Iowa Lands Talented but Injury-Prone Lehigh Transfer Ryan Crookham

Crookham's addition fills a major void at 133 pounds, but his injury history raises concerns.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 1:50am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and competition of a wrestling match, rendered in muted earth tones that convey the risks and uncertainties surrounding Crookham's transfer to Iowa.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes gamble Iowa is taking in adding the talented but injury-prone Ryan Crookham to their wrestling lineup.Iowa City Today

The Iowa Hawkeyes have landed a major transfer addition in Ryan Crookham, a talented 133-pound wrestler from Lehigh University. Crookham, a three-time Pennsylvania state champion, had a breakout redshirt freshman season in 2023-24, defeating the eventual NCAA champion Vito Arujau twice. However, Crookham's college career has been hampered by injuries, missing significant time in the past two seasons. If healthy, Crookham could immediately fill the void left by the departure of Drake Ayala, a three-time NCAA placer for the Hawkeyes. But his injury history adds risk to the high-reward transfer.

Why it matters

Iowa's wrestling program has been one of the most dominant in the country, but they faced a major hole at 133 pounds after Ayala's departure. Crookham's addition has the potential to shore up that weight class, but his injury history raises concerns about his long-term viability. This move represents a high-risk, high-reward gamble by head coach Tom Brands as he looks to get the Hawkeyes back on top.

The details

Crookham, a graduate transfer, had a breakout redshirt freshman season at Lehigh in 2023-24, going 23-1 and defeating the eventual NCAA champion Vito Arujau twice. He placed third at the NCAA Championships that year. However, Crookham's last two seasons have been derailed by injuries, limiting him to just 12 matches over the past two years. Despite the injury concerns, Crookham's talent is undeniable, and he will look to immediately step in and replace the production of the departed Ayala at 133 pounds for the Hawkeyes.

  • Crookham had a 23-1 record and placed third at the 2024 NCAA Championships.
  • Crookham's 2024-25 season was cut short after just five matches due to injury.
  • Crookham competed in only seven matches this past season before medically forfeiting his last bout.

The players

Ryan Crookham

A graduate transfer from Lehigh University, Crookham is a talented 133-pound wrestler who has shown the ability to compete at the highest level when healthy.

Vito Arujau

The two-time NCAA champion and 2024 Senior World champion from Cornell, whom Crookham defeated twice during his breakout 2023-24 season.

Drake Ayala

The three-time NCAA placer for Iowa at 133 pounds, who Crookham will look to replace in the Hawkeyes' lineup.

Tom Brands

The head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling program, who is taking a risk in adding the injury-prone but talented Crookham to his roster.

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What they’re saying

“If healthy, he could immediately replace the points of Drake Ayala – who placed fifth/second/second at the past three NCAA Championships – and reinsert himself as a contender amidst what has become a loaded weight class at 133 pounds.”

— Tanner Lafever, Author

What’s next

Iowa's next transfer addition could come in the form of talented freshman Daniel Zepeda, who is down to the Hawkeyes and Michigan after entering the portal from NC State.

The takeaway

This move represents a high-risk, high-reward gamble by Iowa head coach Tom Brands as he looks to shore up a major hole in the Hawkeyes' lineup. Crookham's undeniable talent could be a game-changer, but his extensive injury history raises serious concerns about his long-term viability. The success or failure of this transfer could have major implications for Iowa's wrestling fortunes in the coming seasons.