The Good and The Bad of Iowa’s wrestling schedule

The University of Iowa wrestling schedule has been out for some time now. I was discussing some of the duals with The Gazette's Scott Dochterman. I decided to offer my take on the 'Good,” 'Bad” and Ugly” of the Hawkeyes' competition.

THE GOOD: The Hawkeyes welcome rival Iowa State in the Cy-Hawk Series dual with the Dan Gable Trophy at stake on Nov. 29. The event was originally set to be married with the Iowa-Nebraska football game a day earlier, but the next day might be better with crowd control and traffic flow. Wrestling fans returning home for Thanksgiving can be grateful for a weekend of action.

Iowa won't have to worry about travel for its return to the 2015 Cliff Keen National Duals, hosting both the regional duals and the final rounds the following Sunday (Feb. 15 and 22). The duals sandwich the Iowa High School Athletic Association State Wrestling tournament, which makes for an exciting week for those alternating between Iowa City and Des Moines.

Don't forget the Midlands Championships. The tournament is always well attended by Hawkeye fans, and they have another good reason to head to Evanston, Ill., at December's end.

The Big Ten home schedule might be thin, but highlight by Illinois (Jan. 16) and Michigan (Feb. 13).

The NCAA Championships returns to the Midwest. The Hawkeyes will compete at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo.

THE BAD: Iowa will go 41 days from Dec. 6 (Michigan State) to Jan. 16 (Illinois) without a home dual. Seems like a long time without wrestling at the confines of Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The Hawkeyes take two trips to Columbus, Ohio. The first for a dual on Jan. 4, and the second for the Big Ten Championships March 7-8.

No University of Northern Iowa on the schedule. They will cross paths at the Midlands and in the postseason, but it would be nice to see the programs hook back up.

THE UGLY: Outside of the Cyclones coming to town, Iowa will have to hit the road and head to hostile territory to face rivals. Minnesota, Ohio State, Oklahoma State and Penn State are all on the road. They are stuff in between the first week of January and February. The month is normally a grind and this will add to it.

I'll be the first to admit that I don't fully understand all the intricacies for conference scheduling, but the Big Ten hasn't done Iowa any favors. In addition to the biggest duals being on the road, two are coupled with Rutgers and Maryland on a weekend. It is understandable to help the conference newcomers with marquee home duals, but the Hawkeyes face some long, and likely expensive, road trips.

l Comments: (319) 368-8679; kj.pilcher@sourcemedia.net