Prep wrestling: Clovis star Justin Mejia decommits from Iowa
The recruiting process for nationally ranked Clovis High wrestler Justin Mejia is back on.
Mejia will not attend Iowa, the Big 10 power he pledged an oral commitment to in November 2014 before launching his sophomore season with the Cougars.
Mejia didn’t give a reason for his decision, but said the oral commitment to Iowa of three-time Pennsylvania state champion Spencer Lee, regarded as the No. 1 pound-for-pound competitor in the nation by Flo Wrestling, was not a factor.
“It just didn’t work out,” Mejia said Wednesday. “It’s not because Lee is going there; it’s not because of grades. It just didn’t work out.”
It’s not because (highly touted recruit Spencer) Lee is going there; it’s not because of grades. It just didn’t work out.
Justin Mejia on his decision to decommit from Iowa
Mejia is the nation’s No. 23 overall recruit in the Class of 2017 according to Flo Wrestling, which also ranked him third in the nation at 126 pounds. Intermat has Mejia ranked second nationally at 120 pounds.
Mejia finished second at Flo Nationals in March, losing 14-6 in the final to Pennsylvania’s Brian Courtney roughly three weeks after capturing his third straight CIF State Championship.
I love Iowa but sometimes things don't workout I have nothing bad to say about Iowa love everything about it sad to say it didn't workout
— J-izzo (@jmejia106) July 6, 2016
The Bee’s two-time Wrestler of the Year enters his senior season at Clovis with the chance to become only the second four-time state high school champion in California history. Mejia won state titles at 106 pounds as a freshman, at 113 as a sophomore and 120 as a junior. Only Bakersfield’s Darrell Vasquez (1999-2002) has won four state titles.
Mejia, who attended the introductory news conference for new Fresno State coach Troy Steiner in May, said he hopes to have a college picked by the next NCAA signing period in November.
Flo Wrestling reported Mejia is talking with Illinois, home of two-time NCAA individual champion Isaiah Martinez of Lemoore, and Minnesota.
Mejia said he will let the recruiting process play out over the next couple of months.
“I’m just going to hang out for a while and not worry about what school I’m going to go to,” Mejia said. “I’m just going to get ready for next year. I know I’ll get my offer from somewhere else. I’m not in a rush for it. I’m not going to push the action too much.”
Nick Giannandrea: 559-441-6103, @NickG_FB
This story was originally published July 7, 2016 at 12:49 PM with the headline "Prep wrestling: Clovis star Justin Mejia decommits from Iowa."