:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65662660/Screen_Shot_2019_11_08_at_1.51.23_AM.0.png)
Lately it feels like good news follows good news. The Iowa Hawkeyes have been burning up the recruiting trail and we just landed another monster commitment for the class of 2021. Caleb Rathjen is newest soon-to-be Hawk and I cannot be more excited.
I’m very proud and excited to announce my commitment to further my academic and wrestling career at the University of Iowa. I want to thank all of my amazing family, friends and coaches who have helped support me. I can’t wait to wear the Black and Gold! Go Hawks! pic.twitter.com/luHnx0PGbf
— caleb rathjen (@rathjen_caleb) November 8, 2019
There are several other schools in the mix for Rathjen that included the likes of Iowa State, Northern Iowa, North Carolina, Purdue, and South Dakota State. Ultimately, Iowa won the bidding war and Caleb can say he’s going to represent and wrestle for the school he’s been cheering for his entire life.
The Ankeny product has been an annual staple in the top 25 in Flowrestling’s 2021 Big Boards over the last few years. He checks in at #19 nationally after a strong showing his first two years in high school. He’s a 2x state finalist and went 41-1 and claimed his first state championship last year.
He’s also made a name for himself outside of the midwest after being a 2018 Fargo finalist and in late May he placed 4th at the UWW Cadet World Team Trials. During his run to the podium he tech-falled the current P4P #10 ranked wrestler, Shayne Van Ness. If Van Ness sounds familiar that is because he recently wrestled at Who’s Number One at Carver-Hawkeye where he knocked off #1 ranked Jesse Mendez.
Here’s the Rathjen vs. Van Ness beat down:
He’s projecting anywhere from 149-157lbs with a possibility of growing into the 165lbs range as well. He’ll immediately be a strong contender to replace Kaleb Young or Alex Marinelli when they graduate.
Rathjen tallies the 3rd commitment for the class of 2021 in a little over two weeks. He joins Missouri’s #22 Wyatt Henson and Colorado’s Cam Lucero.
With 3x All-American Jaydin Eierman transferring in and now Rathjen nipping at his heels, the future is looking bright up and down this lineup. Call me overly optimistic, but I think this is just the beginning. Tom and Terry Brands and Ryan Morningstar have clearly found something and are firing on all cylinders. I expect and anticipate more big news just around the corner.
Here’s an on-going list of our verbal commitments. FYI- Nation signing day for the class of 2020 is Nov 13.
2020: Weight/ Overall
120lbs: #1/ #17 Jesse Ybarra
126lbs: #8/ #55 Cullan Schriever
138lbs: NA/ NA Colby Schriever
138lbs: NA/ NA Leif Schroeder
145lbs: #3/ #35 Bretli Reyna
170lbs: #1/ #5 Patrick Kennedy
195lbs: NA/ #105 Gabe Christenson
2021: Weight/ Overall
132lbs: #7/ #22 Wyatt Henson
132lbs: #14/ #19 Caleb Rathjen