“We’re very excited to add these five young men to the Iowa State wrestling program,” head coach Kevin Dresser said. “Our room gets tougher each year and these guys will only add to that and raise the level of competition in practice. There’s some great talent in this signing class and I can’t wait to watch them transition into college life.”
Iowa State’s signing class is ranked No. 12 nationally by FloWrestling. The class consists of three top-60 prospects and four who rate inside the top 100 by either FloWrestling or MatScouts.
Here’s a look at the new additions:
Sawyer Bartelt
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
High School: South Dade
Projected Weight Class: 197
Rated as the No. 20 overall recruit by FloWrestling … ranked as the No. 12 pound-for-pound high schooler by FloWrestling … ranked No. 2 nationally at 220 pounds by FloWrestling and MatScouts … three-time Miami Herald Wrestler of the Year … five-time Florida state medalist … three-time state champion, winning titles as a freshman, sophomore and junior … took fifth at 120 pounds as a seventh grader and placed second at 152 pounds in eighth grade … boasts a 120-0 record as a high schooler … posted a 49-0 record as a junior … has not given up a takedown in a high school match over the last three seasons … 2023 Greco-Roman junior national champion at 220 pounds … represented the United States at the 2023 U20 World Championships in Greco-Roman (97kg) … won gold at the 2022 U17 Pan-American Championships in Freestyle and Greco-Roman … also won a 2021 NHSCA freshman national title and 16U Greco-Roman title.
Owen Helgeson
Hometown: Johnston, Iowa
High School: Johnston
Projected Weight Class: 165
Three-time Iowa high school state qualifier and two-time placewinner … posted a 9-2 record in his senior season, advancing to the consolation third round at the state tournament … placed fifth at the 2021 state tournament to cap a 19-5 season … went 31-3 and placed fifth as a freshman … brother, Caleb, is a 184-pounder for the Cyclones.
Daniel Herrera
Hometown: Palm Desert, Calif.
High School: Palm Desert [Calif.]/Ames [Iowa]
Projected Weight Class: 285
Listed as the No. 60 recruit nationally by FloWrestling and No. 62 by MatScouts … ranked as the No. 7 heavyweight nationally by FloWrestling and the No. 10 heavyweight by MatScouts … two-time California state champion … never lost a high school match … moved to Iowa to complete his senior year at Ames High School … also a standout defensive lineman on the gridiron … three-time all-league first team performer and was the 2022 Desert Empire League’s defensive player of the year.
Adrian Meza
Hometown: Laveen, Ariz.
High School: Valiant Prep
Projected Weight Class: 133
Rated as the No. 46 recruit nationally by FloWrestling and No. 56 by MatScouts … tabbed as the No. 6 132-pounder nationally by FloWrestling … 2023 Junior Freestyle All-American … placed sixth at 2023 Super 32 … 2023 PNL Chicago Folkstyle champion … placed fourth at the 2023 Last Chance Open … 2021 Greco-Roman All-American … 16U freestyle national champion.
Kane Naaktgeboren
Hometown: Marion, Iowa
High School: Linn-Mar
Projected Weight Class: 149
Listed as the No. 91 prospect nationally by MatScouts … three-time Iowa high school state medalist and 2023 finalist … 99-10 career record with 76 falls … 2022 16U Folkstyle national champion … posted a 38-3 record en route to a runner-up finish as a junior at 138 pounds … placed third at the state tournament as a sophomore with a 42-2 record … placed fifth at the state tournament as a freshman … brother, Tate, is a 184-pounder for the Cyclones.
