I hope this isn't the case...If he has no offense in HS he ain't gonna have any offense in college.
Recruiting….
- Thread starter Lightweight87
- Start date
Here's the official list that I'm aware of for this weekend (as someone else mentioned in this thread, Ross Bartachek of IA Wrestle was first to break most, if not all of these names):
**all rankings courtesy of Flo**
2026 prospects
Cale Vandermark (Ankeny Centennial)
- not ranked nationally at 120/126lbs
2027 prospects
Israel Borge (Utah - Westlake HS)
- #11 OVR in Class of 2027
- #11 at 138lbs
Shamus Regan (Pennsylvania - Bishop McCort HS)
- #22 OVR in Class of 2027
- #6 at 126lbs
Dawson Youngblut (Iowa - Don Bosco HS)
- #29 OVR in Class of 2027
- #18 at 138lbs
Sonny Amato (New Jersey - Rumson Fair Haven HS)
- #30 OVR in Class of 2027
- #11 at 157lbs
Rocco Cassioppi (Illinois - Hononegah HS)
- #48 OVR in Class of 2027
- #17 at 138lbs
Maximus Dhabolt (Iowa - Ankeny Centennial HS)
- #49 OVR in Class of 2027
- #3 at 165lbs
Mac Crosson (Iowa - Indianola HS)
- #86 OVR in Class of 2027
- not ranked at 144lbs
Bruno Cassioppi (Illinois - Hononegah HS)
- not ranked in top 100 of Class of 2027
- #8 at 157lbs
We've also got some photos of today's official visitors courtesy of our own Dennis Scheidt (you might know him better as Hawkeye Images on social media).
Here's most of the group down on the field pregame in some form or another (we weren't able to get clear photos of either Vandermark or Borge):
View attachment Group photo.jpeg
Here's most of the group down on the field pregame in some form or another (we weren't able to get clear photos of either Vandermark or Borge):
View attachment Group photo.jpeg
Attachments
If it's up to Rocky (Maximus dad) he'd be a Hawk. And out of all the instate non Schwab influenced kids that's who I'd want because of his offense upside. The class of '27 in Iowa has a lot of D1 room guys but not many points producers. If I'm Iowa I continue to look out of state...
Brandon Sorenson was probably a guy just like that and he made the ncaa finals. And was a great hawk I'd take 4-2-3-5 any day of the week.
Is Youngblut one of the instate guys who are a heavy UNI lean? Ranked a lot higher than Maximus, but it seems many of you think his ceiling is higher than most other in state prospects. We are going to have a need in his most likely college weights. He is ranked a little higher than Caliendo was, so maybe he could be a big surprise.
Right now it sounds like Youngblut is a Nebraska lean.
"Big suprises" is not what Iowa needs. They need those guys that are "no suprise" when they make an ncaa final. Certainly are guys on today's visit list that you'd like to get. But nobody I see as a "no suprise" guy.
Does the Iowa HS class of '27 have several D1 recruits? Hell yes! Who can or might be D1 all American's? I think maybe 2. Schwab and Dhabolt IMHO. I've seen this movie before. I'd bet on Youngblut and Sanders not being difference makers in college. Are they legitimate D1 guys, yes! Can they be multiple time all American's? Not sold on that. If the Hawks ever want to have a chance of competing against Penn State or Okie State they HAVE to bring in hammers from out of state Sorry if I pissed off the homers who are living in the '80's when small town Iowa guys were difference makers but it's soon to be 2026.
I’ll take the over on 2 AAs in the Iowa class of 2027 but I do agree on there being multiple world beaters in the class. I’d but the over/under on AAs from that class at 3.5.
2026 commit Owen McMullen was also in town this week - and got some work in at yesterday's HWC practice.
Sidun took his OV to Penn State this weekend.
I know in the past Iowa has typically brought in most of its top targets all at once for a big football game, but for scheduling/strategic purposes perhaps this year is different.
With guys like Sidun, Bachmann, Kenny, etc. still on the board, there are a couple prime opportunities left for big football-centric visits:
- vs. Minnesota (10/25)
- vs. Oregon (11/8)
I’ve left out 10/18 vs. Penn State because that’s the same weekend as Super 32 - where I’d expect most, if not all of those guys to be competing.
I know in the past Iowa has typically brought in most of its top targets all at once for a big football game, but for scheduling/strategic purposes perhaps this year is different.
With guys like Sidun, Bachmann, Kenny, etc. still on the board, there are a couple prime opportunities left for big football-centric visits:
- vs. Minnesota (10/25)
- vs. Oregon (11/8)
I’ve left out 10/18 vs. Penn State because that’s the same weekend as Super 32 - where I’d expect most, if not all of those guys to be competing.
What is Ross doing there on the field with a visitor lanyard on his neck??
I’ll be surprised if Sidun ends up anywhere other than Penn State.
Much rather have him playing football for Iowa than wrestling for somebody else.
Kudos to the Brands if they haven’t let off the gas on Ross. Anymore a verbal doesn’t mean squat; keep on em!
It’s a kick in the nuts seeing the best wrestling recruit out of Iowa in years hanging out with this years recruits on their visit. Are any of our top targets also looking at Oklahoma state? Could be there to represent Oklahoma state. They don’t need anyone we are after, but Taylor may have already reached the point where they try to get guys just so their competition doesn’t.
So as an employee of a university Doug’s kids would get free college.
Can uni save a wrestling scholly by using this loophole for Hayden
Can uni save a wrestling scholly by using this loophole for Hayden
There is no free tuition benefit for dependents at the state universities in Iowa.
Likely there to support his buddies, he must have got a visitor pass requested by the recruits. I don't think there was ill will between Ross and the Brands. Seemed Brands wanted Mocco from the beginning.
Just a little nervous because it was an unofficial and Tom and Spencer was out of town for Worlds.
I’m really hoping that we are heavily after the Bachmann’s and Kenny’s. They have great brothers and Bachmann’s are tied to the best program in America and it’s in a great location. Other great prospects from other cities and states come to drill with them in off season. It would create a killer pipeline.
Also, Paul Kenny took Sidun to the brink. Exchanging takedowns and took Sidun to overtime, Kenny has a lot upside. Plus, Sidun seems like a PSU heavy lean… I can’t see him going anywhere else and Sidun looks more like a career 125 than a 133, which is what we heavily need.
Nonetheless, I hope they come for an official visit in October and that we have our best foot forward!! Hope we are all in!
No need to be nervous. I feel confident both will be in Iowa City next month. If anything its encouraging they made/will make 2 visits in ~6 weeks time.
Appreciate the insight and the work you do! Thanks for the clarity and update!
Out of the whole class I’m hoping we land the Kenny’s and Bachmann’s. Would love to get Sidun but I feel like it’s PSU in the end, and don’t want to get my hopes up.. lol, hope I’m terribly wrong.
Also, feel like Borge would be a great get too! Also, feel a little indifferent about Amato. He lost at Elite 8 Duals, and he didn’t seem like he could generate enough offense.. great defense, scrambler, and rider though. I may be wrong and maybe he does have a lot of tools when it comes to offense, what do I know. Hope I’m wrong here.
Tanner, you're absolutely awesome. LOVE the coverage! But if I might offer some constructive criticism, being ranked 49th and 89th is not "highly" ranked. I can cave on the former but not the latter. Just my 2 cents that no one asked for.
You might ask yourself if more guys are Sorensen or don't make the podium at all. The latter is far, far more common.
I don't really see anyone arguing otherwise, nor do the Iowa coaches appear to be focusing on instate recruits. This is amazing faux outrage though.
You're worried that he might flip or convince football recruits to wrestle at Okie State? Impressive.
RE: the "highly ranked" quibble you've brought up - no problem, wording is important in life so that's fair game.
I would say that in the tweet (I believe) you're referring to, my exact phrasing was "Two more highly rated Iowans are also taking official visits" - in reference to Maximus Dhabolt (#49 OVR, #3 at 165lbs) and Mac Crosson (#86 OVR).
In that instance, I'm pretty sure my "highly rated" description was more so in relation to their standing among in-state prospects - in which case a top 100 national ranking is pretty rarified air as compared to the rest of the prospects from within Iowa's borders.
Obviously, there are lines of delineation when it comes to 'highly rated' and/or 'elite' recruits on a national scale - in which case I'd include neither Dhabolt or Crosson based on their current rankings.
*I'd note that Flo hasn't updated their 2027 Big Board since April 11th, so some of the rankings listed may not be as reflective of the current landscape - esp. Dhabolt, who was an 'honorable mention' at 150lbs when those rankings were released and has since ascended to #3 at 165lbs.*
When I wrote my 'state of the program' article earlier this summer (link below), the two strongest lines of delineation I found were top 30 and top 10 ranked national prospects:
Examining Iowa men's wrestling post-Bo Bassett decommitment - On3
Hopefully some/all of that helps to clear things up - or at least better explain my rationale for the chosen wording.
And thanks again for the feedback!
another shout out to @Tanner Lafever for the wrestling coverage. Its one of pleasant suprises of moving to On3.
That’s usually just private college in Iowa. There isn’t the tight number of scholarships for wrestling anymore, if I recall, so he could give him one. He’s on the high end of recruits UNI usually gets, so it’s legit.
thought they were wrestlers and he was hanging out with our wrestling recruits.
Children of state university employees do not get free schooling in Iowa.
I appreciate your thoughtful reply. At the end of the day, I probably just have a weird tick about wresting rankings. What you said was OK, I'm sure. Keep up the good work.
UNI was scraping hard to get to 9.9 scholarships before the change. Their AD runs on a shoestring budget. The chances they go beyond 9.9 is basically zero.
And those were football recruits. It was a football visit. Probably just Iowa taking a shot, and him ultimately just enjoying a free game.
For a long time it seemed like everyone was very optimistic about landing Sidun, especially when he came here with the Basset gang before they back stabbed us. What has changed? Was PSU not showing much interest then, and now they are, and they basically get who they want, especially if Taylor isn’t after them?