AMES – Iowa State wrestling head coach Kevin Dresser has announced the addition of a pair of California State Champions to the 2022 recruiting class. Ethan Perryman and MJ Gaitan have signed letters of intent to wrestle for the Cyclones and will join the team for the 2022-23 season.
“We are very excited about these two guys!” Dresser said. “They bring a lot of talent to Ames next fall. This particular class is shaping up to be a very elite class. Quality guys from Michigan, Iowa, Ohio and now California along with four guys who deferred their ISU enrollment one year, sets us up very nicely for the future.”
Perryman and Gaitan join a class that signed with Iowa State in November that won three additional state championships among them this spring, bringing Iowa State’s total to five 2022 state champions in the class.
“Ethan is an extremely athletic light weight wrestler who will bring an exciting style to us!” Dresser added. “MJ has beaten every elite HS senior in his path this past season and won every prestigious event he entered his senior year. He will end his senior year as the number 1 ranked 160-pound wrestler in the nation. We will have our final recruiting weekend April 8-9 to possibly add a few names to the class of 2022”
Ethan Perryman
Hometown: Temecula, Calif.
High School: Temecula Valley
Projected Weight Class: 125 pounds
Perryman will join the Cyclones after winning the 2022 120 Pound California State Championship. Perryman went 6-0 at the state tournament, including four victories by fall and another by major decision. Perryman is ranked 19th at 120 pounds in the country by FloWrestling, while he is ranked 141st overall by MatScouts. Perryman won the CIF Southern Section Eastern Division and Masters titles this year as well. He is a two-time winner of the IE Varsity Boys Wrestler of the Year award.
“It’s always been a dream to go to Iowa State and I’m glad god has blessed me with the ability to work hard to achieve my goal,” Perryman said. “I can’t wait to help bring the Cyclones a national title.”
MJ Gaitan
Hometown: Temecula, Calif.
High School: Temecula Valley
Projected Weight Class: 165/174 pounds
Gaitan will join the Cyclones after winning the 2022 160 Pound California State Championship. Gaitan went 5-0 at the state tournament, including a pair of falls. MatScouts ranks Gaitan as the top 160-pound wrestler in the country and 35th overall, while he is ranked fourth at 160 pounds by FloWrestling. Gaitan won at IAWrestle’s Night of Conflict, while also taking home the Super 32 Challenge last year. Gaitan also won the 2021 Junior Greco-Roman national title.
“I’m excited to wrestle in front of the Iowa State crowd,” Gaitan said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity and extremely blessed to be with an amazing program like Iowa State. Iowa State has an amazing coaching staff and I can’t wait to learn from them.”
