Let's Talk Wrestling

Noah is from Epworth, IA and was a 2x state qualifier for the Bobcats. After placing 6th as a senior, Noah went to the University of Dubuque for a stint. He later enlisted in the marines and served 6 years. Nowadays, Noah is out west as a firefighter in LA County. Noah has a great perspective on life and that is what makes this episode so valuable. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Noah Southworth!

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Ty is from Glenwood, IA, where he describes himself as a “late bloomer”. He was a 3x state qualifier, 2x state finalist and a state champ his senior year. Ty’s upward trajectory continued at Augustana University, as he became just the third 4x AA in Vikings history. He was recently inducted into the Augustana Athletics Hall of Fame for his accomplishments. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Ty Copsey!

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Brett is from Bennington, NE and was a 4x state champ for the Badgers, finishing with a career record of 171-4. Brett went on to wrestle at St. Cloud State, where he was a 4x DII AA. He won a national title as a freshman before finishing 3rd and 4th twice. After graduating, Brett went to the University of Iowa, received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy and currently works at Rock Valley Physical Therapy. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Dr. Brett Velasquez!

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Jake is from Battle Creek, IA and went to OABCIG HS. He was a 2x state qualifier, finishing 5th as a senior. Jake went to UNI, where he got his foot in the coaching door. He helped out at Waterloo West with Steve Farrell and Independence with Mike Doyle. He also did some work with the Iron Sharpens Iron camps throughout the summer. Jake is now a teacher at Bellevue East in Nebraska and is gearing up for his second season as head coach of the Chieftains. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Head Coach Jake Nieman!

Frank is from Odin, IL and wrestled at Centralia HS, where he was inducted into the Centralia Sports Hall of Fame in 2024. Frank competed at Lincoln College, where he was an NJCAA AA, before finishing his career at Bloomsburg University. After competing, Frank entered the coaching ranks, with stints at Bloomsburg, Buffalo, Binghamton and NC State before being hired as head coach at George Mason. Over the past 7 seasons, Frank has built the Patriots into a well-respectable program. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Head Coach Frank Beasley!

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Mark is from Eagle Grove, IA and is one of the best to ever don the purple and gold. He placed 6th as a freshman before ripping off 3 straight state titles for the Eagles. Mark started his college career at Iowa State before transferring to Wartburg. He went on to become a 2x AA and was a part of 2 national team titles. Mark has spent the last 12 years as a volunteer assistant coach for the Knights. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Mark Kist!

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Brandon is from Shenandoah, IA and attended Lewis Central HS, where the 01 team he was on is arguably the best in state history. He would go on to place 4 times and win 3 state titles. Brandon went to Oklahoma State and was an AA for the Cowboys, finishing 5th as a sophomore. He went on to secure his doctorate and is now a radiologist while still hanging around the wrestling program as their team doctor. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Dr. Brandon Mason!

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Garrett is from Murrysville, PA and attended Franklin Regional HS. His high school career ended in some disappointment, as he never qualified for the state tournament. However, as we’ve found many times throughout this podcast, high school accolades don’t mean squat when it comes to college success. Garrett, now at Ohio University, is a 2x NCAA qualifier and a MAC champion. With one year left, he has sights set on becoming an AA and more. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Garrett Thompson!

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Blake is from Decorah, IA and was a 2x placer for the Vikings. He went to Wartburg and finished 5th as a junior, helping the Knights to their first-ever national championship. After graduating, Blake entered the coaching scene with a stint at Center Point-Urbana before spending over 20 years as head coach between Solon and Cedar Rapids Prairie. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Blake Williams!

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Joel is from Pleasant Hill, IA and wrestled for the Southeast Polk Rams. He was a 3x placewinner, winning a state title as a junior. Joel began his career at the University of Iowa and had a successful couple years there. Prior to this past season, he decided to transfer to St. Cloud State, where he finished 2nd at the DII national tournament. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Joel Jesuroga!

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Dalton is from Missouri Valley, IA, which is about as far west as you can get in Iowa before you cross the border into Nebraska. At Missouri Valley HS, he was a 3x placewinner and 2x state champ. Dalton started his career at Iowa State, where he was a national qualifier as a sophomore. He then transferred to Nebraska-Kearney, finishing as a 2x finalist and national champ for the Lopers. Dalton hopped on staff as an assistant coach in 2012, moved to associate head coach in 2015 and officially took over the program as head coach in 2016. As head coach, he...

Matt is from Glenwood, IA. He was a 4x state qualifier for the Rams, placing 5th as a junior and winning a state title as a senior. Matt spent his redshirt year at Iowa before transferring to Nebraska-Kearney and becoming a Loper legend. Matt was a 5x AA, placing 4th and 5th to go along with 2 national titles. In 2022, he helped lead UNK to their first team title since 2013. After spending two years as a teacher and head wrestling coach at Bellevue East HS in Nebraska, Matt is now an assistant wrestling coach at North Dakota State. So please...

Dave is from Riceville, IA, where he was recently inducted into the Riceville High School Hall of Fame. Dave went on to wrestle at UW-La Crosse and earned AA honors after placing 3rd his senior. Dave just finished up his 29th year as head coach at Luther College and he has built quite the résumé. Along with his tenure, his Train Like A Norseman camps and Luther College Open has become well known across the country. This one is worth the listen, folks. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Head Coach Dave Mitchell!

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Nelson is from Iowa City, IA and wrestled for the Iowa City West Trojans. He shocked the wrestling world when he committed to the University of Iowa. As a Hawkeye, Nelson constantly battled, with everything culminating his junior year with a 5th place finish at nationals to earn AA status. Nelson recently accepted the head wrestling position at Iowa City Regina. He’s also turned into a mountain man, having climbed now 47 14ers. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Nelson Brands!

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Hunter is from Iowa City, IA and was an Iowa City West Trojan. He was a 4x state finalist and 3x state champion. Hunter took his talents to Palo Alto, CA to attend Stanford University. He’s taken it up a notch, as he’s a 2x AA for the Cardinal at 165 lbs. He’s also won a couple gold medals at the Pan Ams, one in freestyle in 2024 and one in Greco this past April where he also collected bronze in freestyle. Future is bright for this guy, both in wrestling and in life. So please, sit back, relax...

Colton is from Traer, IA, but attended Belle Plaine High School. Gotta show some love for the Traer roots! As a Plainsmen, Colton was a 4x placewinner and state champion his senior year. He wrestled collegiately for Wartburg and also majored in Biology. Colton went on to complete his degree at the University of Iowa and is now working in pediatric orthopedics at Gundersen Health Systems in La Crosse, WI. He also helps out at the Boys & Girls Club with their youth wrestling. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Colton Wagner!

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Kolby is from DuBois, PA and put together one heck of a career. He was a Fargo champ, a 3x Ironman placewinner, a prep state champion. He also won two college opens as a senior in high school. Kolby chose to attend the University of Iowa. However, after dealing with a series of neck injuries, Kolby decided to medically forfeit from the sport. Although his competing career came to an end, Kolby found a new passion in coaching, as he is now a coach at the Hawkeye Wrestling Academy. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Kolby Franklin!

Jeremiah is from Cambridge, WI and started wrestling as a freshman in high school. By the time he graduated, he put together a real respectable career. He was named team MVP as a junior, team captain as a senior, placed at Fargo in both greco and freestyle while also capturing 3rd at the Wisconsin state tournament. Jeremiah attended the University of Iowa, where he became a four-year letterwinner for the black and gold. In 2018, he won the UWW Junior Nationals and took home gold at the Junior Pan Am Championships. Jeremiah is now a fitness professional, having been ATG...

Ryder is from Indianola, IA, where he collected quite the accolades. He was a 4x placewinner, 2x finalist and a state champ his senior year in one of the most memorable matches in recent history. Ryder also got it done in the classroom, as he was valedictorian of his high school class that included 273 students in all. Now at UNI, Ryder is putting his talent on display at the collegiate level. He was a Big 12 champ last year and made the round of 12 at the NCAA tournament. And of course, he was first team academic All-Big 12. Currently in his...

Cody is from Macedonia, OH and wrestled for Bedford St. Chanel. He was a 3 time placewinner, earning 7th and 3rd before capturing a state title as a senior. Cody journeyed about 3 hours south to compete at Ohio University and established himself as a Bobcat great. Cody was a 3x team captain, 3x MAC champion, 4x NCAA qualifier and 2x AA. He amassed 30+ wins in 3 of his 4 seasons and was twice named Ohio University Male Athlete of the Year. Cody began his coaching career as an assistant at Gardner-Webb before stops at West Virginia and Nordonia HS. Fittingly, he is...

Sparty is from Wheaton, IL and wrestled for Wheaton Warrenville South HS. He placed 5th as both a sophomore and junior before becoming the school’s first state champion his senior year. Sparty went on to wrestle for Ohio University, where we was a 4x NCAA qualifier, making the bloodround his junior season. For the last 9 years, Sparty has been an assistant coach at Marmion Academy in Aurora, IL. Last month, he helped lead them to their first state team title in school history. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy Assistant Coach Sparty Chino!

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Scott is from Clarksville, IA, where he wrestled for coach Ron Peterson. After high school, he went on to wrestle at Central College. While injuries may have hampered his career, it also helped him find a passion for coaching. Scott spent over 30 years coaching, mostly at West Delaware and a small stint at Cedar Rapids Prairie. Alongside Jeff Voss at West Delaware, they built the Hawks into a well-oiled machine. Now along the way, Scott found a passion for helping kids build confidence and excitement for the sport of wrestling. And now he does so on a regular basis...

Zach is from Wabasha, MN and went to Wabasha-Kellogg HS. He won 5 Minnesota state titles and cemented himself as one of top recruits in the country. Zach attended the University of Minnesota and was the linchpin on some elite Gopher teams. He finished his career with 134 victories and became the seventh 4x AA in program history. After competing at the senior level, Zach joined his alma mater as an administrative assistant before transitioning into a coaching role and just finished up his second season as an assistant. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Assistant Coach Zach Sanders!

Charles grew up in Philadelphia, PA, but went to high school at Junipero Serra in San Mateo, CA. While there, he was a 3x West Catholic Athletic League champion. He caught the eyes of the Iowa coaching staff while at a wrestling camp and chose to continue his career as a Hawkeye. Charles spent the entirety of his career in the black and gold, compiling a career record of 19-18. He also shined bright as the ultimate teammate, consistently being there for his brothers in more ways than one. Charles will be headed back to Cali, as he was...

Justin is from Davison, MI and wrestled for Davison High School, which has churned out some elite wrestlers over the years. Justin was a 4x state placewinner and 2x state champ. He chose to attend Central Michigan University located in Mount Pleasant, MI. He was a 3x NCAA qualifier, reaching the podium as a RS freshman. Justin transferred to NC State and qualified for nationals a 4th time to end his career. After college, Justin has spent time coaching at Buffalo, Michigan State and Northern Colorado, having success at each university. He just finished up his first season as...

Nick is from Kearney, NE and was a 4x placewinner for the Bearcats which included a pair of state titles. Nick literally stayed put for college, attending the University of Nebraska-Kearney. He had a storied career as a Loper, becoming a 4x AA and 2x finalist while helping UNK to a 5th team title in 2025. Nick didn’t even plan on wrestling this past season, but joined the team late January and finished as a DII runner-up. Crazy stuff! So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Nick James!

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Kaleb is from Punxsutawney, PA, home of the world-famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. Kaleb is a close second, though. He was a 3x placewinner for the Chucks, placing 5th and 4th before becoming the school’s first-ever state champion. Kaleb went on to become an Iowa Hawkeye and turned in a heck of a career. He was a Big Ten finalist, 4x NCAA qualifier and 3x AA. Still hanging around Iowa City, Kaleb is finishing his PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering while also involved with the Hawkeye Wrestling Club. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Kaleb Young!

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Cody is from Graettinger, Iowa, where he placed 2nd as a junior and 4th as a senior. Cody competed at Wartburg College. While there, he lettered 3 times and the Knights claimed a team title in 1999. After successful head coaching stints at his high school alma mater as well as Iowa Lakes Community College, Cody and his wife Teresa have started up The Athlete’s Mentor. The Athlete’s Mentor is the voice for parents, support for coaches, and guide for athletes to set ambitious goals, overcome obstacles, and achieve peak performance, both in sports and in life. They recently anno...