Iowa recruits Block and Hernandez competing this weekend: RESULTS

Todd Conner · Mar 23, 2023

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Iowa recruits Block and Hernandez competing this weekend: RESULTS

Incoming Iowa recruit Ryder Block was chosen to represent the USA All-Star Team in the Pittsburgh Classic on Saturday, March 25. Block faced Tyler Kasak (Bethlehem Catholic) of the Pennsylvania All-Star team at 139 lbs. Kasek is a Penn State commit. Kasak defeated Block 3-2. Block was not...

iowawrestlingblog.com

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

MVPFAN · Mar 23, 2023

Interested to see how Keyan does vs national competition.

MVPFAN · Mar 25, 2023

Keyan had 4 matches today. The round of 16 match was the most recent. If you have Flo access and search him under videos you can watch them. He went pin, pin, major and pin I believe. He tweaked his knee a little in the first match and had a wrap on it after and a little limp from time to time but still going strong. I am actually pretty impressed with what I have seen so far. He is smaller in stature but strong. Kind of a Spencer build and honestly wrestles a lot like him too. He has quick feet and quick shots, used the tilt for backs a number of times, he showed a number of different techniques and looks very comfortable going from one position to the next. He is much more powerful than his size would lead you to believe as in addition to the tilts he horsed guys over for falls. We definitely have something to work with here. A very active hard nosed wrestler with good quickness. No slow footed grinder in Mr. Hernandez.

Mcdog1998 · Mar 25, 2023

Appreciate the writeup as I am to cheap to pay for flo. Any idea on the level of competition at this event?

MVPFAN · Mar 25, 2023

Mcdog1998 said:
Appreciate the writeup as I am to cheap to pay for flo. Any idea on the level of competition at this event?

NHSCA nationals is not as strong as it used to be. It's divided up by grade level and he is at 120 pounds of the Junior class. It is still a national tournament with a lot of kids.

MVPFAN · Mar 25, 2023

Here is an older video at 113 pounds. It's freestyle but gives an idea of his skills.

MVPFAN · Mar 25, 2023

Q2 AOW: 'Lifelong Hawkeye' Keyan Hernandez realizes dream with commitment to Iowa wrestling team

When Billings West junior Keyan Hernandez committed to the University of Iowa wrestling program this fall, it was a childhood dream come true.

www.montanasports.com

edquinn06 · Mar 25, 2023

Into the quarters, but yes it doesn’t appear he will have a nationally ranked opponent in his bracket.

Reymundo · Mar 25, 2023

edquinn06 said:
Into the quarters, but yes it doesn’t appear he will have a nationally ranked opponent in his bracket.

Potential matchup in semifinals vs. #1 seed Isaiah Quintero (CA). MatScouts has him #20 in Class of 2023 and #8 in 120 weight class. S/b a good indicator.

TS568 · Mar 25, 2023

It’s good competition, ranked guys or not I’m sure. He wrestled well at Pre-Season Nationals in October too. Lost a couple very close matches to Downey of Indianola who is real good and ended up 5th.

IAChief32 · Mar 25, 2023

Just beat at a NY state champ

MVPFAN · Mar 25, 2023

He won 2-1 in the quarter finals. Got a TD and ride out in the first. Other guy picked neutral and scoreless in the second. Chose down and ridden in the 3rd. Needs to get better on bottom. The knee seems to be affecting him so it could be a factor, plus he is not an especially big 120.

MVPFAN · Mar 25, 2023

IAChief32 said:
Just beat at a NY state champ

Mathew Marlow. Won titles in NY the past two seasons. Pretty untested the past season. 5-0 finals win his closest match.

MVPFAN · Mar 25, 2023

Reymundo said:
Potential matchup in semifinals vs. #1 seed Isaiah Quintero (CA). MatScouts has him #20 in Class of 2023 and #8 in 120 weight class. S/b a good indicator.

He lost 5-1 to Quintero. TD in the first. Scoreless second. Escape and TD in the third and stalling point for Keyan's point. Definitely can see the size difference in this one.

jrod65 · Mar 25, 2023

Block and Kasak wrestling on Flo now.

2-2 in 2nd. Kasak td in 1st, 2 esc for Block. Block very close to a td, but doesn't quite get it.

3rd period Kasak starts down

Esc Kasak. 3-2 Block trailing

Block in on a single on edge. Cant convert.

Kasak on a leg and kills the clock. Block falls 3-2.

I thought Block probably should have been given the td in 2nd, but was close...

In the blood · Mar 25, 2023

Iowa recruit Block gets robbed in Pennsylvania! Imagine that.

24timenattychamps · Mar 25, 2023

Kasak is getting the PSU bailout special a year early

ChiPackHawk · Mar 25, 2023

jrod65 said:
Block and Kasak wrestling on Flo now.

2-2 in 2nd. Kasak td in 1st, 2 esc for Block. Block very close to a td, but doesn't quite get it.

3rd period Kasak starts down

Esc Kasak. 3-2 Block trailing

Block in on a single on edge. Cant convert.

Kasak on a leg and kills the clock. Block falls 3-2.

Thought Block had the td in 2nd....

I’d take Block for the win 3 out of 4 times.

Ilhawk135 · Mar 25, 2023

There was some home cooking with block not getting that takedown in the 2nd

LaxHawk174 · Mar 25, 2023

Encouraging result for Block IMO. even with the L on paper. Kasak (#17 p4p class of 2023 on FLO/#14 on Matscouts) just spent this past season doing the Levi Haines, skip SR Year and train with NLWC and M2 Club. Neck and neck with him as of right now.

TS568 · Mar 25, 2023

Block will beat him In college for sure. He got ridden for over a minute in the 2nd and lost a bunch of valuable TD time. Just need to get out.

A21408t · Mar 26, 2023

jrod65 said:
Block and Kasak wrestling on Flo now.

2-2 in 2nd. Kasak td in 1st, 2 esc for Block. Block very close to a td, but doesn't quite get it.

3rd period Kasak starts down

Esc Kasak. 3-2 Block trailing

Block in on a single on edge. Cant convert.

Kasak on a leg and kills the clock. Block falls 3-2.

I thought Block probably should have been given the td in 2nd, but was close...

Was there with my brother. In real time, it looked like a takedown to us. Would like to see a replay, but we left feeling Block got jobbed pretty badly.

MVPFAN · Mar 26, 2023

Keyan ended up getting 4th. Nice job by him. The matches he lost he was out sized pretty bad. Looks like he needs to fill out. Has the baby fat kinda look still. Looks to be a 125 lifer and having capable depth at that weight is always nice.

Libertylover · Mar 26, 2023

MVPFAN said:
Keyan ended up getting 4th. Nice job by him. The matches he lost he was out sized pretty bad. Looks like he needs to fill out. Has the baby fat kinda look still. Looks to be a 125 lifer and having capable depth at that weight is always nice.

So is Ayala a 125 lifer and we look for blue chip 133, or do we assume he has one year at 125 and have to find high end 125. You’re talking quality depth with Kenyan, so you assume he is a room guy unless our light weight recruiting go to hell for several years, like our 157 recruiting did.

Libertylover · Mar 26, 2023

Libertylover said:
So is Ayala a 125 lifer and we look for blue chip 133, or do we assume he has one year at 125 and have to find high end 125. You’re talking quality depth with Kenyan, so you assume he is a room guy unless our light weight recruiting go to hell for several years, like our 157 recruiting did.

Hope he pans out better than Yarrbara did, he wrestled in who number one, they usually aren’t coming in as probable room guys. I don’t know if he is still on the team, but he wasn’t even a capable back up

MVPFAN · Mar 26, 2023

Libertylover said:
So is Ayala a 125 lifer and we look for blue chip 133, or do we assume he has one year at 125 and have to find high end 125. You’re talking quality depth with Kenyan, so you assume he is a room guy unless our light weight recruiting go to hell for several years, like our 157 recruiting did.

I don't think Ayala is a 125 lifer, not saying there is no way but it would take some work. I think they were planning on Jesuroga sliding into 125 and Ayala moving up. That said horsepower was maybe the one thing Ayala had a bit of trouble with at 125 so he would need to for sure get stronger to be an effective 133. Keyan is a room guy level recruit but it's very important to have a capable guy to go 125 when you need someone and there is always the chance he could surprise. They obviously should know the plan moving forward for Ayala and landing a blue chip to go opposite him in the 125/133 classes should be exceedingly high priority. Back filling behind Ayala should be on the radar as well. If Block is not a 141 moving forward then a 141 pounder is critical.

BGon4ND · Mar 26, 2023

Ayala was a true freshman wrestling with an injured shoulder. If he's healthy, I expect an instance title contender at 125.

IAChief32 · Mar 26, 2023

BGon4ND said:
Ayala was a true freshman wrestling with an injured shoulder. If he's healthy, I expect an instance title contender at 125.

Especially since it will cleared out quite a bit.

The-Dude-Abides · Mar 27, 2023

MVPFAN said:
I don't think Ayala is a 125 lifer, not saying there is no way but it would take some work. I think they were planning on Jesuroga sliding into 125 and Ayala moving up. That said horsepower was maybe the one thing Ayala had a bit of trouble with at 125 so he would need to for sure get stronger to be an effective 133. Keyan is a room guy level recruit but it's very important to have a capable guy to go 125 when you need someone and there is always the chance he could surprise. They obviously should know the plan moving forward for Ayala and landing a blue chip to go opposite him in the 125/133 classes should be exceedingly high priority. Back filling behind Ayala should be on the radar as well. If Block is not a 141 moving forward then a 141 pounder is critical.

I haven't watched Block a ton, just a few matches. Is there a thought that he might not be at 41 long term?

MVPFAN · Mar 27, 2023

The-Dude-Abides said:
I haven't watched Block a ton, just a few matches. Is there a thought that he might not be at 41 long term?

I honestly don't know but he is quite tall for the weight.

dtripp26 · Mar 27, 2023

MVPFAN said:
I don't think Ayala is a 125 lifer, not saying there is no way but it would take some work. I think they were planning on Jesuroga sliding into 125 and Ayala moving up. That said horsepower was maybe the one thing Ayala had a bit of trouble with at 125 so he would need to for sure get stronger to be an effective 133. Keyan is a room guy level recruit but it's very important to have a capable guy to go 125 when you need someone and there is always the chance he could surprise. They obviously should know the plan moving forward for Ayala and landing a blue chip to go opposite him in the 125/133 classes should be exceedingly high priority. Back filling behind Ayala should be on the radar as well. If Block is not a 141 moving forward then a 141 pounder is critical.

Ayala went toe-to-toe with McKee, DeAugustino and Schroeder (beating the latter two) before injuring his shoulder. The only one who really horsed him was McKee.

Anything that happened after that injury is irrelevant as far as his abilities and/or strength.

I'd prefer him to be a career 125 but he does have the frame to fill out over the next couple years.

redghost1974 · Mar 27, 2023

I'd rather he move up his JR-SR years. I always think of McD maintaining the weight for someone that lanky has to hinder recovery and end of season health.

Todd Conner · Mar 27, 2023

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