Iowa opens title trek with nine ranked wrestlers

IOWA CITY - The University of Iowa wrestling program has had its share of prominent performers and title contenders.

Recently, Tony Ramos, Derek St. John and Matt McDonough have filled that role since the Hawkeyes' last national team title. Without a clear successor for that role, the whole might be greater than the sum of the parts in Iowa's lineup.

The Hawkeyes enter the season ranked first in the USA Today/National Wrestling Coaches Association NCAA Division I Coaches Poll, but none of their nine ranked wrestlers are higher than third.

The talent is there for one or more to emerge as a leader in competition.

'I think we have five or six guys that are ready to do it, that want to do it, that are doing it,” Iowa senior Mike Evans said, 'It's going to take 10 Rameses. It's going to take 10 McDonoughs.”

Iowa has the potential for a balanced and deep lineup, including four All-Americans, seven with national tournament experience and nine ranked wrestlers. The key might lie in developing consistency, which is a term that has surfaced in the preseason.

'I think the consistency is that you are a proponent and an advocate for a certain style of wrestling that is entertaining and puts a lot of points on the scoreboard,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. 'So, when you're talking about what needs to be done in the room or does it help to have more to do with the competition arena, both. Both, because one impacts the other, and it's easier to go forward when you have success when it's in front of everybody and the lights are on. It's easy to go forward the next day in that wrestling room, and then when you do it in the wrestling room, it's easier to duplicate that in your competition.”

Iowa has a strong nucleus back, including two-time All-Americans Bobby Telford (285) and 174-pounder Mike Evans, who placed fourth and sixth, respectively, last season. Junior Nathan Burak (197) finished eighth and sophomore Cory Clark was fifth. Josh Dziewa (141), Brody Grothus (149) and 165-pounder Nick Moore qualified for the national tournament.

'I think we are confident,” Moore said. 'I think it's more of an individual thing. I think if 125 goes out and does his job and then all the way up to heavyweight. ...

Just go out individually and tackle it one-by-one.”

Iowa might rely on some newcomers to the lineup, including red-shirt freshman Brandons Sorenson and transfer Edwin Cooper, who was an NCAA Division II national finalist for Upper Iowa last year at 149 and 157. Sophomore Topher Carton has also garnered some attention at 141. They could solidify the lineup.

'Kids that are in this lineup know what they're doing,” Telford said. 'They've won big matches. They're big-time wrestlers. They're here for a reason.”

Two of the smallest wrestlers could become the biggest leaders. After battling head-to-head, Clark and Thomas Gilman will take the mat side-by-side. They split time at 125 last season, but Clark has moved to 133, getting both into the lineup. They give Iowa a 1-2 punch at the front of the lineup that resembles McDonough and Ramos.

'It's all positive,” Clark said. 'It's good for our team. it's good for our lineup to have both of us in there. We can feed off each other even more than we did in the past.”

Clark said he made the official decision during the summer to move up. He said he feels more comfortable at the higher weight.

'I felt like it was hard for me to put 100-percent out on the mat,” Clark said about the cut in weight last year. 'I just wanted to move up a weight to where I could wrestle at my full potential,”

Now, Gilman and Clark can push each other in practice without a starting spot hanging over their heads. Brands complimented Gilman on his handling of the situation, having beaten Illinois NCAA champion Jesse Delgado en route to a Midlands Championships crown. Both said he might be better because of it.

'I wouldn't change anything about last year,” said Gilman, a Junior World Team member at 55 kilograms. 'it was good for my development as a person, mentally. There is a little bit less pressure. I can focus on what I need to focus on.”

The seniors have a strong sense of urgency. It was a revered class coming out of high school, including four-time state champs and nationally ranked competitors. They are looking to close their careers with a team title, but it will likely take a team effort.

'We have a lot of motivated guys that wanted to bring the title home back when we were freshmen,” Evans said. 'Now, we have our last year to do it.

'It's going to take 10 guys firing on all cylinders.”

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