Two-time All-American Jon Reader of Iowa State is undefeated this season at 174 pounds. Des Moines Register photo.

Iowa State senior Jon Reader’s passion for wrestling runs deep.

When he’s done competing, Reader plans to stay involved in the sport.

But Reader wasn’t having much fun last season.

Seventh in the 2008 NCAA Championships as a freshman and fourth a year later, Reader battled through an injury-plagued junior season. Not to mention he was having a rough time dropping down to 165 pounds.

“I wasn’t 100 percent, but no one is 100 percent going into the NCAA tournament,” Reader said. “I had suffered a knee injury and a couple of concussions. I went in and tried to compete with all I had, and it just didn’t work out for me. Every time I set foot on the mat, I compete as hard as I can.”

Reader entered the 2010 NCAAs in Omaha as the No. 4 seed, but he was upset in the first round. He rebounded to win his next three matches, but then suffered a second loss and fell one win short of All-American honors.

Reader hasn’t lost a match since. He’s bumped up a weight class to 174 pounds for his senior season and is off to an undefeated start for the Cyclones. He is ranked No. 5 nationally by WIN Magazine.

“174 is a more natural weight class for Jon,” Iowa State coach Kevin Jackson said. “He’s bigger and stronger, and he’s better. Moving up allows him to train at a very high level, and it allows him to focus on his technique and tactics for winning at the NCAA tournament. He’s completely dominated every one of his opponents this year. He hasn’t had a close match yet.”

The move up to 174 has done wonders for Reader.

“It’s just a much better overall situation for me,” he said. “I feel great. I’ve hit the weight room and I am big enough for the weight class. It was a really easy transition when I moved up to 174. My body feels completely different. I’m able to give it everything I have in practice, and when I go out on the mat and compete. It enables me to train at a higher intensity. I can go in the room and focus more on learning now instead of worrying about my weight.”

Reader was a prized recruit coming out of Davison High School, where he won three Michigan state titles and wrestled on four state championship teams. He was ranked No. 1 nationally in his weight class, and he won Junior Nationals in freestyle and Greco-Roman.

Two of his high school teammates, Paul Donahoe and Brent Metcalf, went on to win NCAA titles. Metcalf made the U.S. World Team in freestyle in 2010.

“Davison’s program was a powerhouse when I was in high school,” Reader said. “Seeing some of the guys I wrestled with go on to have success in college and internationally, it shows that hard work pays off. They were hard-nosed, tough guys who have had a lot of success.”

Reader signed with Coach Bobby Douglas at Iowa State, but Douglas resigned in the spring of Reader’s senior year in high school.

Reader then wrestled for Coach Cael Sanderson at ISU before Sanderson left for Penn State in 2009. He has wrestled for Jackson the past two seasons.

“It was a little bit of a surprise when Cael left, but I supported his decision,” Reader said. “You can’t dwell on it. You just have to move on and make the best of it. I look at it as a blessing. I was able to work with two of the best wrestlers who ever lived. I was coached by the greatest college wrestler in history with Cael. And now I am coached by Kevin Jackson, who has two World titles and an Olympic title.”

Reader said Jackson, who previously served as USA Wrestling’s National Freestyle Coach, has set a great example since he arrived in Ames.

“I believe Coach Jackson is the best coach out there,” Reader said. “He’s just a great guy, on and off the mat, and he epitomizes what you want in a coach. He’s an awesome role model who wants you to be a good citizen and wants you to succeed in life. He wants nothing but the best for us.”

Jackson said Reader embraced the new coaching staff when they arrived in Ames.

“Jon is a guy that does everything you ask him to do and does everything right,” Jackson said. “He’s the kind of athlete every coach wants to work with. He is open to learning new things and he is open to suggestions. He leads by example. I wish I had 10 of him.”

Reader is a top prospect in freestyle. He placed eighth for the U.S. at October’s University World Championships in Italy. He beat a wrestler from Turkey in the first round at 74 kg/163 lbs. before losing to a wrestler from Japan in the second round.

“It was a great experience,” he said. “It was a great opportunity and a great environment to wrestle in. I loved every minute of it. I learned a lot. I know I have to be ready for these guys. They are slick and very tough.”

Reader plans to pursue freestyle wrestling full-time after the college season. 

“The Olympics are definitely a goal of mine,” Reader said. “I want to be the best I can possibly be on the freestyle circuit. I’m looking forward to it. Wrestling freestyle has definitely helped me a lot. It’s given me an opportunity to gain more experience and keep improving. I’ve wrestled overseas and you can’t help but get better by doing that.”

Jackson likes Reader’s potential in freestyle.

“I could see Jon moving up to 84 kilos (185 pounds) and being successful,” Jackson said. “He has shown he is the best guy at his age group by making the University World Team. I think he can have a lot of success internationally. He will do everything in his power to make Olympic and World Teams. I’m excited about Jon’s future in freestyle.”

Two of the guys Reader trains with at Iowa State, twins Trent and Travis Paulson, have made U.S. World Teams in freestyle.

“The Paulson twins took me under their wing when I came here, and they are still like my big brothers,” Reader said. “They give me advice and help me out a lot. It’s great being able to train with guys of their caliber. They are great workout partners who really push each other.”

Reader is part of a new-look Cyclone team that had to replace numerous starters from last season, including NCAA champions Jake Varner and David Zabriskie.

“We definitely have a young team,” Reader said. “This is the first time stepping out there for a lot of these guys. They just need to compete hard for seven minutes. We’ve seen guys progress and make improvement. They are going to get better and better. They just have to keep working hard and trust their coaching staff.”

Reader has a 3.0 grade-point average and is studying business management at Iowa State. He is scheduled to graduate in May.

He recently finished final exams and now prepares to compete in the upcoming Midlands Championships at the end of this month.

Reader has placed second in three previous trips to the Midlands.

“It’s a great tournament to see where you are at,” he said. “It’s always a great test. It’s the closest thing to the NCAA tournament for a lot of guys.”

Reader has another big match coming up when Iowa State travels to Cornell on Jan. 30. Reader would face top-ranked Mack Lewnes in that dual.

“It’s a great opportunity to wrestle the No. 1 guy and a returning national finalist,” Reader said. “I will just go out and compete hard, and have fun like I always do.”

Reader plans to make the most of his final opportunity in college.

“It’s a long season and it’s a grind,” Reader said. “I need to train smart, have fun and enjoy the process. That’s very vital and important to succeed. I feel great right now. I’m excited to see what I can do this season.”

Jackson said he is looking forward to seeing what Reader can do at the 2011 NCAAs, set for March 17-19 in Philadelphia.

“You need to have the best matches of your career in a three-day span,” Jackson said. “You need to get hot at the right time, and you need to be prepared and translate that into your matches. Jon hasn’t wrestled his best match yet. I am real confident he can have great results when we get to the NCAA tournament.”