ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Cliff Keen Wrestling Club announced Thursday (Aug. 29) the addition of Real Woods to its freestyle roster. Woods, a four-time All-American and three-time conference champion at 141 pounds, will compete internationally at 65kg/143 pounds.
“I’m excited to have Real join us in Ann Arbor,” said Michigan head coach Sean Bormet. “I have tremendous respect for his toughness, commitment and work ethic — qualities I highly value. He’s focused and driven, and I believe his talent and skills will translate exceptionally well in freestyle wrestling. He already has strong relationships with several of our team members, and I know he’ll be a great fit here.”
“I’m excited to bring some serious energy to the Cliff Keen Wrestling Club as I pursue my World and Olympic dreams,” said Woods. “This next chapter in my career is all about pushing myself to new heights, and the strength of the CKWC environment is exactly what I need.”
Woods wrestled collegiately at Iowa (2023-24) and Stanford (2019-22), earning NWCA First Team All-America honors after the canceled 2020 championships before placing at NCAAs in each of his final three seasons — sixth (2022), second (2023) and fourth (2024). He compiled a 107-15 career record in college, including a 43-6 mark over his two seasons at Iowa, and earned 67 bonus wins, 62.7 percent of his career total.
Woods was a three-time conference champion at 141 pounds, claiming two Pac-12 titles (2020, ’22) and a Big Ten title (2023), and never finished lower than third place over five total conference championships appearances. He also captured two Southern Scuffle titles — and was a three-time finalist — and twice won the Soldier Salute tournament. In 2023, he was named Iowa’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.
In freestyle competition, Woods captured 65kg silver at the 2019 Junior Pan American Championships in Guatemala City after placing third at 65kg junior freestyle at the 2019 U.S. Open following his freshman season at Stanford. Most recently, he took 65kg silver at the 2023 Matteo Pellicone Memorial.
Originally from Albuquerque, N.M., Woods was teammates with Michigan All-Americans Will Lewan and Dylan Ragusin at Montini Catholic High School in Illinois.
He will relocate to Ann Arbor in the coming weeks.