Midlands begins challenging stretch for Hawkeyes

IOWA CITY - The break is over and tougher challenges begin for the University of Iowa wrestling team.

After about a three-week absence from duals or tournaments, the top-ranked Hawkeyes jump back into competition with the 49th Ken Kraft Midlands Championships hosted by Northwestern Thursday and Friday at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill. The opening round begins Thursday at 9:30 a.m.

Midlands kicks off a tough month of wrestling, which includes a home dual with No. 2 Oklahoma State on Jan, 7 and Big Ten duals against No. 7 Ohio State and Penn State and Minnesota, both tied for the third in team rankings by InterMat.

“This is going to be a test,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said Tuesday in the Dan Gable Wrestling Complex at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. “A week from Saturday night we have a big test, but before that we have Indiana.

“There's a lot of wrestling coming up and the Midlands is part of that. We have to be ready.“

The Hawkeyes made huge strides after a fourth-place finish here last year. The upcoming stretch, starting with the Midlands, will say a lot about a relatively untested team to date.

“We have a lot of wrestling coming up in the next couple of weeks that's really going to stamp this program or define it,” Brands said. “You can say you've done a good job so far, but we've been tested once. That doesn't mean there weren't individual tests or emotional tests or tests that this team went through mentally, physically or otherwise, but we've really only been tested once and that was by Illinois.”

Brands said he wants to see a sense of urgency through an entire match from his wrestlers, distancing themselves from their opponents on the scoreboard and psychologically. He also wants to see wrestlers begin to solidify their spots, noting the Hawkeyes haven't fielded their best lineup yet.

“We've had some good performances as a team,” Brands said. “We have a lot of fire power. This is another chance to show off that firepower, but now instead of going to an Open (tournament) like we did at Lindenwood or wrestling a dual meet, you're going to a tournament that's two days long and the competition is quite stiff. These guys want to prove themselves.”

Among those getting a chance to prove himself is former Iowa City West four-time state champion and red-shirt freshman Nick Moore. He dropped from 165 pounds to 157, filling the spot for second-ranked Derek St. John, who injured a knee Dec. 8 in a win against University of Northern Iowa. Brands St. John could wrestle if needed but they don't want to rush his return. Brands said it is an opportunity for Moore to crack the lineup.

“He's one of our guys that is not able to show his stuff because he's behind a guy at 165,” Brands said. “Now, he has an opportunity with St. John being out of the lineup to prove how tough he is and he's got a chance and seize the moment.”

St. John was one of 11 Hawkeyes listed as “top contenders” for the elite tournament field. Tony Ramos and Montell Marion were listed as No. 1 at 133 and 141, respectively. Matt McDonough is No. 2 at 125 behind Illinois' Jesse Delgado, who defeated McDonough in overtime earlier this month. Ethen Lofthouse is third at 174 and red-shirt freshman Bobby Telford is fifth at heavyweight. Evans (165) and defending Big Ten champion heavyweight Blake Rasing were each eighth. Red-shirt freshman Mike Kelly will make his debut at 149 for the Hawkeyes. Brands said 16 Hawkeyes will be competing, but only 15 official entries with freshman Brody Grothus will wrestle unattached at 149.