Wrestling: Cascade state champ Aidan Noonan announces commitment to Wyoming

The college decision is in for Cascade senior Aidan Noonan — exactly seven months after he turned the Iowa high school wrestling world on its head.

Noonan announced his commitment to Wyoming on Monday night. He picked the Cowboys over the likes of Virginia, Clarion and Wisconsin, among others, and projects at 133/141 pounds.

"Excited to announce that I will be continuing my academic and athletic career at the University of Wyoming," Noonan wrote in an Instagram post, announcing his decision. "Excited for the future."

Noonan, of course, won a Class 1A state title in February, defeating West Sioux's Adam Allard, 4-2, in the finals at 126 pounds. In doing so, he stopped Allard from winning a fourth state title. He is the first wrestler in state history to win a state final over a senior seeking to become a four-timer.

The recruiting buzz had already bubbled before that match, then erupted afterward. Noonan heard from various schools — Wyoming, Virginia, Wisconsin, Clarion, even Iowa, as well as Loras, Coe and Grand View — but the novel coronavirus pandemic put the clamps on what could've been a transformative summer.

It's easy to see why many schools showed interest in Noonan. He is considered the No. 175 overall recruit nationally, according to MatScouts. He's won two 1A state titles and has compiled a 135-6 overall record. He will carry an 87-match winning streak into his senior season this winter.

Ultimately, Wyoming won the sweepstakes, and Noonan's commitment is a huge win for Wyoming coach Mark Branch. Since he was named head coach in 2008, Branch hasn't had much notable success recruiting Iowa.

The last in-state wrestler to appear on the Cowboys' roster was Nate Shaw, a 2012 state champ for Bettendorf and one-time Northern Iowa football player who posted an 8-9 record in 2016-17. Before him, ADM graduate Dakota Friesth wrestled at Wyoming from 2010-15, a run that included an appearance at the 2014 NCAA Championships.

Perhaps this decision could break that trend. In Noonan, Branch is getting a wrestler with tremendous upside. Noonan is considered one of the meanest top wrestlers in the state, an aspect that is hard to master at the Division I level.

Noonan is also the 10th in-state senior to commit to a Division I wrestling program, the sixth to pick an out-of-state school, and also one of six to pick a Big 12 program.

The other out-of-staters: Iowa City West's Ashton Barker and Waverly-Shell Rock's Bailey Roybal are both headed to South Dakota State;  Woodbury Central's Beau Klingensmith and Osage's Spencer Mooberry are both headed to North Dakota State; and Graham Gambrall, another Iowa City West wrestler, is headed to Oregon State.

The other four are staying in-state. Fort Dodge's Drake Ayala and Ankeny's Caleb Rathjen are both headed to Iowa, while Ames' Gabe Greenlee is going to Iowa State and Union's Adam Ahrendsen chose Northern Iowa.

Cody Goodwin covers wrestling and high school sports for the Des Moines Register. Follow him on Twitter at @codygoodwin.

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