A native of Ankeny, Iowa, Rathjen was a runner up in the summer of 2021 at the Fargo junior freestyle national championships. Rathjen has won numerous titles on the youth circuit both nationally and in the state of Iowa. Rathjen made his high school debut in the 2017-2018 season finishing as a runner up at the Iowa 3A state tournament. Rathjen returned in 18 -19winning the Johnston Valley invitational, and finishing as runner up at the Cliff Keen Invitational.
Over 150 Upsets From Conference Tournament Weekend
Mar 11, 2024
It's hard to overstate how much exciting college wrestling took place this past weekend. All seven conferences held their championships over the last few days and determined the majority of the qualifiers for the 2024 NCAA Championships that will take place in less than two weeks in Kansas City, Missouri.2024 Big Ten Wrestling Championship Preseeds Are Out!
Mar 5, 2024
The Big Ten, the nation's toughest and deepest college wrestling conference will hold their championship on Saturday and Sunday, March 9-10 in the Xfinity Center on the University of Maryland's College Park campus, and no we have the pressed for the tournament!2024 Iowa vs Oklahoma State Wrestling Dual Preview & Predictions
Feb 22, 2024
Iowa will travel to Stillwater, Oklahoma on Sunday for what is one of the best and most historic rivalries in college wrestling. Wrestling begins at 3 pm Eastern and will be televised on FS1. Oklahoma State leads the series all time 29-25-2, but Iowa has won seven of the last nine including 28-7 last season. With several toss-up matches, this one could go either way.Iowa Wrestling Faces Tough Road Test Against Michigan On Friday
Jan 31, 2024
What: #2 Iowa (10-0, 5-0 B1G) vs #13 Michigan (5-3, 3-2 B1G)When: Friday, February 2 at 7:30 p.m. CT (8:30 p.m. ET)Where: Ann Arbor, Michigan (Crisler Center)How To Watch: Big Ten Network/Fox Sports AppSeries History: Iowa leads 34-26-1Iowa's Biggest Tests vs Illinois and Northwestern
Jan 23, 2024
What: #2 Iowa (8-0) vs #22 Illinois (3-4)When: Friday, January 26, 2024, at 8 p.m. CT (9 p.m. ET)Where: Champaign, Illinois (Huff Hall)How to watch: Big Ten NetworkIowa Hawkeyes Reload For 2023-24 NCAA Season
Aug 16, 2023
This fall, Tom Brands will enter his 18th year as head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes, and his first season in Iowa City as head coach in the post-Spencer Lee era.Semis For Soldier Salute Are Set
Dec 30, 2022
Iowa dominated the first day of the inaugural Soldier Salute by sending 13 wrestlers to the semifinals. Three-time NCAA champion Spencer Lee won his first two matches by fall and technical fall and will face U20 World Champion Jore Volk in the semifinals.Spencer Lee Among 29 Hawkeyes Competing At Soldier Salute
Dec 28, 2022
It appears that Spencer Lee will compete for the second time this season after the University of Iowa released 29 wrestlers that will compete at the Soldier Salute on December 29-30 in Coralville. Lee made his season debut with a 16-5 major decision over Corey Cabanban during the Iowa State dual on December 4. The Hawkeye senior is seeking his fourth NCAA championship this season.Also included are national place winners Real Woods, Jacob Warner, and Anthony Cassioppi.The full list has 16 attached and 13 unattached wrestlers. Drake Ayala, who replaced Lee last season, will compete unattached.Iowa's Bonus Points The Difference Against Iowa State In 5-5 Split
Dec 4, 2022
Iowa defeated Iowa State, 18-15, after each team won five matches. Bonus points were the difference for the Hawkeyes as they picked up major decisions from Spencer Lee, Cobe Siebrecht, and Nelson Brands. This dual also marked the season debut of Spencer Lee who kicked things off for Iowa at 125 pounds.#2 Iowa Hawkeyes vs #14 Penn Quakers Match Notes
Nov 26, 2022
The first big dual after Thanksgiving is a good one. Penn is solid at every weight. The Quakers are the #14 ranked dual team in the nation. They have ten returning NCAA qualifiers, nine of whom are in the lineup this season. They appear well-equipped to take on a #2 Hawkeye side whose published probable lineup is missing #1 Spencer Lee, #11 Brody Teske, #3 Real Woods, and #19 Nelson Brands.2022-23 NCAA 157-Pound Preseason Preview: A Weight Up For Grabs
Aug 3, 2022
With the 2021 champ moving up to 165 and the 2022 champ moving on to coaching, 157 has become a weight very much up for grabs. There will be some key guys hopefully healed up, moving up, and coming in. Let’s dig in!The Top Potential Matches At U20 World Team Trials
Jun 2, 2022
One of my favorite age-level tournaments of the year has arrived - the Junior World Team Trials. The nation’s best high school upperclassmen and college underclassmen putting it on the line for a chance to represent their country overseas.Way Too Early Lineup Look: 2022-2023 Iowa Hawkeyes
Apr 4, 2022
There was a lot of talk about how much firepower the Iowa Hawkeyes would be losing in 2022-2023 with the departure of Austin Desanto, Jaydin Eierman, Kaleb Young, Alex Marinelli, and Michael Kemerer. However, a huge return of a 3X national champion, national title contender transfer, and some key upperclassmen that have been on a title-winning team will keep the Hawks in the trophy contention hunt.Hawkeyes Sending 15 To Scuffle
Dec 29, 2021
The Iowa Hawkeye's holiday tournament saga final turn will land them in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at the 2022 Southern Scuffle. With the cancelation of the Midlands Championships and then the cancelation of the Hawkeye Open, the Hawks needed somewhere to get their nonstarters matches and the Scuffle accepted them in.Full Southern Scuffle Registration List
Dec 28, 2021
Every New Year's Day, the Southern Scuffle kicks off the beginning of the year with an electrifying lineup that produces some of the year's top collegiate matches. The 2022 Southern Scuffle will be no different. Check out the full registration list here with ranked wrestlers at the top of each weight class, and get ready to kick back, relax, and ring in the only way we know-how.