We’ve all heard the phrase, “speed kills.” This phrase is true in wrestling and applicable to many athletes who have taken the mat over the years. There are not very many wrestlers who fit this bill than Jordan Bremer from Woodbury Central. A 3X state champion who literally just lit people up with his finesse and speed. He is one of these guys who may have been a 4X state champion had he been full-sized as a Freshman. He was only weighing in the 90’s range and some of the guys he wrestled at state that year were probably 30-40 lbs bigger than him just a week or so after the season ended that year. And being undersized as a Freshman, he still managed to place 4th, which is phenomenal.
I always associated Jordan Bremer with his wrestling style, 3 titles and his epic rivalry that he had with a guy named Brance Simms from Twin River, Valley Bode. A lot of Southeast Iowa people like myself followed Simms (who is from the Northwest part of the state, like Jordan) because his mom was a New London graduate and her brother was Shane Arnold, a standout for them in the late 80’s. On a personal side note, Shane was the first wrestler I remember ever watching as a tyke. The one interaction I ever had with Jordan before this was when I began writing the Inside The Rivalry series for The Predicament and discussed the possibility of writing one about his rivalry with Simms. The kid struck me as a very sharp person and very enthusiastic about wrestling, a combination that is great for the sport. I am proud to have a platform in which he can tell his story because he has a lot of good stuff to say…a trend that I’ve seen with a lot of guys in his age group.
I never connected the dots that his brother was Andy Bremer, a standout wrestler for WC who graduated in 2002 until reading Jordan’s responses. Great wrestling family, the Bremer’s!
What clubs, schools, etc. did you wrestle for?
I started out wrestling for the Woodbury Central youth club and then in about 3rd grade I joined the Northwest Iowa Wrestling Academy and did that till I was in 8th grade. Some other kids in the club were Chaps and Cash Wilcke, Destin McCauley, Eric DeVos and a couple of my high school teammates Nate and Zach Ryan and more that I’m forgetting.
What year did you graduate?
2012
Who or what encouraged you to give wrestling a try?
My oldest brother Andy and my dad.
Do you have any family who wrestled or wrestles currently? Parents, children, brothers, etc.? How did they do?
My older brother Andy was a 4x state qualifier from 1999-2002 for WC. He placed 4th in 2000.
What were your youth results? Any rivals there?
I placed every year at the AAU state tournament. Peewee State Finals in 2002 I lost 2-0 to Thomas Gilman. The only year I won AAU was in 6th grade. 8th grade I broke my arm a couple weeks before districts so didn’t get to wrestle. I would say Gilman was my rival for a couple years though not much of a rivalry when you don’t win any of the matches. And Zach Welter from North Linn… seems like we wrestled every year at AAU State.
What was your record in HS?
183-9
How did you place at state every year?
4,1,1,1
What were some of the most notable adverse challenges or moments you experienced in wrestling and how did it turn out?
I would say learning how to rely on my athletic ability and quickness as a freshman. I was only weighing about 95 lbs wrestling 103 and guys were bigger and stronger than me. I would say it went alright placing 4th.
How would you describe your wrestling style?
I was quick and came out right away and attacked. I could score with many different takedowns. Once I got a couple I would like to work for the pin.
How many guys in high school did you go back and forth with or exchange wins with?
Umm… not many other than Brance Simms, but again only winning 1 out of 4 matches is not really back and forth.
Who was your most influential coach?
Adam McElrath WC head coach during my time, Jake Thomas who is the current WC head coach and my brother and dad all had huge impacts on me.
Was your team competitive in HS/college?
We made Regional my first 3 years and then finally my senior year we qualified for duals and placed 5th. In college Minnesota won two national dual titles when they still did national duals and we placed 3rd and 2nd at the national tournament my first to years there.
Who was your most influential wrestler that you looked up to growing up?
It’s kind of funny that it wasn’t my brother. I mean I looked up to him, but I would say Mack Reiter. Always remember watching Mack at Vets when I was 6,7,8 years old. Funny how we both were 1A wrestlers who ended up at Minnesota.
Who would you consider the GOAT Iowa HS wrestler?
I would say Cory Clark. I may be biased because he’s from my era, but can’t argue with what he did in high school and college.
Who are your favorite current wrestlers?
Normally any guys from Minnesota so Gable is fun to watch right now but now gonna have to root for UNI and Wade Mitchell and NDSU and Beau Klingensmith once he gets there next year as well!
What music would you listen to back in the wrestling days?
Mostly Linkin Park but I’d mix it up with rap every now and then.
What was the most upset you ever felt after a loss?
Definitely my semifinals of my freshman year. Lost by 1 point. At that moment you realize your dream of being a 4xer is out the window so it was pretty hard to change your mindset quickly and get over it and battle back for 3rd.
If you could go back and change one thing about your wrestling career, what would it be?
Definitely that semi finals match.
What was your best wrestling memory or accomplishment?
Either my first state title or reginal duals my senior qualifying for the first time since 2000 as a school.
Who were some of your most notable competitors in high school? College?
Brance Simms is the one that comes to mind. Definitely had my number. He was a great competitor. Kyler Kiner from Ogden and Andrew Foutch also come to mind. Wrestled them down at the state tourney. Didn’t really wrestle too many guys in college multiple times.
What was your rivalry with Brance Simms like?
Man it was fun. We actually never wrestled until high school. He was always a couple brackets bigger than me growing up so I didn’t really know what he was like stylistically. First time he majored me and then the next two were 1 point matches and then of course the state title match was a close one as well.
When you look at the list of 3X state champs from Iowa, how honored are you to be a part of that elite company?
I mean it’s pretty cool. Personally a little disappointed to not me on that 4x list but should be grateful because a lot of kids would love to be on that 3x list.
Are there any wrestlers past or present that you would compare yourself to?
Um none really come to mind.
Did you wrestle all year or was it seasonal for you?
I tried to be on the mat year round. Summer was a little more difficult because I played baseball but still tried to hit open mat and local camps as much as I could.
How would the guys from your day stack up against the guys today?
Well I would say we would do pretty well. I believe my senior class was the most D1 committed wrestlers in the history of Iowa high school wrestling. I think there were over 25 of us that signed and wrestled D1. May be something cool you could look into?
Did you wrestle after high school?
Yes at the University of Minnesota
What other sports did you play?
Baseball
What are your favorite sports teams?
Miami Hurricanes/ Iowa State for College Football, Las Vegas Raiders, and Minnesota Twins.
What are your hobbies other than wrestling?
I like to hang out with friends and family, as well as still play some video games. Like to fish, bike and play the occasional round of golf.
How good does it make you feel to give back to the sport?
I love it. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the sport. It’s only fair that I give back my knowledge and experiences. Nothing really satisfies me more than seeing a young kid accomplish his/her goals in the sport.
How has wrestling shaped you as a person to this day?
I think it has helped me face the different adversity and challenges in my life with more maturity and resiliency. Made me realize if I can get through the challenges wrestling throws at you there is not much else that you can’t get through.
What do you do now?
I’m an account executive for Long Lines Broadband in Sergeant Bluff IA.
Are you still involved with wrestling now?
Yes, I am an assistant at Woodbury Central.
Any advice for upcoming wrestlers?
I would say learn how to win the close matches. I think a lot of times there is pressure that you have to just dominate and pin everyone or win big against opponents that you’re supposed to beat on paper and that weighs on kids’ minds. Especially the elite ones. It’s okay to win by decision even if it’s not what you want or expect. Learn to win the close ones. Especially if you’re going to wrestle in college.
Any chance we see you wrestle again at an Old Timer’s tournament?
I definitely think it’s a possibility just have to get back in shape!
Would you like to give a shout out to anyone you wrestled with, against, coached, etc.?
Um just a shout out to the Iowa wrestling community in general. Keep supporting the boys and girls in our state with the passion that you all have! Wouldn’t want to be from any other state or a part of any other sport. Also shout out to Pin Doctors for keeping the history of Iowa wrestling alive!
