Eight Iowa wrestlers win national titles at USA Wrestling Junior and U16 nationals

All eyes were on Fargo, North Dakota this past weekend for the US Marine Corps Junior and 16U Nationals.

And let’s just say those eyes saw Iowa wrestlers dominate on the mat.

By the end of the competition, Iowa wrestling had over 30 total All-Americans: Over 23 male competitors and seven female wrestlers. Naomi Simon and Brooklyn Graham were named national champions in their respective weight classes on the girls side.

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Ryder Block, Tate Naaktgeboren (freestyle and Greco-Roman), Kyler Knaack (freestyle and Greco-Roman), Dreshaun Ross (freestyle and Greco-Roman), Nicholas Fox and Hayden Schwab all left North Dakota with national titles.

Two male Iowa wrestlers picked up the coveted USA Wrestling Triple Crown. The Triple Crown is awarded to any athlete who wins three specific USA Wrestling national titles in the same year.

Both Dreshaun Ross and Kyler Knaack won Triple Crowns and helped Iowa wrestling place second, behind Illinois, in 16U and Junior Greco-Roman wrestling.

Here are some of the top in-state wrestlers from nationals this past week.

Triple Crown Winners

Dreshaun Ross

Ross was one of the top two standouts of the entire tournament, and he was absolutely dominant against his competition. He outscored his opponents 50-0 while adding national titles in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. Those, plus his freestyle title last year, earned Ross the Triple Crown.

His final title of the week came against California’s David Calkins, winning 9-0 in just 37 seconds. Ross joins Iowa wrestling legend David Kjeldgaard as the only three-time 16U champion in state history across both Greco-Roman and freestyle.

Kyler Knaack

Iowa had not one but two Triple Crown winners. Knaack outlasted Illinois’ Jimmy Mastny and held off a late takedown attempt for a 4-3 win to claim the 16U Greco-Roman title. It’s been an incredibly successful season for Knaack, whose Triple Crown was made up of national titles in the main three styles of wrestling: Greco-Roman in July, freestyle in July and folkstyle in April.

Iowa's National Champions

• Brooklyn Graham – 180 lbs. (16U)

• Naomi Simon – 164 lbs. (Junior)

• Ryder Block – 138 lbs. (Junior)

• Tate Naaktgeboren – 182 lbs. (Junior)

• Nicholas Fox – 170 lbs. (Junior)

• Hayden Schwab – 94 lbs. (16U)

• Kyler Knaack – 152 lbs. (16U)

• Dreshaun Ross – 195 lbs. (16U)

Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at ahertel@dmreg.com or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Dreshaun Ross, Kyler Knaack win USA Wrestling Triple Crowns at nationals