Alex Meyer faces key match when Iowa hosts Indiana

IOWA CITY — Alex Meyer has wrestled in important matches.

He competed for a state title, wrestled ranked opponents and contributed to one of college wrestling's most storied traditions. Bigger bouts remain ahead, but plenty is at stake Friday night.

'I think all of them are big, but this one especially,' said the 10th-ranked Meyer, who will wrestle No. 11 Nate Jackson when second-ranked Iowa hosts No. 20 Indiana at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in the Big Ten Conference dual finale, beginning at 7. 'It's a good one and one to get up for just like all of them.'

The match could impact conference and national tournament seeds. Meyer has a chance to complete the conference gauntlet unbeaten, and Jackson (24-4) has a victory over Penn State's top-ranked Bo Nickal. Meyer acknowledged the outside factors, but his attention is strictly on his training.

'I focus more on making sure all my workouts are where they need to be with nutrition, rest and all that stuff,' Meyer said. 'Just make sure there's nothing left undone, getting ready.'

The two have met one previous time. Meyer topped Jackson, 3-2, at the 2014 Midlands Championships, en route to the first of two third-place finishes at the midseason tournament. Meyer said Jackson is long with the ability to scramble and might attempt to slow the pace. He will have to wrestle at his tempo without surrendering easy points.

'I have to work hard to get to my scores (and) I think they will go in my favor,' said Meyer, who is 13-0 in his career at CHA. 'Constant attack and pressure. That comes from being focused and dialed ready to go from the first whistle.'

Meyer has had moments this season where he has scored points in bunches, but has had some tight, low-scoring affairs.

'I don't know if there is anything wrong,' Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. 'Yeah, we want guys to steamroll guys every time they go out, but we want more, but it's not that easy either. The one thing about him is he doesn't put his thumb in his mouth and suck his thumb. He battles and that's what we need. We need battlers. He fits that very well.'

Meyer (18-2) has four major decisions, a technical fall and two pins. He has won 17 of the last 18 matches and 13 straight dual bouts. He said he has done what is needed to win, which may not have led to more points late in contests. Brands questioned how consistency is determined. He has seen Meyer's consistent success and effort.

'I look at where he was in high school. I look at early in his career,' Brands said of the Southeast Polk 170-pound Class 3A state champion. 'I look at how he's won his whole life and he's been pretty consistent.

'Yeah, we want to work on things. We want to work on him getting to the legs, but the one consistent that Alex Meyer has is that he scraps and he scraps hard.'

Iowa (14-0, 8-0) has won or shared seven of the last eight Big Ten dual titles. A victory will secure a share of another crown and tie the program's third-longest conference dual win steak at 21 straight. The Hawkeyes haven't lost a Big Ten dual since January 2014.

'It's a good accomplishment, but as far as what we think of it, it's not a real big deal,' Meyer said. 'It's expected.'

The Hoosiers (6-3, 3-3) only have two ranked wrestlers. In addition to Jackson, 125-pounder Elijah Oliver is ranked 19th. The dual still is another important test for the Hawkeyes.

'You can't wrestle the reputation or the past of this team,' Brands said. 'You have to wrestle the moment and they are going to put smart wrestlers out there that are going to try to beat us.'

The dual is the regular-season home finale and will serve as Senior Recognition Night. Two-time All-American 197-pounder Nathan Burak, 2014 NCAA qualifier Brody Grothus, 157-pounder starter Edwin Cooper Jr., 165-pounder Patrick Rhoads, Jake Kadel and Chris Klapprodt will be honored after the meet.

'We talk about embracing your role,' Brands said. 'Not everybody does it, but most guys there is value in the program when they look back on their career. If you haven't learned anything in this program then we didn't do our job.

'I feel this sport is individual in nature, so there's probably a lot of wanting to be the guy, and then I'm not the guy, the role that I'm in I'm not sure I really enjoy that too much, but the toughest guys we've got, the guys that define our program the best are the ones who embrace that role no matter what it is, and we've had some really good examples of that in the past.'

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