Carson Kharchla (OSU)

2. Alex Marinelli (IA)

3. Dean Hamiti (WI)

4. Cameron Amine (MI)

5. Caleb Fish (MSU)

6. Dan Braunagel (IL)

7. Hayden Lohrey (PUR)

8. Clayton Wilson (NEB)

9. Cael Carlson (MN)

10. Creighton Edsell (PSU)

11. David Ferrante (NU)

12. Andrew Clark (RUT)

13. Kasper McIntosh (IN)

14. Gaven Bell (MD)

174 (8 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Carter Starocci (PSU)

2. Logan Massa (MI)

3. Mikey Labriola (NEB)

4. Michael Kemerer (IA)

5. Ethan Smith (OSU)

6. Bailee O’Reilly (MN)

7. Gerit Nijenhuis (PUR)

8. Troy Fisher (NU)

9. Dominic Solic (MD)

10. DJ Shannon (IL)

11. Andrew McNally (WI)

12. Nick South (IN)

13. Connor O’Neill (RUT)

14. Nate Jimenez (MSU)

184 (12 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Aaron Brooks (PSU)

2. Myles Amine (MI)

3. Kaleb Romero (OSU)

4. Taylor Venz (NEB)

5. Abe Assad (IA)

6. Layne Malczewski (MSU)

7. John Pozanski (RUT)

8. Kyle Cochran (MD)

9. DJ Washington (IN)

10. Isaiah Salazar (MN)

11. Christopher Weiler (WI)

12. Zach Braunagel (IL)

13. Max Lyon (PUR)

14. Jack Jessen (NU)

197 (11 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Eric Schultz (NEB)

2. Max Dean (PSU)

3. Cameron Caffey (MSU)

4. Jacob Warner (IA)

5. Patrick Bucki (MI)

6. Thomas Penola (PUR)

7. Greg Bulsak (RUT)

8. Braxton Amos (WI)

9. Gavin Hoffman (OSU)

10. Andrew Davison (NU)

11. Jaron Smith (MD)

12. Michial Foy (MN)

13. Nick Willham (IN)

14. Matt Wroblewski (IL)

Heavyweight (9 NCAA Qualifiers)

1. Gable Steveson (MN)

2. Tony Cassioppi (IA)

3. Greg Kerkvliet (PSU)

4. Mason Parris (MI)

5. Lucas Davison (NU)

6. Christian Lance (NEB)

7. Trent Hilger (WI)

8. Tate Orndorff (OSU)

9. Luke Luffman (IL)

10. Jacob Bullock (IN)

11. Michael Woulfe (PUR)

12. Boone McDermott (RUT)

13. Brad Wilton (MSU)

14. Zach Schrader (MD)