Hawkeye Wrestling Club Showdown Preview

It’s not technically Iowa Hawkeye college wrestling, and it’s not technically in Iowa City. But this
weekend marks the return to the mat for Iowa’s No. 1-ranked 2019-20 roster since NCAAs were
canceled in March, and the team is excited.

The Hawkeye Wrestling Club Showdown is a freelance, dual-style open tournament that will
showcase both the present and future faces of Iowa’s team in the coming years. Including, but
not limited to, two-time NCAA Champion Spencer Lee, Alex Marinelli and Austin DeSanto.
This isn’t the start to Iowa’s college season – that might not come until the start of 2021 – but
it’s a chance to most of the Hawkeye lineup to return to the mat in a competitive setting after a
summer of creative training.

And the competition is high. Marinelli will be facing off against four-time All American and five-
time world team member James Green, DeSanto faces three-time All-American Bryce Meredith,
and Tony Cassioppi will square off against 2017 World Championships bronze medalist Nick
Gwiazdowski, to name a few.

“I was just really excited to wrestle anyone, I didn’t really care who it was,” Marinelli said.

“When he said it was James Green, I was just super excited because he’s a world-class level
athlete and he’s very good on the freestyle scene and he’s ranked in the world.”

The style will be just a little different than what fans are used to seeing out of these wrestlers
wearing the Black and Gold, but the mindset is still the same: score points.

“It’s just get on the mat and wrestling, controlling the center of the circle,” DeSanto said. “I
think both of us are ready to just score points and get out there and compete.

“It’s awesome. Just being blessed to compete and to get this high-level opponent that I get to
look forward to wrestle and just show what I’ve been working on.”

Regardless of the style, this is Iowa’s next step leading up to its college season, and every match
this weekend counts. With the high-level opponents lined up and just the opportunity to
compete again, it’s a good gauge for where Iowa is at as it gears up for another run at its first
NCAA title since 2010.

“We had to do it [as] kind of a unique dual, it had to be an open tournament so [assistant coach
Ryan] Morningstar and our compliance handled all of that,” head coach Tom Brands said. “That
was number 1. The unique format… I think it’s important that we use this and don’t squander it.
A guy like Cassioppi being able to wrestle Gwiazdowski is real important for his development.”
The dual opens with the undercard at 4 p.m. CT at Xtreme Arena in Coralville. The main event
begins at 6 p.m. and will feature the following matchups:

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Event taking place Sunday in Coralville.

Spencer Lee vs. Zach Sangers

Sarah Hildebrandt vs. Erin Golston
Austin DeSanto vs. Bryce MerEdith
Jaydin Eierman vs. Vladimer Khinchegashvili
Pat Lugo vs. Matthew Kolodzik
Alex Marinelli vs. James Green
Precious Bell vs. Jordan Nelson
Michael Kemerer vs. Tommy Gantt
Tony Cassioppi vs. Nick Gwiazdowski