Former Ankeny wrestling star Caleb Rathjen is heading to Cedar Falls.
The two-time state champion announced that he will transfer to Northern Iowa. The ex-Iowa Hawkeye will have one season of eligibility remaining.
“I was looking for a place close to home that I felt I fit on with the team and the culture, and UNI was a perfect fit,” said Rathjen.
Rathjen, an NCAA qualifier at 149 pounds in 2024, will be reunited with former Ankeny teammate Trever Anderson. Anderson was also a two-time state champion at Ankeny.
“I’m super excited to be back with Trever, and also a lot of other Iowa boys,” Rathjen said.
Rathjen enjoyed his best collegiate season in 2023-24, when he posted a 20-7 record and placed fifth at the Big Ten Championships. He notched wins over two-time NCAA all-Americans Tyler Kasak of Penn State and Dylan D’Emilio of Ohio State.
Rathjen saw limited action last season, going 8-3 with four bonus-point victories. He won the Grand View Open at 149.
After the season, Rathjen decided to enter the transfer portal. He will now join a UNI program that placed ninth at the NCAA Championships, its first top-10 finish since 1992.
Rathjen could replace the departing Colin Realbuto. He would be a strong addition to the Panthers’ lineup, Anderson said.
“I’m pumped to be on the same team again,” said Anderson, who came one win away from earning NCAA all-American honors at 125 this season. “We’ve been best friends since we were little, and I know how good he really is. I’m excited to see what this program will do for him, and he will most definitely prosper at UNI.”
