Plenty of work ahead of state wrestling programs to climb ranks

NEW YORK — None of the state's wrestling programs were content with their performances.

Iowa was shut out in the finals for the second straight year and experienced its lowest team finish since 2007.

Iowa State remained outside the top 10. Northern Iowa was represented by just one gritty wrestler during award presentations.

Improvement is needed for all three to ascend the ranks for next season. The question is what does each team have back to mold into a better on-the-mat product.

The Hawkeyes have three finalists back, including two-time national runner-up Cory Clark. They also return all but one All-American, including Thomas Gilman and Brandon Sorensen, who both placed second. Alex Meyer (174) and 184-pounder Sammy Brooks reached the podium as well. Freshman heavyweight Sam Stoll was an All-American contender before a late-season knee injury derailed him at the national tournament. They accounted for 68 1/2 points, which is the fifth best behind Ohio State (82), Penn State (73), Missouri (71) and Virginia Tech (69 1/2).

'We like what we have coming back,' Iowa Coach Tom Brands said during the finals Saturday night. 'Five All-Americans coming back. That's one more than came back last year. I'm going to believe in our potential.'

The Hawkeyes have a solid recruiting class of four ranked in the top eight of their respective weights, including second-ranked 160-pounder Kaleb Young, of Punxsutawney, Pa., and 170-pounder Alex Marinelli, of St. Paris Graham High School in Ohio, and Lisbon's Carter Happel, ranked fourth at 145. Iowa also has three-time Iowa state champions Jack Wagner of Bettendorf (ranked eighth at 120) and Center Point-Urbana's Brock Rathbun.

Topher Carton returns, splitting time at 141 this year, while Burke Paddock saw some action at 165. Talent is in the room with red-shirt wrestlers Vince Turk and Michael Kemerer having strong campaigns. Turk was 18-4 at 141, winning three tournaments and going 3-2 at the Midlands Championships. Kemerer earned attention, going 24-2 at 149. He won four tournaments and placed fifth at the Midlands, losing to two top-10 ranked opponents.

'A guy like Kemerer is going to have to grow, too,' Brands said. 'Just because he's a really good option and did some things that turned some heads we're going to have to develop there as well in a lot of areas.'

Brands said the Hawkeyes need to score more match points, leading to bonus points that increase the team's total. Iowa struggled with offense on the final day, scoring one takedown in seven matches and none in three finals.

'I think competitors turn things into learning experiences when there's not good results and there's things that could be described as disaster. You do it by getting back on your horse.'

Iowa State finished outside the top 10 for the sixth straight year, dating back to a third-place showing in 2010. The Cyclones return two All-Americans. Unseeded duo Lelund Weatherspoon (174) and Pat Downey (197) placed fifth and sixth, respectively.

Iowa State Coach Kevin Jackson said young talented wrestlers are in the room and a good recruiting class set to join them.

'For the most part, we have guys in the room, guys coming back, that understand what it means to perform and understand what our expectations are,' Jackson said. 'It's not to be out of the top 10 and not only have three All-Americans.'

Downey said he recognizes the raw and athletic ability in the program. He said he hopes they dedicate themselves and gain as much confidence as team leaders have in them.

'I don't even know if they believe how good they are capable,' Downey said. 'I feel like me and coaches feel we believe in them more than they do.

'We'll have this summer and preseason to get them to reach their potential, if you will, because the potential is there. I believe in our guys.'

UNI placed 25th, which was 10 spots higher than last season. The Panthers had consecutive 15th-place finishes in 2013 and 2014. Dylan Peters earned his second All-American honor. He returns with NCAA qualifiers Josh Alber (133), Bryce Steiert (157) and 165-pounder Cooper Moore.

They also have red-shirt freshmen Max Thomsen (20-4 at 149) and Paden Moore (7-2 at 157) and heavyweight transfer J.J. Everhard, who was 20-4 as a red-shirt.

UNI Coach Doug Schwab said he plans to see more purple on the mat during placing rounds next year.

'The thing is you don't want to keep talking,' Schwab said. 'You don't want to be next year, next year, next year. You want it to be this year.

'We have some good young guys in the room. We've got to develop and get better, having a real plan and having a plan for each individual moving forward.'

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