Gambrall determined to score more wins at 197

IOWA CITY - Bigger can still mean better for University of Iowa's Grant Gambrall.

The Hawkeye junior made the jump to 197 pounds from 184, where he was an All-American last year, and remains confident it was the right move and determined to post more wins. He will get the chance for two more victories as Iowa faces No. 7 Nebraska Friday in Lincoln, Neb., at 7 p.m. before hosting Northwestern at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Gambrall is 6-3 at 197 this season and ranked between 15 and 19 in three major polls. Last year, he went 25-8, placing third at 184 at the NCAA Championships.

"It's not going as well as I'd like it to be, but it's just something I have to work on in my wrestling," said Gambrall, who suffered post-concussion issues that kept him off the mat for months causing his weight to climb to more than 200 pounds. "I've got to get back to what I was doing when I was having success last year and that's getting to offense and finishing right away, taking advantage of every second on the mat."

The remedy is simple - hard work in practice. The focus is to embrace the grind and approach practice with the goal to improve each day instead. Gambrall wants to see quick results.

"It's got to be moreso with urgency to get this fixed now," Gambrall said. "We're two months out (and) there's a lot of work to do."

Iowa Coach Tom Brands said a wrestler has to work harder than ever, accepting the fact that discomfort will be part of the equation, to make strides. Almost a "no pain, no gain" mentality that elite athletes adopted to reach new heights.

"The best competitors in the history of sports were some of the most demented," Brands said. "They would embrace things that weren't comfortable and they made it their friend almost, especially in the sport of wrestling."

Brands doesn't buy into the concept that you can't win all the time. A wrestler must force his way to a win, claiming a victory away from an opponent. It could lead to added wins for Gambrall.

"You have to will your way to win," Brands said. "That doesn't mean you're going to win every time. If you can will your way to win and get tough in tough situations then you're going to get the results that you want."

One of the areas that doesn't concern Gambrall is the jump in size of his opponents. Despite a 13-pound difference in weights, Gambrall said he feels he is strong enough to compete in the higher weight class.

"I don't think that's the issue," Gambrall said. "As long as I'm wrestling the way I'm capable of wrestling it's not going to be a problem."

Strategy is a little different, however, at 197. Gambrall said he has to be more aware of his competition and their various styles. Opponents don't push the tempo in matches, making scoring tough, and he has to take advantage of scoring chances. He has had to adapt.

"These guys at 197 don't want to work as hard," Gambrall said. "They want to make the most out of a couple opportunities, so they're maybe more defensive."

Gambrall is determined to tally more wins, and each will be key with Big Ten competition upon the Hawkeyes. He isn't non-chalant about the results he has posted thus far. He is fine with the idea that his approach may classify him as one of the "demented" athletes that push limits to improve that Brands mentioned.

"I'm working on things in my mind constantly," Gambrall said. "I don't like losing out on the mat. In fact, it makes me sick, so I'm going to do everything I can to change it."