In a shocking announcement, Cody Chittum has committed to wrestle at Iowa State in the 2023-24 season. In June of 2021, Chittum originally verbally committed to wrestle for the University of Minnesota but then flipped his commitment to the University of Iowa in July of 2022. Originally the #1 recruit in the class of 2023, Chittum also made the decision to graduate a year early and moved to Iowa City to train at the Hawkeye Wrestling Club. Now, Chittum will head west to Ames to don the cardinal and gold for the Cyclones and projects as their starting 157-pounder next year.

Chittum could play a huge role in the Cyclone lineup at 157 lbs. Iowa State’s middleweights were already strong with round-of-12 141-pounder Casey Swiderski, #5 seeded 149-pounder Paniro Johnson, and 2021 NCAA champion 165-pounder David Carr. If Chittum starts in the 2023-2024 season, he’ll be an immediate threat to place high at NCAAs or even win a title.

Along with holding the top spot in our recruiting class rankings from December 2020-April 2022, Chittum holds an impressive list of credentials. He’s won Who’s Number One, Super 32, a junior freestyle Fargo title, and most recently competed on the senior level this year winning medals in three different events - Bill Farrell (silver), Henri Deglane (bronze), Egypt Ranking Series (bronze). His most impressive win of those senior level tournaments was over Ukraine’s Ihor Nykyforuk - this year’s European Championships bronze medalist at 70kg and 2019 U23 world bronze medalist.

Chittum’s win over European bronze medalist Nykyforuk

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