Iowa Hawkeyes Wrestlers Steal the Spotlight in NCAA Coach’s Ranking With Real Woods Leading the Charge

The NCAA wrestling season is raging on and fans are being treated to some sensational matches. Among the country’s elites, the Iowa Hawkeyes have maintained a firm grip on things. However, while Drake Ayala faced an unprecedented loss last weekend, it looks like his season so far has been enough to bring him yet another achievement from the country’s most experienced.

With several upsetting incidents in recent weeks, the wrestling circuit is buzzing with excitement and the NCAA coaches are also looking to be as mesmerized by the events. And yet, the Iowa Hawkeyes remain comfortable on their high pedestal as the NCAA releases its first Division I rankings of 2024.

Iowa Hawkeyes grace the NCAA charts with their presence

In a post on X, the official NCAA Wrestling account has revealed the current rankings of the country’s top wrestlers as per the coaches’ assessment. From the looks of it, the Hawkeyes wrestling team received a nod from the experts thanks to their recent exploits. Despite Ayala’s loss to Purdue’s Matt Ramos at the Craver-Hawkeye Arena 3 days ago, the NCAA coaches seem to agree that the 125-pounder has more to offer for the rest of the season, earning him the top spot in his weight class.

While Drake fell to Ramos, the Hawkeyes registered eight wins in the rest of their 9 matches against the Purdue Boilermakers. In the 141lb bout against Purdue’s Greyson Clark, Iowa senior Real Woods recorded a sensational major 8-0 decision win, earning him the No. 1 spot in the category, as per the NCAA coaches’ rankings.

Another Hawkeye, Jared Franek has been named as the country’s best Division I wrestler in the 157lb weight class, sealing the Iowa wrestling team’s dominant status in the collegiate wrestling scene. However, the list boasts some other exciting names who will surely look to bring the competition to the Hawkeyes as the NCAA championships beckon the country’s best this March.

A list full of the country’s top names

Lehigh has been on a dream run this season, and their Ryan Croockham sits atop the 133lb category in the NCAA coaches’ list with 9-0 on the season. In the 149lb division, Ridge Lovett of Nebraska has been named as the country’s best, while Missouri’s Keegan O’Toole has been the national champion twice and leads the pack in the 165lb weight class.

Read more: After Playing Major Role in Making History for Iowa Hawkeyes Wrestling, Kylie Welker Receives Coveted Accolade

For the 174lb weight class, Illinois’ Edmund Ruth takes the top spot in the 174lb category and Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa is at the helm of the 184 pound category. Trent Hidlay took the No. 1 spot in the 197lb class, and Air Force’s Wyatt Hendrickson edges out the rest in the heavyweight category to call it a day.

Watch this story: I Can Wrestle With Anybody Anytime: The Unranked Purdue Wrestler Proved His Boast