Not a typical rebuilding year

Don't expect any high-fives to be passed around, but don't think you will see any sulking about the University of Iowa's 2010-11 college wrestling season either.

The Hawkeyes' third place finish Saturday at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships capped a season considered by many outside the program as a rebuilding year at the start. A program that fielded a young lineup with little postseason experience still managed to remain unbeaten in duals and claim its fourth straight Big Ten regular season dual title, come within a point of a fourth-straight Big Ten Conference tournament and contend for a fourth straight NCAA team title with five All-Americans.

That type of rebuilding year would be a best for many programs. The Hawkeyes wouldn't be satisfied with being the third best team in the country, but it's hard to ignore the progress shown through the course of the season.

“I told our team earlier (Saturday) there are a lot of things to build on,” Brands said. “Every coach in America is saying that, but it can't just be this weekend and tomorrow and then you forget about it.

“More than that even when I say there are things to build on there are things that you can be proud of with some of these guys even though we don't have a champion. I always talk about champions. We want to get champions, but we don't have one so it's not like you are negative. It's not all negative. There are some positives.”

Improving on those positives will depend upon the work in the offseason. As wrestlers enter a phase that likely includes a little down time it's imperative for them to maintain the fire that is accompanied by the conclusion of the national tournament and the potential of what next season could bring.

“We've got work to do," Brands said, "and we have guys willing to do the work."

The Hawkeyes fielded a lineup with up to nine new full-time starters, replacing seven graduated seniors, who led the program to three straight Big Ten and NCAA team titles. Early doubters had them as low as 11th in the preseason polls. Iowa had a blip in the season, resulting in a fourth-place finish at the Midlands Championships at Northwestern in December. After that, all they did was just continue the program's unbeaten dual streak to 77 straight with a 15-0-1 record. One of those wins was a 22-13 win at then top-ranked and eventual national champion Penn State Jan. 30. 

“I think we proved a lot to a lot of people around the country,” said Iowa sophomore 184-pounder Grant Gambrall, who placed third at the NCAA tournament. “We still didn't get what we wanted.”

The want was for titles. They were focused on individual titles which would then lead to a team title. Does added motivation come from missing out on both?

“I don't think there should be,” Gambrall said. “The motivation should be there if we won it the year before or not.

“But, maybe for some guys. For me, I didn't get what I want so you work hard and get it next year. Make the improvements I need to make and not only catch the guys in the finals but pass them and pass them by a good margin.”

One thing that might be overlooked is the job the coaching staff did with getting the wrestlers to progress as the season went along. The team was pushed hard through the Midlands Championships and the early part of January. They seemed to push many of the right buttons the final two-and-a-half months of the season.

“It's always evolving and changing on the fly, because there's a dynamic there you're trying to hit,” Brands said. “There's a target or sweet spot you're trying to hit and if you're not hitting it you're adjusting it on the fly.

“We have a pretty dog gone good staff. It's a good team with cohesion and philosophy and them being able to communicate that philosophy and then getting guys to pick up and do that philosophy and that will be the difference.”

The Hawkeyes return all but two starters from this season. All-American Luke Lofthouse leaves a hole at 197 and Aaron Janssen capped his career with his first NCAA tournament appearance. Iowa doesn't just have bodies coming back, they have quality wrestlers to take the mat.

Matt McDonough, the 2010 NCAA champion as a freshman who finished second this year at 125, returns looking to add to his national title collection. McDonough was a leader for this year's squad and was a spark on the mat, leading duals off for the Hawkeyes. He went 27-2 with 14 pins, including a streak of six straight in a stretch where he earned seven falls in eight matches.

“I'm working for another year, starting a half hour ago,” McDonough said after his 7-1 championship loss to Arizona State's Anthony Robles. “Starting two minutes after my match, I took my time. Now it's time to build.”

Montell Marion, a 2010 NCAA runner-up, provided a boost when he worked his way back onto the team and earned reinstatement in January. Marion (13-5) claimed a second straight All-American finish, placing fourth at 141. Marion has proven he can compete with anyone in the nation.

Gambrall (25-8) may have been a surprise come tournament. He produced one of the better individual performances for the Hawkeyes, topping three higher-seeded foes for a 6-1 record and a bronze medal in his first NCAA tournament. The tournament showed he has the ability to be a top performer next season.

"What I thought all along was right. I'm pretty tough when I want to be,” Gambrall said. “Make sure I get ready for every match.”

Iowa has a trio of red-shirt freshmen that will return with NCAA tournament experience, which was lacking by all except McDonough and Marion this season. Tony Ramos (133), Derek St. John (157) and Ethen Lofthouse (174) will be back for just their second varsity season.

St. John (24-6), who seemed to be stronger as the season progressed, placed fourth. Tony Ramos (25-6), an aggressive and fiery competitor, reached the Round of 12 and fell one point short of reaching the top eight. Ethen Lofthouse (20-10) went 1-2.

Heavyweight Blake Rasing (18-7) may have had a disappointing national tournament as the seventh seed, but the junior from New Hampton was impressive capturing the Big Ten Championship. Additionally, the Hawkeyes have some strong freshmen, who red-shirted and were a part of a highly-touted recruiting class.

“Did the results show there is a foundation? I'd say yes,” Brands said. “We have to sure some things up as well.”

Just because the Hawkeyes return a number of people for next season doesn't mean they move up the pecking order because other programs suffer losses to graduation, according to Brands. Similar to the fact that turnover didn't mean Iowa wouldn't contend for a title this season.

“That mentality is not prevalent in our room and that's a good thing,” Brands said. “We have a good mentality that way with what the next step is.

“It's just nothing is automatic and these guys know that.”