Iowa trio still fighting for starting spot

IOWA CITY - University of Iowa Coach Tom Brands and his staff see the 149-pound situation clearer than any outsider.

From the outside looking in, however, it's as clear as mud.

Two Hawkeyes have come away with titles in as many open tournaments to start the season, leaving a question as to who may be the front-runner for the starting job. Three wrestlers are listed at 149 on the probable lineup for Saturday's dual against rival No. 15 Iowa State, beginning at 7 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The dual will be televised statewide on Mediacom.

Red-shirt freshman Brandon Sorensen won the individual crown at Lindenwood's Joe Parisi Open in St. Charles, Mo. last Saturday. Grothus was third last weekend, starting the season with a Luther Open title, beating Sorensen in the semifinals and teammate Edwin Cooper in the finals. Cooper finished fourth, dropping matches to both Sorensen and Grothus.

'We have to make sure we put the right guys out on the mat,” Brands said. 'Part of the reason why we did that is because we want to know who our best guy is and it's a big dual meet coming up this weekend. We're going to put the best guy on the mat, who we see for this weekend and we'll continue to re-evaluate.”

A decision as to who faces the Cyclones has not been announced, yet. Brands said he wants them to continue to improving.

'We're talking about it right now,” Brands said. 'All three guys are preparing like they're the guy and that's what's important.”

The situation is different from some recent competition in the Iowa wrestling room. Brands recalled using random methods of drawing names from a hat and flipping a coin to determine a starter, because no one had elevated to No. 1 status. This time is a case of three quality wrestlers vying for a single spot.

'I think we have three really good guys here,” Brands said. 'I don't think this is an issue where these guys are fourth, fifth and sixth at the Luther Open. This is an issue where all three of these guys can do the job. All three want to do it and all three believe they can. It's a matter of who is the guy, who is going to emerge and distance yourself.”

Sorensen defeated a common opponent, who beat Grothus, on Saturday. Grothus has a win over Sorensen and is 2-0 against Cooper, who placed higher than Sorensen the first weekend.

'I'm going out there to win every match that I wrestle,” Sorensen said. 'That's what I am focusing on doing.”

Cooper, an NCAA Division II runner-up for Upper Iowa last year, remains optimistic about earning the spot, but mentioned he could consider a bump to 157 after next month's Midlands Championships. He hasn't been in this scenario in the past.

'It's something new and I believe I can adjust to what has been happening the last two weeks at these tournaments,” Cooper said. 'It's going to take some time, but it should all work out as long as I keep doing what I need to do, such as attacking on my feet and just scoring points.”

The wrestlers didn't share if they have been told who will be in action Saturday. Sorensen is confident in his ability to represent the Hawkeyes at the end of the season.

'I'm real excited for it,” Sorensen said. 'I'm ready for it. If not, there remains a lot of season left, I'm fighting for it. I want to be the guy at 149. I plan to be there.”

Calling on Klapprodt?

University of Iowa All-American Nathan Burak was idle last weekend after winning a title at the season-opening tournament. He beat teammate Kris Klapprodt in the finals. Now, Klapprodt could get the call to make his Iowa-Iowa State debut Saturday against third-ranked two-time All-American Kyven Gadson.

'First off we have to get Burak healthy,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said, 'then make a decision on his future.”

Klapprodt is 5-2 this season, going 2-1 at the Iowa City Duals on Friday. He has progress to make, but is determined to make them, according to Brands.

'He's a competitor,” Brands said. 'He wants to do more. He's hungry. There are things in his head and he's working hard to figure it out, so hey, stud, let's figure it out. Let's go forward the right way.”

Former Hawk upsets UNI

Former University of Iowa Hawkeye Tony Ersland already owns an impressive win in his tenure as head coach at Purdue.

The first-year year head coach led the Boilermakers to a 21-15 victory over 18th-ranked University of Northern Iowa on Sunday at Holloway Gymnasium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue (3-0) won six of 10 bouts, handing the Panthers (1-1) their first loss since the end of the 2012-13 season and snapping a 14-dual win streak. UNI was the only NCAA Division I program to have an unbeaten dual record last season and tied the program's longest streak set in 1956-57. It was Purdue's first victory over a ranked foe since Feb. 2013.

'It was a good win,” Ersland said. 'As a coach you're always looking at things you can do better and that's where I am at right now. We will enjoy it for a day or two; it was the first one for me in our home gym so that is special. I am really excited for our guys because they did win. They're learning how to win and close matches out, that's important, from that there are a lot of positives that they can take from it with confidence and energy.”

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