Frazer headed to Wesleyan

WASHINGTON — Iowa Wesleyan assistant coach Jerod Kadel graduated from New London and wrestled for Tom Brands at the University of Iowa. That makes him familiar with Southeast Iowa talent and the staff at Wesleyan identified Washington’s Ayden Frazer as a “big gamer.”

Frazer signed with Wesleyan last week. Frazer wants to major in special education with the goal of becoming a teacher, along with breaking into the starting lineup and making it to nationals.

“He is exactly what we’re building our program around: good all-around kid, good family, good attitude, works hard, which is important,” Kadel said. “It’s a different ballgame at the college level, but he has the potential.”

“It is close enough but at the same time a little far away,” Frazer said. He has been to the campus a few times and met other wrestlers. “I considered Cornell for a minute, but other than that, it was Wesleyan out of the gate.”

“I think there will be a learning curve for him, but it is easier to have everyone you’re hanging around will face the same requirements,” Washington wrestling coach Brent Van Weelden said. He sees Frazer wrestling at 165 pounds or 174 or 184. He competed at 182 his senior year.

Wrestling encompasses every part of an athlete’s lifestyle because of the weight requirements. The amount of time a sport requires increases exponentially from high school to college.

“He is going to improve a lot and the main thing is he has the drive and the love for the sport that he needs to even have an opportunity to be successful,” Van Weelden said. “He will improve every day. You keep making a little jump every day and the sky is the limit.”