Let's Talk Wrestling – Details, episodes & analysis

Kaleb is from Punxsutawney, PA, home of the world-famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. Kaleb is a close second, though. He was a 3x placewinner for the Chucks, placing 5th and 4th before becoming the school’s first-ever state champion. Kaleb went on to become an Iowa Hawkeye and turned in a heck of a career. He was a Big Ten finalist, 4x NCAA qualifier and 3x AA. Still hanging around Iowa City, Kaleb is finishing his PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering while also involved with the Hawkeye Wrestling Club. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Kaleb Young!

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Cody is from Graettinger, Iowa, where he placed 2nd as a junior and 4th as a senior. Cody competed at Wartburg College. While there, he lettered 3 times and the Knights claimed a team title in 1999. After successful head coaching stints at his high school alma mater as well as Iowa Lakes Community College, Cody and his wife Teresa have started up The Athlete’s Mentor. The Athlete’s Mentor is the voice for parents, support for coaches, and guide for athletes to set ambitious goals, overcome obstacles, and achieve peak performance, both in sports and in life. They recently announced a huge partnership with the Hawkeye Wrestling Academy. For more information on how you can get involved, visit theathletesmentor.com. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Cody Alesch!

The Athlete's Mentor website: https://www.theathletesmentor.com/

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Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

Nick is from Kearney, NE and was a 4x placewinner for the Bearcats which included a pair of state titles. Nick literally stayed put for college, attending the University of Nebraska-Kearney. He had a storied career as a Loper, becoming a 4x AA and 2x finalist while helping UNK to a 5th team title in 2025. Nick didn’t even plan on wrestling this past season, but joined the team late January and finished as a DII runner-up. Crazy stuff! So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Nick James!

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Ryder is from Indianola, IA, where he collected quite the accolades. He was a 4x placewinner, 2x finalist and a state champ his senior year in one of the most memorable matches in recent history. Ryder also got it done in the classroom, as he was valedictorian of his high school class that included 273 students in all. Now at UNI, Ryder is putting his talent on display at the collegiate level. He was a Big 12 champ last year and made the round of 12 at the NCAA tournament. And of course, he was first team academic All-Big 12. Currently in his RS sophomore year, Ryder is rolling into the NCAA tournament in a wide-open 157-pound weight class. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Ryder Downey!

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Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

Cody is from Macedonia, OH and wrestled for Bedford St. Chanel. He was a 3 time placewinner, earning 7th and 3rd before capturing a state title as a senior. Cody journeyed about 3 hours south to compete at Ohio University and established himself as a Bobcat great. Cody was a 3x team captain, 3x MAC champion, 4x NCAA qualifier and 2x AA. He amassed 30+ wins in 3 of his 4 seasons and was twice named Ohio University Male Athlete of the Year. Cody began his coaching career as an assistant at Gardner-Webb before stops at West Virginia and Nordonia HS. Fittingly, he is now back at his alma mater as an assistant under his former head coach, Joel Greenlee. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Assistant Coach Cody Walters.

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Sparty is from Wheaton, IL and wrestled for Wheaton Warrenville South HS. He placed 5th as both a sophomore and junior before becoming the school’s first state champion his senior year. Sparty went on to wrestle for Ohio University, where we was a 4x NCAA qualifier, making the bloodround his junior season. For the last 9 years, Sparty has been an assistant coach at Marmion Academy in Aurora, IL. Last month, he helped lead them to their first state team title in school history. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy Assistant Coach Sparty Chino!

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Scott is from Clarksville, IA, where he wrestled for coach Ron Peterson. After high school, he went on to wrestle at Central College. While injuries may have hampered his career, it also helped him find a passion for coaching. Scott spent over 30 years coaching, mostly at West Delaware and a small stint at Cedar Rapids Prairie. Alongside Jeff Voss at West Delaware, they built the Hawks into a well-oiled machine. Now along the way, Scott found a passion for helping kids build confidence and excitement for the sport of wrestling. And now he does so on a regular basis as a mindset coach with Z-Winning Mindset. Z-Winning mindset offers world-class mental training for athletes and teams of all sports. If you want more information, head to www.zwinningmindset.com. So with that being said, please sit back, relax and enjoy Scott Litterer.

Z-Winning Mindset website: https://www.zwinningmindset.com/

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Zach is from Wabasha, MN and went to Wabasha-Kellogg HS. He won 5 Minnesota state titles and cemented himself as one of top recruits in the country. Zach attended the University of Minnesota and was the linchpin on some elite Gopher teams. He finished his career with 134 victories and became the seventh 4x AA in program history. After competing at the senior level, Zach joined his alma mater as an administrative assistant before transitioning into a coaching role and just finished up his second season as an assistant. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Assistant Coach Zach Sanders!

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Charles grew up in Philadelphia, PA, but went to high school at Junipero Serra in San Mateo, CA. While there, he was a 3x West Catholic Athletic League champion. He caught the eyes of the Iowa coaching staff while at a wrestling camp and chose to continue his career as a Hawkeye. Charles spent the entirety of his career in the black and gold, compiling a career record of 19-18. He also shined bright as the ultimate teammate, consistently being there for his brothers in more ways than one. Charles will be headed back to Cali, as he was just announced as the new head wrestling coach at San Clemente HS. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Charles Matthews!

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Justin is from Davison, MI and wrestled for Davison High School, which has churned out some elite wrestlers over the years. Justin was a 4x state placewinner and 2x state champ. He chose to attend Central Michigan University located in Mount Pleasant, MI. He was a 3x NCAA qualifier, reaching the podium as a RS freshman. Justin transferred to NC State and qualified for nationals a 4th time to end his career. After college, Justin has spent time coaching at Buffalo, Michigan State and Northern Colorado, having success at each university. He just finished up his first season as an assistant at Northwestern, helping Trevor Chumbley to a 4th place finish. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Assistant Coach Justin Oliver!

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Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/