By Hawk Fanatic

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa wrestling team has added more help from the transfer portal with Rutgers 125-pound national qualifier Dean Peterson the latest to commit to Iowa.

Peterson will use his final year of NCAA eligibility to compete  for the Hawkeyes, who finished fourth in the team standings at the 2025 National Championships.

Peterson was a three-time national qualifier for Rutgers.

The New Jersey native earned the No. 12 seed at the NCAA Championships, where he advanced to the Blood Round for second time in his career. He also pinned defending national champion Richard Figueroa (Arizona State) at NCAA Championships, and he finished sixth at the 2025 Big Ten Championships.

Sophomore Joey Cruz competed for Iowa at 125 pounds this season, compiling a 16-14 record, including 6-2 in the Big Ten. Cruz also qualified for the 2025 NCAA Championships, but didn’t place.

Peterson’s commitment comes less than week after Iowa received verbal commitments from Nasir Bailey and Jordan Williams, both of whom wrestled for Little Rock this past season.

Iowa head coach Tom Brands has relied heavily on the transfer portal to fill his roster spots.

Iowa added three graduate transfers this past season, including Stephen Buchanan, who would go on to win a national title at 197 pounds.