The top heavyweight wrestler in the nation, Matt Fields, signed a national letter of intent with the Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling program today. Fields is from North Cedar High School in Stanwood, Iowa and compiled a 44-0 record last year in winning an individual state championship in Iowa's Class 2A.

This past summer, Fields tore up the competition in placing first at the Freestyle Junior Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota. InterMat Wrestling ranks him as the #1 heavyweight and #2 high school prospect overall in the country this year.

Hawkeye Report caught up with Fields about one hour after he announced his decision and signed his letter of intent to Iowa.

“I've always liked Iowa, but wondered about the Mocco thing,” Fields said. “But, I came to realize that if I want to be the best I have to train with the best.”

Iowa heavyweight and reigning national champion Steve Mocco is taking an Olympic redshirt year this season. He would return to the Iowa lineup next year as a junior while Fields redshirts, eventually leaving three seasons of competition for Fields once Mocco graduates. According to Fields, the decision came down to Iowa and UNI and he finally made up his mind just last night.

“UNI was the other one that it came down to,” Fields said. “We spent about three hours last night deciding with my coaches and my freestyle coach, Al Billings.”

Fields told us about informing Iowa Head Coach Jim Zalesky of his decision and also talked about his relationship with the Iowa Staff.

“They were excited,” he said. “I really like Zalesky and I really like Mr. Brands and Mr. Williams.”

Matt Fields becomes the third member of the 2004 Hawkeye Wrestling recruiting class. He joins two other wrestlers that have also been ranked as the top prospect at their weight by various services.

Alex Tsirtsis, a three-time Indiana state champion, verballed to Iowa last week. Tsirtsis is from Griffith, Indiana and has a 181-0 career prep record. He likely projects as a 141-pounder at the college level.

Charlie Falck from Apple Valley, Minnesota committed to Iowa this past week and projects at 125 pounds. Falck grew up in Strawberry Point, Iowa before moving to Minnesota in eighth grade. He is looking to become a four-time state champ this year and finished second at Junior Freestyle Nationals this past summer.

Hawkeye Report Publisher Tom Kakert is in Iowa City today covering the wrestling media day and should have a full report on the upcoming season for wrestling fans a bit later.