2021 NCAA Runner-Up Jaydin Eierman (Photo/Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com; Graphic/Anna-Lee Marie)
Welcome to a new recurring feature from InterMat as we lead into the 2021-22 collegiate season. We are about 50 days away from the start of the new season, so what better way to ring in the new year than to use that time to count down the top-50 current collegiate wrestlers. Each day a new wrestler will be released.
These rankings have been compiled by members of the InterMat staff and used a combination of collegiate achievements, with 2021 accomplishments carrying more weight than past years, along with win-loss records and notable wins. While we are counting down the top-50 wrestlers based primarily on collegiate accomplishments, it is impossible to totally ignore achievements in the international settings, so they did factor in slightly, too.
Before getting to the next wrestler on the list, look at the wrestlers previously profiled:
#50 - Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State)
#49 - Ben Darmstadt (Cornell)
#48 - Dakota Geer (Oklahoma State)
#47 - Kaleb Young (Iowa)
#46 - Rocky Elam (Missouri)
#45 - Chad Red Jr. (Nebraska)
#44 - Brandon Courtney (Arizona State)
#43 - Brock Mauller (Missouri)
#42 - Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State)
#41 - John Poznanski (Rutgers)
#40 - Brayton Lee (Minnesota)
#39 - Travis Wittlake (Oklahoma State)
#38 - Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa)
#37 - Tariq Wilson (NC State)
#36 - Jacob Warner (Iowa)
#35 - Jacori Teemer (Arizona State)
#34 - Tony Cassioppi (Iowa)
#33 - Vito Arujau (Cornell)
#32 - Patrick Glory (Princeton)
#31 - Max Dean (Penn State)
#30 - Keegan O'Toole (Missouri)
#29 - Mike Labriola (Nebraska)
#28 - Nino Bonaccorsi (Pittsburgh)
#27 - Austin DeSanto (Iowa)
#26 - Jake Wentzel (Pittsburgh)
#25 - Evan Wick (Cal Poly)
#24 - Alex Marinelli (Iowa)
#23 - Ryan Deakin (Northwestern)
#22 - Sebastian Rivera (Rutgers)
#21 - Sammy Sasso (Ohio State)
#20 - Trent Hidlay (NC State)
#19 - Stevan Micic (Michigan)
#18 - Hayden Hidlay (NC State)
#17 - Mekhi Lewis (Virginia Tech)
#16 - Michael Kemerer (Iowa)
#15 - Mason Parris (Michigan)
#14 - Shane Griffith (Stanford)
#13 - AJ Ferrari (Oklahoma State)
#12 - Carter Starocci (Penn State)
Next up is…
#11 Jaydin Eierman (Iowa)
Weight: 141 lbs
Year: Senior
Career Record: 103-15
Hometown: Columbia, Missouri
College Accomplishments: 2021 NCAA Runner-Up, 2021 Big Ten Champion, 3x MAC Champion, 2019 NCAA 3rd, 2018 NCAA 4th, 2017 NCAA 5th
2021-22 Preseason Ranking: #2 at 141 lbs
Four-time, undefeated Missouri state champion Jaydin Eierman didn't have to look very far for his initial college of choice, as he stayed in his hometown to attend the University of Missouri. At the time, he was only the second Missouri wrestler to go undefeated and win four titles.
Eierman redshirted during his initial year with Mizzou and amassed a 22-2 record with wins at the Roger Denker Open, the UNI Open, and the Joe Parisi Open.
The first official year competing at Missouri saw Eierman start the year at 133 lbs, but he would move up to 141 for the Southern Scuffle. Eierman finished fifth at the tournament and stayed at 141 for the remainder of the year (and his career).
Eierman would go on to win the first of his three MAC titles and took fifth at the 2017 NCAA Championships, despite entering as the eighth seed. He scored victories over a pair of top-four seeds at the tournament, majoring #3 Joey McKenna (Stanford) and downing #4 Matt Kolodzik (Princeton), 6-2.
He had a sparkling sophomore campaign, suffering only one loss during the regular season to returning NCAA runner-up Bryce Meredith (Wyoming) at the Reno Tournament of Champions. Eierman also handed true freshman Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell) a 9-6 loss at the South Beach Duals. That was the first, and to date, only, loss of Diakomihalis' collegiate career. Of course, Diakomihalis got revenge in the NCAA semifinals. This time, at the 2018 NCAA Tournament, McKenna, wrestling for Ohio State, turned the tables with a 7-2 win in the third-place bout.
Once again, at the 2019 NCAA Championships, it was Diakomihalis who halted Eierman's run on the championship side. Again, it was by a razor-thin margin (6-5), but this time coming in the quarterfinals. Eierman bounced back and finished in third place for his third All-American honor.
Eierman's history on the freestyle scene allowed him to sit out the 2019-20 season and use an Olympic redshirt.
When Eierman remerged on the collegiate scene, he announced he would finish his career in familiar colors, but a different singlet, while at the University of Iowa.
With a new staff and training partners in the fold, Eierman looked as good as ever in the 2021 season. He started the dual season with an 8-4 win over returning 2x NCAA All-American Chad Red (Nebraska), before pinning three of his four remaining dual opponents.
In one of the Big Ten's deepest weights, Eierman needed to get by Red again just to make the conference finals. He did so and was opposed by Penn State star, Nick Lee. In one of the most highly anticipated matches of the B1G tournament, Eierman edged Lee, 6-5, to grab a Big Ten crown. The win would allow Eierman to receive the top-seed at the 2021 NCAA Championships.
Back in his home state, at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Eierman blew through the competition in his first four rounds. He notched a tech fall to go along with a pair of pins, the last one coming against the eventual third-place finisher (Tariq Wilson - NC State) in the semis.
In the finals, it was another meeting with Lee. This time, the Nittany Lions star prevailed with a 4-2 win in sudden victory.
Heading into his final year, Eierman has four conference titles, four All-American awards, 44 career falls in 103 wins, a team title with Iowa. He has one more honor that has eluded him, national champion.
Strengths: Eierman has always been known for his funk and scrambling ability, along with his cradles. As his career has progressed, Eierman has developed more consistent leg attacks, so he can get more work on top and lock up those aforementioned cradles.
2021-22 Outlook: Eierman has the goods to win a title. Last season, he defeated the eventual champion two weeks before the national tournament. Over the course of his career, Eierman has defeated Yianni, Lee, Anthony Ashnault (Rutgers), Dean Heil (Oklahoma State), McKenna, Kolodzik, Kaid Brock (Oklahoma State), Boo Lewallen (Oklahoma State). That's a “who's who†list of the best 141-149 lbers over the last five years.
2021 NCAA Runner-Up Jaydin Eierman (Photo/Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com)
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