Iowa wrestling returns from break with inaugural Soldier Salute at Xtream Arena

The University of Iowa has not had a wrestling competition in almost three weeks.

The stretch is a little longer than most years. During the period that included finals and the holiday, Hawkeye wrestlers were still hard at work, honing their craft and recharging their batteries for the upcoming busy part of their season.

Coach Tom Brands has witnessed the Hawkeyes’ “never satisfied” approach after a 7-0 dual mark through a 27-12 victory at Tennessee-Chattanooga on Dec. 12.

“They always want to do better,” Brands said. “They’re learning as they go, getting better every day and having fun doing it.”

Second-ranked Iowa will return to action in the Soldier Salute, a two-day men’s and women’s open tournament that begins Thursday at Xtream Arena in Coralville. The event will recognize and honor former, current and future service members with all of the annual proceeds being split between the United Service Organization and a development fund for the continued growth of high school girls’ wrestling.

The competition comes on the heels of the Dan Gable Donnybrook and the United World Wrestling men’s and women’s freestyle World Cup in the same venue.

“That’s a pretty good chain of events for sports fans, in general, for sure,” Brands said. “Even more for wrestling fans. It’s a tribute to this community.”

The past three weeks provided an opportunity for recovery and individualized workouts. Iowa 141-pounder Real Woods spent the time working on finishes to his neutral attacks, teaming with Brands to improve from experiences in the first half of the season. He also said he spent quality time with friends and family.

“That short break is really good for us,” Woods said. “For me, I like to disconnect myself and get a little bit of a release. Just rejuvenate my mind and body to be able to go real hard in this Big Ten schedule.”

Woods will be one of 29 Hawkeyes in the field. Three-time NCAA champion and two-time Hodge Trophy winner Spencer Lee at 125, Max Murin (149), 165-pounder Patrick Kennedy, Abe Assad (184), Jacob Warner at 197 and heavyweight Tony Cassioppi are among the attached wrestlers for Iowa.

The Soldier Salute is Iowa’s lone two-day individual tournament during the regular season, resembling the format of postseason tournaments. The event will allow the Hawkeyes to iron out their routines for multiple sessions each day and consecutive days of weigh-ins.

“It does mimic the postseason,” Brands said. “That is important.”

The Hawkeyes have had a long history competing at the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships hosted by Northwestern. When that tournament was canceled the last two seasons, an alternative was needed. Enter the Soldier Salute, which tried to hold an event last year but couldn’t arrange it on a short turnaround.

“We ended up going to the Chattanooga tournament last year because of that so we want to make sure we have a place to wrestle and we know that it’s going to go here,” Brands said. “That’s not a shot at anybody. It’s just how we have to operate to make sure we’re in a good place when it comes to the holiday wrestling tournament season, so to speak.”

Members of the Iowa women’s wrestling program will wrestle in the event. The Hawkeyes are training on campus, but they will not officially compete until next season. They have competed unattached at open tournaments already. Ten wrestlers are expected to compete, including former Bettendorf prep Ella Schmit, former South Winneshiek prep and USA Wrestling’s World Cup team member Felicity Taylor, Kylie Welker, Reese Larramendy, Emilie and Brianna Gonzalez, Bella Mir, Sterling Dias, Ava Bayless and Nanea Estrella.

Northern Iowa will have 15 wrestlers in the men’s field. None of the Panthers’ full-time starters will compete. Garrett Funk and Cory Land will wrestle at 133, while Connor Thorpe is at 141. Adam Allard, Cael Rehnavardi, Gable Fox and Ryder Downey will all wrestle 149. Wade Mitchell, R.J. Weston and Evan Yant are expected to be at 157 and former Union Community state champion Adam Ahrendsen will wrestle 197 for the Panthers.

UNI will have three competing unattached, including 197-pound freshman Wyatt Voelker. The former West Delaware two-time state champion is 11-0 as a redshirt, winning three open titles this season.

Wrestlers from out-of-state programs have Iowa ties. Former Iowa City West prep Grant O’Dell will wrestle at 157 pounds for Bellarmine, while Wyoming 133-pounder Aidan Noonan was a three-time state champion for Cascade.

North Carolina duo Cade and Carson Tenold, who each won individuals state titles and helped Don Bosco to the Class 1A team title will compete at 174 and 184, respectively. Former Union prep Jack Thomsen is one of 12 South Dakota State wrestlers entered. He will wrestle at 165.

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