Knipp transfers to Wartburg

Jason Knipp, Iowa State's 149-pound starter for the past two season, joined the Wartburg wrestling team over the semester break.
Knipp, who was unseated by freshman Cyler Sanderson in wrestle-offs, let ISU coaches know of his intentions to transfer right before the season began.
"He graduated in December, so everything worked out," Cael Sanderson said. "He just wasn't read to be finished, and he knew it would be tough for him to get a spot here unless there was a major injury."
Knipp was called for stalling in his wrestle-off in November with Cyler Sanderson and lost, 1-0. Sanderson beat him weeks later in the Harold Nichols Open, 3-2.
The stocky Gilbertville native struggled to get down to 149 pounds and is currently wrestling at 165 pounds for the Knights. He competed at the Midlands Tournament wrestling unnattached in an Iowa State singlet, placing fifth at 157 pounds, but wrestled for Wartburg at National Duals two weeks later.
"I think '57 is his weight class, but he is strong, he can wrestle '65," Cael Sanderson said. "But '49, he was having a hard time getting down there. He's not the same guy when he is 30 pounds lighter, which nobody is."
Knipp is currently 5-1 as a Knight and was 34-20 during his sophomore and junior seasons with the Cyclones.
"He is a great kid. And he is a Cyclone — he knows that," Sanderson said. "We were real happy with him, and he contributed a ton to this team. He was real important to this team, too, so it was tough to see him go, but he wanted to wrestle so we're not going to keep someone away from that."