The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

Wrestling adds transfer DeSanto at 133 pounds

Iowa wrestling has a new transfer in 133-pounder Austin DeSanto.
Fans+look+on+as+Iowas+133+pound+Paul+Glynn+wrestles+Northwesterns+%2320+ranked+Colin+Valdiviez+during+the+Iowa+vs.+Northwestern+dual+meet+on+Sunday%2C+Feb.+4%2C+2018.+Glynn+won+an+upset+3-2+decision.+The+Hawkeyes+defeated+the+wildcats+33-2.+%28Nick+Rohlman%2FThe+Daily+Iowan%29
Nick Rohlman
Fans look on as Iowa’s 133 pound Paul Glynn wrestles Northwestern’s #20 ranked Colin Valdiviez during the Iowa vs. Northwestern dual meet on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018. Glynn won an upset 3-2 decision. The Hawkeyes defeated the wildcats 33-2. (Nick Rohlman/The Daily Iowan)

Ex-Drexel wrestler Austin DeSanto has committed to Iowa, according to Trackwrestling. DeSanto announced Sunday that he would join head coach Tom Brands and the Hawkeyes for his sophomore season.

Brands has had an eye on the Pennsylvania native since Drexel granted his release on April 2. DeSanto was spotted at the World Cup hosted in Iowa City on April 7 and 8. The addition gives Iowa another All-American candidate.

“I thought about it for a while,” DeSanto told Trackwrestling. “This whole week, I thought about what I’m about and this opportunity and what I want to do with them and how hard they wrestle and how hard they train — that’s what I’m about. That’s what I want to become, and I think they can get me to the point where I can become a national champ. That’s why I chose them.”

DeSanto has three years of eligibility left after a strong freshman performance at Drexel. Throughout his first-year campaign, DeSanto had wins against All-Americans Stevan Micic, Jack Mueller, and Montorie Bridges. As a true freshman, DeSanto compiled a 30-7 record as a 133-pounder, 11 of which came by technical fall.

His first year was not without controversy, however. In his NCAA quarterfinals match with Micic, DeSanto attempted an illegal arm bar to injure Michigan’s 133-pounder at the end of his 13-1 loss.

DeSanto and Iowa’s 125-pound national champion Spencer Lee met in both of the wrestlers’ final high school match. DeSanto gave Lee his only prep loss to win the PIAA State Finals. DeSanto will now follow Lee in Carver-Hawkeye Arena this upcoming season. The duo packs a strong early punch for Brands and his staff.

“In my mind, it’s awesome because I get a really, really good training partner to work with and so many other training partners who are going to make me better,” DeSanto told Trackwrestling. “They have a lot of lightweight workout partners. It’s going to be awesome.”

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About the Contributor
James Geerdes, Design Editor
Email: [email protected] James is a junior studying business analytics and journalism. He is currently the design editor and is interested in interactive graphics and UX design. Since joining his freshman year, he has been a sports reporter, designer, and digital producer for The Daily Iowan.