Business as ususal

CEDAR RAPIDS - It's the same approach. The same championship mentality that made it one of the country's top programs.

Iowa wrestling coach Tom Brands said Thursday that the Hawkeyes are in normal preparation mode for the 2011-12 college wrestling season.

“We have guys that are wired about business as usual, and it's time to ramp it up,” Brands told the Linn County I-Club Wednesday. “The good thing about our team is individuals realize it's a steady progression. It's not like they've had months and months off, and now they're into it and then they're gung ho.”

Brands, women's basketball coach Lisa Bluder and men's basketball coach Fran McCaffery addressed the club during a luncheon at the Longbranch Convention Center.

The Hawkeyes were third at the NCAA Championships in March after three straight championships and were second at the Big Ten meet, also ending a streak of three titles. They enter the season with a 77-dual meet unbeaten streak.

“The urgency is the same,” Brands said. “That's the message with our team throughout the spring, and the message isn't even talked about. We would be acting the same right now if we got whipped, meaning if we were 30th in the country, or if we were the national champion by 40 points. That's a sign of a steady program.”

Iowa is led by two-time NCAA finalist and 2010 national champion Matt McDonough, the 125-pound NCAA runner-up in March. The Hawkeyes also welcome back two-time All-American and 2010 NCAA finalist Montell Marion, who was fourth at 141 last year. All-Americans Derek St. John (157) and Grant Gambrall (184) return.

Brands said it isn't about being better because the wrestler is a year older, it's about realizing what needs to be worked on and addressing it to be a more complete competitor.

“The effort is good,” Brands said. “Now it has to be (shown) with results.”

All the experience - eight wrestlers with starting experience - should mesh well with a talented group of red-shirt freshmen.

“We like depth,” Brands told the crowd of Hawkeye supporters at the Longbranch. “We like the idea that we have competition in the room, not because you like the fact that if something bad happens to somebody you can plug another guy in, but I think competition is healthy in all aspects of life. It keeps you sharp.”

Now is the time for walking the walk and reaping the rewards from their effort in training. Plenty of potential exists if wrestlers proceed their businesslike attitude.

“Veterans and new guys alike have to be about getting the job done,” Brands said. “I think we're about that in spoken word, but we haven't been about it in deed.

“I think we can win a lot of matches, and I think we're starting to figure out that the way to win is to dominate and then you win those tight matches.”