After a sub-par finish to the 2024-2025 season by Iowa Wrestling standards, the Hawkeyes are busy retooling for the future. The Hawkeyes have dipped heavily into the transfer portal to secure some big transfers for the upcoming season.
Iowa has added Dean Peterson (125 pounds) from Rutgers, Nassir Bailey (133 pounds) and Jordan Williams (149 pounds) from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
The Hawkeyes are also adding Leo DeLuca, the No. 1 ranked high school wrestler at 120 pounds in the 2025 recruiting class, to the roster next season.
Iowa is also aiming for future success. The Hawkeyes have already secured a commitment from Bo Basset, the No.1 overall prospect in the 2026 recruiting class, and on April 15, received another huge commitment for the 2026 class.
BREAKING: Huge news for the Hawkeyes as they have secured the commitment of their heavyweight of the future.
— Ross Bartachek (@rossbchek) April 14, 2025
Michael Mocco, #8 in the class of 2026 and son of former NCAA champion Steve Mocco, has given his verbal to Iowa pic.twitter.com/Ka0iRiwQ6e
Iowa Men's Wrestling grabbed a 2026 commitment from heavyweight Michael Mocco. Mocco is a three-time Florida state champion at 285 pounds.
Before committing to the Hawkeyes, Mocco has dominated at the heavyweight level. He won Under-16 world titles in both wrestling styles at 220 pounds in 2023 and the Under-17 Freestyle World Title at 110 Kg (243 pounds) last summer.
Mocco is currently ranked as the No. 15 overall wrestler (No. 3 ranked heavyweight) by FloWrestling.
Mocco committed to the Hawkeyes 24 years after his father, Steve Mocco, committed to the Hawkeyes as one of the top-ranked recruits in the 2001 recruiting class.
Steve started his collegiate wrestling career at Iowa (2001-2003), where he became the undefeated heavyweight NCAA Champion (2003). After taking an Olympic redshirt for the 2003-2004 season, Steve finished his career at Oklahoma State.