Wrestling connects Clark and Meyer

IOWA CITY — Cory Clark and Alex Meyer aren't cut from the same cloth, but they share one common thread.

Wrestling has tied them together since they were first-graders in the Little Rams wrestling club that feeds the Southeast Polk program.

'He wrestled for some other clubs, as did I,' Meyer said. 'That was definitely our home club. We've known each other a long time. He was a 55-pound fourth-grader.

'I remembered I wrestled 96 in sixth grade. I was bigger than him, but I wasn't huge.'

They went on to win state titles together for Southeast Polk, continuing their careers at the University of Iowa. Now, they will compete in two of the marquee matchups when second-ranked Iowa faces No. 17 Iowa State Sunday at Hilton Coliseum, beginning at 2 p.m.

Iowa (5-0) will look for its 12th straight victory in the series, owning a 63-16-2 overall advantage over the Cyclones (2-1). This is the first time both of the former Central Iowa preps will wrestle in it.

'In high school, we weren't super close,' said Meyer, noting that being able to wrestle with tough competitors like Clark helped cement his college choice. 'He's always been a great teammate of mine and definitely a team leader. He's someone I can count on to go out and score points.'

Clark said Meyer has always been a tough wrestler with a relentless motor. Off the mat, he said he has a goofy sense of humor that's good for an unexpected laugh.

Meyer recognized Clark's competitive nature as kids, whether it was on the playground, playing video games or lacing up wrestling shoes.

'He wants to go all the time,' Meyer said. 'He wants to be better than you. It doesn't matter at what or who it is. He wants to be better than that person.

'Whatever he's doing, he's going to be good at it or he is going to get good at it.'

Iowa Coach Tom Brands recalled recruiting both wrestlers. Clark's resume stood on its own, winning titles at 103, 112, 119 and 126 for the Rams. Meyer was a 170-pound champion as a senior.

Brands was familiar with the system run at Southeast Polk, including head coach Jason Christenson and assistant Jessman Smith, a former Hawkeye two-time All-American who placed third in 2002. Brands said Smith is direct and honest when it comes to whether a kid fits in the Iowa program and he endorsed each of them.

'Both of those guys were fits from their point of view,' Brands said. 'In Meyer, you can kind of see the prototype, or stereotype, where he's a goer and well-conditioned. Clark is a goer, too. Clark is as good as he wants to be, and we have to be ready to go because it is a big match for us.'

Clark, who is ranked second, will face No. 7 Earl Hall in a battle of unbeaten All-Americans at 133. Clark (5-0) has beaten Hall (8-0) three times in college, surviving a wild 8-7 decision two years ago in Ames. Clark won 8-3 in last year's dual and 7-1 in the 2015 national quarterfinals.

'He's dangerous in certain positions and I've just got to wrestle my match and my pace,' Clark said. 'If I get in those positions, I'm aware of what he has there.'

Brands said that Hall has the ability to hit big moves. Clark has to be ready and dictate the action from the first whistle to the last.

'Hall is a dynamic-type wrestler,' Brands said. 'He's an athlete. He's explosive. He's got some tricks that he can put you in trouble right away.'

As if the bout wasn't big enough, there apparently is some behind the scenes drama. Brands said supposedly a letter has surfaced that allegedly was written from him to Hall. Brands denied any connection.

'The other thing that is interesting with that matchup is evidently I wrote a letter to Earl Hall that said all you have to do is break and Cory Clark will have his way,' Brands said. 'Something to that effect. The reason I don't know the content of that letter is because I didn't write it, but someone said I wrote him a letter and I don't know where that is coming from. There's some gasoline on the fire.'

Meyer (4-1) will make his Cy-Hawk debut. The fourth-ranked junior will take on No. 13 Lelund Weatherspoon (7-1) at 174. The two haven't met before, but Meyer is aware that Sammy Brooks defeated Weatherspoon at 184 last year.

'I've done my homework,' Meyer said. 'I'll be ready to go, focusing on my stuff and just being aware of what he does. Nothing really changes in that aspect as far as my preparation.'

Clark and Meyer grew up in Central Iowa, but that didn't influence Meyer. He attended Cyclone football games and wrestling duals, but he remained a Hawkeye at heart. Family members never tried to sway his decision when he made an unofficial visit to Ames and was contacted by Iowa State Coach Kevin Jackson.

Iowa was the place for him athletically and academically.

'My mom's side of the family most of them went to Iowa State,' said Meyer, a human physiology major. 'I never grew up a Cyclone. I was more of a Hawkeye, especially since we were a wrestling family and that's where the best wrestling was.

'I have a lot of relatives that support the Cyclones, but whenever I'm wrestling or my brother is wrestling they are definitely wearing black and gold.'

If that is the case, they have been cheering for the winning side the last 11 meetings of this series. The Hawkeyes have dominated the rivalry recently, going 10-0 under Brands.

'I don't pay attention to the number,' Brands said. 'I pay attention to the fact that I know what our team is capable of and I know that they put a lot of importance on this. We have to be ready.

Brands added, 'This program is unique. Every time out we're getting everybody's best effort, and that's a fact. It's not like that everywhere else, but Iowa State is going to gear for this and we have to be ready to go.'

At 149, third-ranked Brandon Sorensen is set to take on No. 15 Gabe Moreno. Sorensen is one of three four-time Iowa high school state champions that could see action, including Clark and Iowa State 141-pound hopeful John Meeks.

Victories in this series can help attract the state's top recruits.

'It shows that you recruit guys that know how to wrestle and are very serious about wrestling,' Brands said. 'They have high goals. They train the right way, their attitude is the right way when they come in. It's more than about having in-state kids. It's more than about having a guy that has good potential. It's about the total package.'

Iowa still is trying to bolster its lineup. Brands said the Hawkeyes are working to build the depth daily. He repeated his claim of having to add to the six or seven solid wrestlers. This dual provides a big stage for the others to make an impact.

'A lot of stories in the history of the sport have been told in this series,' Brands said. 'Make your own story.'

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