Top national high school wrestling recruit headed to Iowa

Dana Becker

Top national high school wrestling recruit headed to Iowa image

One of the top high school wrestling prospects in the Class of 2025 has committed to the University of Iowa.

Claudio Torres, a four-time All-American in freestyle, was originally signed to Virginia Tech. Now, he will head to Iowa City and join the Hawkeyes at 165 pounds.

Rated as high as No. 6 by FloWrestling, Torres competed for Lake Highland Prep School in Orlando, was just in Iowa during March to win a Junior Folkstyle title. He went a perfect 6-0 during the tournament, scoring a 4-1 sudden victory over three-time Iowa high school state champion and 2023 USA Wrestling Triple Crown winner Kyler Knaack from Don Bosco High School.

Torres also picked up impressive wins over three-time Kansas high school state champion Taye Wilson and topped the 16U champion from a year before in Steel Meyers of Texas. 

During his career, Torres has also picked up two national prep championships and was third at the Ironman Wrestling Tournament in December. 

Along with wrestling for Lake Highland, Torres is part of the Spartan RTC team. 

“I recently decided to withdraw my commitment to Virginia Tech, I would like to thank VT for their understanding. I’m thrilled to announce my commitment to the University of Iowa,” Torres posted on social media. “I’m excited for the future and lifelong dream of wrestling as a Hawkeye.”

Torres joins a class that includes Leo DeLuca, Harvey Ludington and twins Jarrell and Ty Miller. He has attended camps conduced by Tom Brands, Terry Brands and Ryan Morningstar as a youth in Iowa City.

Iowa will likely not be needing Torres this year, as the 165-pound position belongs to returning NCAA runner-up Michael Caliendo. At 174, Patrick Kennedy, who earned All-American honors a year ago, is returning to the lineup.

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Dana Becker

Dana Becker is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He has been a sports writer since 2000, covering high school sports, the Big 12 and more for On SI, The Fort Dodge Messenger, Mason City Globe-Gazette, Cedar Rapids Gazette and others.