When asked why he chose Iowa wrestling as the next place to continue his career, 2025 NCAA All-American Sammy Alvarez was straight-forward in his response.
“If you really want to know what you’re about on the wrestling mat, truly to your core, Iowa is one of those places you go to find out,” Alvarez said.
The former Rider, Oklahoma State and Rutgers wrestler announced his commitment to the Hawkeyes on May 11. He spent the first four years of his career with the Scarlet Knights, becoming a national qualifier for the 2020 season before the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the 2020 NCAA Championships from occurring. For the 2023-24 season, he transferred to Oklahoma State where he wrestled in 10 matches, four of which being in duals for the Cowboys from Jan. 12-27. In 2024-25, he transferred to Rider, where he took seventh place at 149 pounds with a 25-7 record according to Wrestlestat.com.
Following the 2025 NCAA Championships, Alvarez believed his college career had come to an end, not having much desire to continue wrestling and believing he was out of years of eligibility. Still, he reflected upon his career and specifically his year with Oklahoma State. After speaking with compliance offices and his attorney, he decided to apply for a medical hardship waiver for that season and enter the transfer portal.
When he entered the portal, Alvarez wanted to find the place that he thought he could discover the best version of himself.
He quickly landed on Iowa, committing before he even took his visit on May 13. He saw Iowa as the pinnacle of wrestling, where everything from the energy at Carver-Hawkeye Arena to training partners, coaches and beyond could bring the best out of him and his wrestling.
As of May 15, he was unsure whether he will even be able to participate in the upcoming season as he awaits the NCAA’s decision on his medical hardship waiver, a process that could take up to two months, Alvarez said. Regardless, even if the NCAA denies Alvarez’s waiver and he cannot wrestle collegiately for Iowa in what would be his final collegiate season, he said would sign with the Hawkeye Wrestling Club to continue his career.
“I’m 100% moving to Iowa City in August. I’ll be a part of the program,” Alvarez said. “The question lies in what capacity.”
If he can wrestle collegiately, 149 or 157 pounds are two places that he could fit given the construction of the roster, but Alvarez said he’s leaving any decision about where he fits in a lineup up to the coaching staff. His style would bring a “Jersey Attitude” alongside fellow New Jersey natives Anthony Lavezzola, incoming freshmen Leo DeLuca and Harvey Ludington and transfer Dean Peterson, Alvarez’s former teammate at Rutgers.
Alvarez said he wants Hawkeye fans to know he’s fully committed to Iowa no matter the result of his waiver and is ready to represent the Hawkeye brand.
“They’re going to get seven minutes of hard wrestling whistle-to-whistle,” Alvarez said. “Someone that’s going to represent the brand with pride, respect, honor and is going to give 100 percent of himself 100 percent of the time.”
Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.
This article originally appeared on Hawk Central: Why NCAA All-American Sammy Alvarez has picked Iowa wrestling to continue his career
Reporting by Eli McKown, Des Moines Register / Hawk Central
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
