Eli McKown
@Emckown23
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Anything and everything wrestling and HS sports @DMRegister | Bylines ✏️ @azcentral, @griffinshockey, @thesnews, @freepsports, @TheExponentTeam
Joined June 2015
Des Moines Roosevelt's Ephraim Lunganga came to the United States as a refugee only about two years ago. Today, he's the leading scorer for the Roughriders, hoping to lead them to a state title in his senior season:. #Iahssoc @trhsroughriders @DMschools.
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The state of Iowa’s three Division I head coaches lead the way tonight
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CARDIAC CARR!. He’s even got Iowa fans cheering for him here in KC after defeating O’Toole.
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Iowa’s Class of 2026 just got a massive addition. Michael Mocco is a Hawkeye, one of the top heavyweight prospects in the class. The son of Steve Mocco. Bo Bassett, Mocco and Owen McMullen put together quite the class for 2026 at the moment.
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Nico DeSalvo was running a 102 fever last night, but excuses are for wusses he says. Wonder who he got that from!. DeSalvo is a two-time state champ
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Spencer Lee to the media in State College following his win: . "If it wasn't for the Iowa Hawkeye program being supportive of me, I'd probably be retired to be honest. I had such a tough time staying healthy and trying to compete to the best of my ability. I'm still not healthy,.
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A note from the Hawkeye athletic department on Ben Kueter:. His only losses this season were to those listed as seniors, redshirt seniors or graduate students. Eligibility is a nightmare to calculate, but the weight is undoubtedly opening up next season.
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With David Carr's win, this is the first time since 2007 that Iowa State will finish ahead of the Iowa Hawkeyes.
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After winning the National Duals title, UNI wrestling is out rolling up and taking care of mats here at the UNI-Dome
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Schwab bros ➡️ state finals. The two pinned their semifinal opponents in the first period and have Don Bosco firmly in the lead for a seventh-consecutive team title.
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Breaking: Northern Iowa coach Doug Schwab has been awarded NWCA Coach of the Year. In his 15th season with UNI, the Panthers are poised to earn their first top-10 finish since 1992.
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I bought Twitter Premium just for this. Here’s what Tom Brands had to say after the debacle tonight.
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Holy moly, David Carr. Two takedowns and three total exposures helps him defeat Olympic Silver Medalist and Senior World bronze medalist Daichi Takatani of Japan. Not an exaggeration to say that’s the best win of his career, and that’s saying something for Carr.
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Spencer Lee is an Olympian. Takedown, 4 gut wrenches and it’s over against Kalzhan. 36 seconds is all it took. This is 23rd time a Hawkeye has made the Olympic wrestling team. 11 out of the last 12 Olympic teams have had a Hawkeye wrestler, with 2012 being the lone exception.
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Drake Ayala is back to the semis and is a two-time AA. Good stuff here on his tournament so far, and a great quote from Ayala at the end on Parco and Teemer’s injuries.
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After Nelson Brands’ announcement, Kyle Parco makes a big one of his own and will be wrestling for the Hawkeyes. NCAA All-American will spend his final season in Iowa City.
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New Jersey 120 pound junior Leo Deluca chooses the Hawkeyes. He’s one of the top high school prospects in the country as a U16 Fargo National Champion in 2021.
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Looks like Iowa wrestling has its 197-pounder. Massoma Endene had committed to the Hawkeyes, he’s a three-time DIII National Champion with success on international stages.
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Ben Kueter:.111-0 in High school.Four-time state champion.No. 1 PFP recruit in class. Nash Hutmacher, the Polar Bear:.166-0.Four-time state champion.No. 1 heavyweight recruit in class.
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Northern Iowa has accepted their National Duals Invitational bid. Oklahoma State, North Carolina State, Ohio State and UNI are the official programs listed thus far.
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Just caught up with Caleb Rathjen after… that. Said it’s a constant battle everyday with that room at 149. Always has to be ready to scrap. And… a little spice from him too. “These guys think they’re going to come in here and be the guys, I had other things to say about that.”.
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Breaking: Class of 2026 No. 1 Bo Bassett has made his commitment to the Iowa Hawkeyes. Announced on Flowrestling. @BoBassett06 is a:. - Three-time Super 32, Powerade and Ironman Champion.- U20 World bronze in 2024.- U17 World Champion in 2021. Massive get for Iowa.
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Stephen Buchanan is the first wrestler to ever All-American for three different programs. He’s got AJ Ferrari up next
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UNI’s reaction to finding out this was the first time since 1991 they have beaten Nebraska
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Schwab bros go two for two tonight. For Hayden and his dad, tonight was about relinquishing his demons from last year.
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Carver explodes for Drake Ayala’s win over Lucas Byrd. Ayala beat Braeden Davis about a year ago to secure his status among the top of 125 at the time. Similar feel here.
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Carr’s last match in Hilton? A pin. 67-0 all-time here in Ames.
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Stephen Buchanan on the move to Iowa. The former Oklahoma and Wyoming wrestler said that the traffic in Iowa has been the biggest change so far. “I’ve been almost late (to practice) a few times.” 😂
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Hey, don’t get mad at Adam Schefter. He didn’t get to learn that at Michigan cause they don’t have a J-school.
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A photo from the Iowa wrestling room, the women’s squad now has its own All-Americans board. I imagine that grows in March.
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Kennedy Blades is loving the team atmosphere at Iowa, if you can’t tell:
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AJ Ferrari is here in attendance tonight for the dual, sitting between Gabe Arnold and Ben Kueter here
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Iowa picks up a big commit in Harvey Ludington, who is ranked No. 1 in the nation at 190 pounds per Matscouts. A two-time New Jersey state champion, he fills a big need for the Hawkeyes.
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Thought there was some insightful stuff here to share. Drake Ayala on the move to 133, culture at Iowa given incoming transfers and reflection upon last year:
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What a moment here for Colin Realbuto!. Paniro Johnson is hit for stalling in the third to send the match to OT, then Realbuto wins in sudden victory on senior day. Even better, his infant daughter is here to see that one today. UNI leads 6-4.
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Jacori Teemer after his pin tonight (quote via Iowa Athletics): . "I should have been here my whole career. Just the past two duals have been amazing. The fans have been electric. They follow Iowa everywhere they go. The atmosphere they bring and the aura around Iowa wrestling is.
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Caught up with Patrick Kennedy on being included in the lineup and his battle for a spot. "I grew up not with a lot of money, so if I finish wrestling and go put my work boots on the rest of my life, so what? I don't care, because I love being here.".
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Bo Bassett is a Hawkeye. What it means for the Iowa program:.
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Best tournament of the weekend for Iowa goes to Ben Kueter, who takes third place and outperformed his seed by a good margin. Took out OSU's Nick Feldman and Michigan's Joshua Heindselman to close his time in Evanston. Had two tough rides in those matches to snag a win.
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Another attendance note for you upon that release…. Iowa men led the nation at 14,847. The Iowa women would be second in the nation at 7,491 fans per contest, averaging 154 more fans than the Penn State men did.
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Iowa wrestling has made a pair of substantial adds in the transfer portal. Nasir Bailey and Jordan Williams of Little Rock have each announced their commitments to the Hawkeyes tonight on Instagram:
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Iowa is going to take fourth at the NCAA Championships. Here’s a fairly candid Tom Brands on Stephen Buchanan’s season at Iowa, and Ayala and Caliendo’s losses
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Angelo Ferrari wins in his CHA debut, scoring two takedowns in a 8-2 win. Tom Brands said earlier this week he could get used to coaching this guy, talent he showed here against a top-15 opponent is an example why. Gets a standing-O from the crowd and blows a kiss to ISU.
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Storybook ending to Iowa’s first season. Kylie Welker wins by technical fall over North Central’s Makoyed to secure the sixth individual title and a team title here in Cedar Rapids
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Breaking: Fort Dodge’s Dreshaun Ross has committed to Oklahoma State. David Taylor was in town last weekend to see Ross at the Ed Winger Invite and got a massive prospect in the Dodger.
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Spencer Lee has earned at least a silver medal on the behalf of his par terre work. All-time, Hawkeye wrestlers are 5-1 in Olympic gold medal matches. Do what you will with that information, but regardless of result tomorrow, Lee is Iowa wrestling’s 11th Olympic medal ever.
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UNI wrestling’s Doug Schwab on the National Duals title, the “Mid-Major” label and the Division I portion returning:
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Zach Glazier is 14-0 and has clinched three-road duals for Iowa this season. The guy just keeps winning.
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Drake Ayala said today that him and his brother Dru live together at Iowa now. I asked him what it has been like living with his brother in college… his immediate response:. “The dude doesn’t know how to cook, so that’s a learning curve right now.”.
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Hot take: the Big Ten map commercial should not show the West coast schools during wrestling dual broadcasts if they do not have programs.
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Michael Mocco’s commitment gives Iowa two U17 World Champions for the 2026 class. Hard to project much of anything these days, but between Bassett, Mocco, Ferrari, DeLuca, Ludington, Kueter, Arnold and more… ton of young stars come 2026 and beyond.
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A lot of hoopla got made about how Stephen Buchanan arrived at Iowa back in August. After winning his first national championship with the Hawkeyes, however, it's hard to not see how both the Hawkeyes and Buchanan benefitted from the move:.
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"I know what I'm capable of.". Drake Ayala is Iowa's first All-American of the season.
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Massoma Endene is a really enticing add to me. - 76-1 at Wartburg in three years, won three national titles and bonused his way through the field at 2025 NCAAs. - 2024 and 2025 U23 Pan-Am Champ, 7th at 2024 U23 Worlds.
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A ton gets made about the 174/184 battle. Consensus today is that it’s all still in the air, and all four guys contending see it working out in the end.
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Nothing official, but appears Gabe Brown may be leaning towards not using that extra year.
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Ben Kueter ➡️ All-American. The youngster is Iowa’s fifth All-American of the tournament with a 5-1 win by decision over Dayton Pitzer of Pitt. He’s wrestling at the highest level of his college career so far, but a huge ceiling going forward.
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This is so nasty from Arnold, my goodness. 🎥: UFC Fight Pass.
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Caleb Rathjen has hit the transfer portal. Ankeny alum who defeated Tyler Kasak last season in the PSU-Iowa dual in CHA.
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This is a really confident Michael Caliendo, one that I’m not sure that I saw last year when he arrived at Iowa. Going to be a threat at 165.
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Stephen Buchanan ignites the crowd with a MASSIVE win over AJ Ferrari. 3-0 win with a tough ride in the second to get the riding-time point, a locked hands penalty on Ferrari and an escape in the third. Gritty match, but gets to the NCAA finals for the first time.
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An official proclamation from Governor Kim Reynolds, declaring today Iowa women’s wrestling day.
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A snippet from our conversation with Gabe Arnold today, who is relishing competition for a spot:. "I don't know about you guys, and excuse my language, but I fu***** love it.". More to come on Arnold, who was really insightful today. 🎥: @Hawks_Wrestling
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ICYMI: Bo Bassett's heroes are Spencer Lee, Michael Kemerer, Max Murin and Kaleb Young, all Pennsylvania guys who became Hawkeyes. Bo is hoping to be the next Hawkeye legend, and is already working the phones to add guys alongside him:. @BoBassett06 .
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Spencer. Lee. A pin in the final 30 seconds clinches his spot for the United States at 57 KG. If takes third or better at the World Olympic Games Qualifier, he’ll qualify the weight AND compete at the Olympics. That’s the vintage, healthy Lee we came to expect.
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Macey Kilty and the Hawkeye women’s wrestling program are national champions
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Former Scarlet Knight @DTMP02 has announced his commitment to the Hawkeyes. Peterson is a three-time NCAA qualifier at 125 with notable wins over Luke Lilledahl, Richard Figueroa and others. Really intriguing guy for Iowa at 125, high potential:
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Gabe Arnold's NCAAs will come to an end, as he attempted to roll through a hold from DJ Parker and suffered a loss by fall. Arnold goes 2-2 at NCAAs at 184 where he was a bit short for the weight, but really enjoyed his season, particularly with him sharing his mental health.
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Spencer Lee to @USAWrestling: “It's great and all, but being an Olympian doesn't mean a whole lot unless you come back with that prized gold medal.”. Full story on Lee’s dominance in Istanbul:
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UNDER FOUR MINUTES. Western Dubuque’s Quentin Nauman runs a 3:59.60, setting an all-time Iowa record here at the Blue Oval.
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The fact this poster won’t see the light of day is a shame.
A sneak peak at what COULD have been our special edition poster. Pick up a print issue tomorrow to read more on Kenneth Walker III's standout season at MSU. @MSU_Football @Kenneth_Walker9
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Stephen Buchanan is a national champion. Trailed 2-0 in the second period after a locked hands call and an escape, but Buchanan countered an attack and took down Barr after to have the lead and eventually win 5-2. First National champion since Spencer Lee.
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Spencer Lee wrestled in seven minutes and 53 seconds of match time today. Excluding the match against Zou, it would be one minute, 23 seconds.
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Some realignment news…. Today is my first day with the @DMRegister as their new high school sports and Iowa/Iowa State wrestling reporter. I’m incredibly honored to be able to report for such an acclaimed paper and community right after college.
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🧵: Iowa wrestling pre-Penn State press conferences. We’ll start with Tom Brands:
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An absurd day for the Iowa women… crowing 10 regional champs and going perfect on the day vs. non-Hawkeye opponents (38-0). Nationals in two weeks!.
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Spencer Lee takes down Vladimir Egorov wish ease, 12-2 TF. The pace and the strength of Lee today has been unreal. He got that done in 54 seconds. One more win and Lee has qualified for the Olympics.
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Tom Brands post-Stanford presser. Happy with efforts from Parco, Caliendo, Buchanan and Kueter. Says guys “fell asleep at the wheel” in losses.
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Parker Keckeisen is now a five-time Big 12 champion with the win over Dustin Plott. Keckeisen is 6-0 vs. Plott all-time. Huge NCAAs coming for the Panther.
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The biggest thing Tom and Terry Brands desired with the facility is the flow from off the mats and onto the workout equipment. Pretty easy flow in that, I’d say:
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"I mean, damn. That's one of the best guys in the country. Nothing against anyone else, but that was the most dominant guy to me in the tournament," - Doug Schwab. More on Parker Keckeisen's unbelievable season:.
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Caliendo!. Third time Mikey has reached the podium in his career. Says his pace and offense got the job done today.
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Kadyn Proctor is in the house tonight, in case you guys were wondering.
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Kennedy Blades is awarded Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.
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Dreshaun Ross with a third!. Oklahoma State commit is prepping for another shot at Worlds and discusses a chippy match at 215.
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