Let's Talk Wrestling

Nelson is from Iowa City, IA and wrestled for the Iowa City West Trojans. He shocked the wrestling world when he committed to the University of Iowa. As a Hawkeye, Nelson constantly battled, with everything culminating his junior year with a 5th place finish at nationals to earn AA status. Nelson recently accepted the head wrestling position at Iowa City Regina. He’s also turned into a mountain ma...

Hunter is from Iowa City, IA and was an Iowa City West Trojan. He was a 4x state finalist and 3x state champion. Hunter took his talents to Palo Alto, CA to attend Stanford University. He’s taken it up a notch, as he’s a 2x AA for the Cardinal at 165 lbs. He’s also won a couple gold medals at the Pan Ams, one in freestyle in 2024 and one in Greco this past April where he also collected bronze in f...

Colton is from Traer, IA, but attended Belle Plaine High School. Gotta show some love for the Traer roots! As a Plainsmen, Colton was a 4x placewinner and state champion his senior year. He wrestled collegiately for Wartburg and also majored in Biology. Colton went on to complete his degree at the University of Iowa and is now working in pediatric orthopedics at Gundersen Health Systems in La Cros...

Kolby is from DuBois, PA and put together one heck of a career. He was a Fargo champ, a 3x Ironman placewinner, a prep state champion. He also won two college opens as a senior in high school. Kolby chose to attend the University of Iowa. However, after dealing with a series of neck injuries, Kolby decided to medically forfeit from the sport. Although his competing career came to an end, Kolby fou...

Jeremiah is from Cambridge, WI and started wrestling as a freshman in high school. By the time he graduated, he put together a real respectable career. He was named team MVP as a junior, team captain as a senior, placed at Fargo in both greco and freestyle while also capturing 3rd at the Wisconsin state tournament. Jeremiah attended the University of Iowa, where he became a four-year letterwinner...

Ryder is from Indianola, IA, where he collected quite the accolades. He was a 4x placewinner, 2x finalist and a state champ his senior year in one of the most memorable matches in recent history. Ryder also got it done in the classroom, as he was valedictorian of his high school class that included 273 students in all. Now at UNI, Ryder is putting his talent on display at the collegiate level. He...

Cody is from Macedonia, OH and wrestled for Bedford St. Chanel. He was a 3 time placewinner, earning 7th and 3rd before capturing a state title as a senior. Cody journeyed about 3 hours south to compete at Ohio University and established himself as a Bobcat great. Cody was a 3x team captain, 3x MAC champion, 4x NCAA qualifier and 2x AA. He amassed 30+ wins in 3 of his 4 seasons and was twice named...

Sparty is from Wheaton, IL and wrestled for Wheaton Warrenville South HS. He placed 5th as both a sophomore and junior before becoming the school’s first state champion his senior year. Sparty went on to wrestle for Ohio University, where we was a 4x NCAA qualifier, making the bloodround his junior season. For the last 9 years, Sparty has been an assistant coach at Marmion Academy in Aurora, IL. L...

Scott is from Clarksville, IA, where he wrestled for coach Ron Peterson. After high school, he went on to wrestle at Central College. While injuries may have hampered his career, it also helped him find a passion for coaching. Scott spent over 30 years coaching, mostly at West Delaware and a small stint at Cedar Rapids Prairie. Alongside Jeff Voss at West Delaware, they built the Hawks into a well...

Zach is from Wabasha, MN and went to Wabasha-Kellogg HS. He won 5 Minnesota state titles and cemented himself as one of top recruits in the country. Zach attended the University of Minnesota and was the linchpin on some elite Gopher teams. He finished his career with 134 victories and became the seventh 4x AA in program history. After competing at the senior level, Zach joined his alma mater as an...

Charles grew up in Philadelphia, PA, but went to high school at Junipero Serra in San Mateo, CA. While there, he was a 3x West Catholic Athletic League champion. He caught the eyes of the Iowa coaching staff while at a wrestling camp and chose to continue his career as a Hawkeye. Charles spent the entirety of his career in the black and gold, compiling a career record of 19-18. He also shined brig...

Justin is from Davison, MI and wrestled for Davison High School, which has churned out some elite wrestlers over the years. Justin was a 4x state placewinner and 2x state champ. He chose to attend Central Michigan University located in Mount Pleasant, MI. He was a 3x NCAA qualifier, reaching the podium as a RS freshman. Justin transferred to NC State and qualified for nationals a 4th time to end h...

Nick is from Kearney, NE and was a 4x placewinner for the Bearcats which included a pair of state titles. Nick literally stayed put for college, attending the University of Nebraska-Kearney. He had a storied career as a Loper, becoming a 4x AA and 2x finalist while helping UNK to a 5th team title in 2025. Nick didn’t even plan on wrestling this past season, but joined the team late January and fin...

Kaleb is from Punxsutawney, PA, home of the world-famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. Kaleb is a close second, though. He was a 3x placewinner for the Chucks, placing 5th and 4th before becoming the school’s first-ever state champion. Kaleb went on to become an Iowa Hawkeye and turned in a heck of a career. He was a Big Ten finalist, 4x NCAA qualifier and 3x AA. Still hanging around Iowa City, Kal...

Cody is from Graettinger, Iowa, where he placed 2nd as a junior and 4th as a senior. Cody competed at Wartburg College. While there, he lettered 3 times and the Knights claimed a team title in 1999. After successful head coaching stints at his high school alma mater as well as Iowa Lakes Community College, Cody and his wife Teresa have started up The Athlete’s Mentor. The Athlete’s Mentor is the v...