Iowa keeps Jersey pipeline open, adds top 2027 prep Sonny Amato

If the Iowa men’s wrestling program keeps this up, it may soon complete its own quartet of talented “Jersey Boys” to rival the group (Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons) who’s moniker headlines an award-winning Broadway musical.

The latest ‘band member’ to join the Hawkeyes is middleweight prospect Santino ‘Sonny’ Amato – currently ranked #30 overall in the Class of 2027 by FloWrestling.

On Wednesday afternoon, the high school junior announced his commitment to Iowa on Instagram. In so doing, he ended a recruiting process that saw the Rumson-Fair Haven product visit the likes of Iowa State and Oklahoma in late-August/early-September.

A few weeks later, Amato was part of a large contingent of talented official visitors in Iowa City – where the fourth-ranked 150-pound prospect in America apparently saw enough to decide on the Hawkeyes as his future college home shortly thereafter.

What he brings

Amato’s most notable accomplishment to date is probably the 144-pound New Jersey state title he won in 2024.

Known for being one of the tougher high school state tournaments nationally due to both its single-class format as well as the talent level of its participants, a then freshman Amato navigated the field nonetheless – topping senior Alex Nini, a Rutgers commit ranked #45 overall in the Class of 2024.

A year later, Amato came up just short of back-to-back titles at 144, falling via 3-2 semifinal upset – his only loss during a 43-1 sophomore season.

If he can finish his high school career atop the podium as a junior/senior, he’d become just the 37^th prep in New Jersey history to win three or more individual state titles.

Among that list – which includes a veritable who’s who of NCAA greats – is a future Iowa teammate.

(More on that in a bit.)

Amato has also twice placed at the prestigious Beast of the East tournament – held annually at the University of Delaware – finishing runner-up last season at 150 pounds and fourth in 2023 (144).

In about a week he’ll try to reach the podium at another top-tier event – the Super 32 Challenge – where Amato is among the early entries at arguably the toughest high school folkstyle tournament in America.

Future fit (and) Jersey ties

We’re still a long way out from Amato’s debut in the Black & Gold singlet – which wouldn’t come any sooner than the 2027-28 season.

However, his addition could prove quite timely, as four of Iowa’s current top options at 149/157 pounds will have either graduated or be entering their senior season(s) by the time Amato steps on campus.

But far more significant than a hypothetical lineup fit circa 2027-28 is the fact that this continues the recent recruiting inroads Iowa has made into New Jersey.

With Amato’s commitment, the Hawkeyes have now landed a trio of highly-ranked prospects from the Garden State between the 2025 and 2027 classes.

Leo DeLuca – whom many believe to be Iowa’s prospective 125-pound star of the future – committed to the Hawkeyes out of Blair Academy, a powerhouse prep school that sits a 1:45 drive from Amato.

DeLuca finished his high school career as the top-ranked 120-pound prospect in America before enrolling at Iowa this summer.

Meanwhile, another 2025 signee – #1 ranked 190-pounder Harvey Ludington – attended school barely eight miles from Amato’s Rumson-Fair Haven stomping grounds.

This past spring, Ludington won his third New Jersey state title for Brick Memorial – completing the freshman/junior/senior template that Amato will be looking to follow to close out his own high school career.

Jumping back to the 2027 class, Iowa isn’t done with its Jersey pursuit(s) yet either.

One of the top prospects left on the Hawkeyes’ board is Paul Kenny – ranked #8 in his class and #2 nationally at 126 pounds. And wouldn’t you know it; he’s just a stone’s throw away from Amato too – approx. 9.2 miles west at Christian Brothers Academy.

(As is his younger brother Sean – an elite 2028 prospect.)

A pair of massively talented brothers are in Iowa City:

Joe Bachmann (2x U17 🌍 medalist) ranks #3 OVR in the 2027 class. His brother Fred (U17 🌍🥈) – is a 2028 prospect.

And Paul Kenny (#8 OVR in 2027 + U17 🌍🥇) is with his brother/2028 prospect Sean – a recent Fargo champ. pic.twitter.com/QPEO2ZKs0p

— Tanner Lafever (@TannerLafever) September 13, 2025

Point being, the Garden State has been quite fruitful for Iowa of late. And the Hawkeyes would do well to continue that trend going forward.

Sonny Amato represents another strong step in that direction.

Rankings discrepancy

It’s worth noting that Flo’s aforementioned ranking for Amato (#30 in the Class of 2027) is up for debate.

At the time of their last update (April 11), Amato was considered an ‘honorable mention’ candidate at 144 pounds – regardless of class.

He’s since jumped all the way up to fourth nationally at 150 pounds – a similar placement to which he occupies at fellow rankings service MatScouts (#3 at 150).

And it just so happens MatScouts also currently ranks Amato as the #3 overall prospect in the Class of 2027.

This isn’t to say an equally lofty ranking would be guaranteed from Flo if it were to re-evaluate the 2027 class today, nor that either service is any more reputable than the other.

But it could speak to the fact that even Amato’s laudable #30 ranking by Flo could be underselling just how high he sits in the overall pecking order amongst junior prospects at present.

Regardless, one thing is for certain – in Sonny Amato the Hawkeyes have landed themselves an excellent starting point for the Class of 2027.