Clark captures Midlands title

EVANSTON, Ill. - A championship performance and learning experience.

Not only will Cory Clark return home with a title in hand but a few ideas bouncing more than just a title in hand.

Clark was one of four Hawkeyes to claim individual titles last night at the 52nd Ken Kraft Midlands Championships at Northwestern's Welsh-Ryan Arena. Iowa had 11 medalists, earning its 24th Midlands team title with a tournament record 189 points.

Clark scored a takedown in the final minute to beat Illinois' Zane Richards for the 133-pound title.

'It's not to go out there and learn, but I did go out there and learn,” Clark said. 'I'm not happy with it, but I got my hand raised.”

What he learned before the match paid dividends. He worked on finishing a takedown in practice and credited coaches for the result. He got to Richards' leg, leading to the decisive score, he patiently worked for points.

'Once I hit it, it was just a position I'm very familiar with,” Clark said. 'I was comfortable to work slow through it. There was no rush, no hurry. I pulled him back in bounds where I had time and space to finish and got the finish.”

Clark recalled Iowa associate head coach Terry Brands encouraging him from the corner, telling him the move was available and to keep after it. Clark has motivated and influenced by Brands and his brother, Iowa head coach Tom Brands.

'It's crazy,” Clark said. 'There are days when I feel like I have nothing left to give and Terry pointing at his temple and saying ‘it's all in here' can make you stand right up and make you do five more. It's crazy how much of an impact him and Tom have both had on me.

'I thank them and I'm fricking blessed to be with them.”

He showed the same traits in beating Jarrod Garnett, of the Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club, scoring a late takedown to reach the final for the first time. It reversed semifinal losses to Garnett the last two years here.

'I've been wanting to beat him,” Clark said. 'I didn't want to lose to him the other two times either.”

Clark's more aware of what needs to occur for his development. The performance with consecutive tough foes opened his eyes to things he should address, including moves to his right and left with equal precision.

'Just little things that mean a lot,” Clark said. 'That's what I've learned. I'm really going to spend some time on there.”

All four of the Hawkeyes titles came from third-period scores, including last-second takedowns by Nathan Burak at 197 and heavyweight Bobby Telford. Tom Brands wants to see his wrestlers be more aggressive and get to their holds more.

'Winning close matches, that is important, especially in those matches where it's you and the other guy and it's for the accolades,” Tom Brands said. 'They don't have to be close either.

'I've seen Lincoln McIlravy blow some pretty good guys right out of the arena because of relentlessness and being able to stay on what I do good over and over again.”

Mike Evans captured his second straight 174-pound crown. He used a reversal in the third to beat Illinois' Zac Brunson, 2-1.

'It's a chance to flex your muscle,” Evans said. 'It's a chance for the team to flex its muscles. A chance for the parents to smile a little bit (and) for the parents to get behind you but it's just a steppingstone.”

Evans hit a roll from his feet, coming out of the back door to come out on top. He said he strayed from conventional wrestling and tried to explode to continue motion. Evans said he isn't fazed by close matches, because Brands works them through scenarios in the room where they are trailing.

'I'm calm,” Evans said. 'I've been in those situations before. I guess you're a little nervous but at the same time you put yourself there in practice positions.

'I'm used to being down. I'm used to having to battle my way out. That's OK for me.”

Telford capped the night on a high note for the Hawkeyes, finishing Iowa's second straight record-setting showing here and bettering last year's 187 ½ total.

Telford and Northwestern's top-ranked Mike McMullan scrambled late in the third with Telford coming out on top with a takedown in the final five seconds. It was Telford's first Midlands crown.

Brands said Telford's started the chain of events that led to the winning points.

'That's what you want,” Tom Brands said. 'You want things going in your favor. We initiated and then we flurry and got out of some trouble there.”

Burak wrestled unattached and not officially a part of the Hawkeyes. He improved last year's third-place finish with the 197-pound title. He took Wisconsin's Timmy McCall down in the final seconds as well for a 4-3 win.

'It means a lot,” Burak said. 'This is the first tournament, besides Luther, that I have one. I have been in the semis a lot.”

He trailed late, which was similar to a match at last season's NCAA Championships. He was confident he could score.

'I knew I had enough time,” said Burak, conversing during a late blood timeout with Matt McDonough and Brent Metcalf, who were in his corner as coaches. 'I just had to go right away.”

Burak said the lesson is to open up and attack more early and often.

'I need to go more,” Burak said. 'If I would have gone more first period (and) second period that (takedown) would have came quicker.”

Brands said he had not made a decision yet on Burak's status, and said patience will be used in making the decision.

Thomas Gilman had his bid for a repeat denied by Virginia Tech's Joey Dance in the 125-pound final. They wrestled more than nine minutes before Dance scored the decisive takedown in the second sudden-victory overtime for a 4-2 win.

Brandon Sorensen (149), Mike Kelly (157), Alex Meyer (174) and 184-pounder Sam Brooks all placed third. Josh Dziewa and Nick Moore were fourth at 141 and 165, respectively. Brody Grothus (149) finished sixth for the Hawkeyes.

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