Kelly ready to make big contributions for Hawkeyes

IOWA CITY - Mike Kelly is focused on the big picture.

He is healthier, stronger and more confident than a year ago, helping him set sights on making a national impact, which, in turn, could benefit the University of Iowa wrestling team and could cure the Hawkeyes' lack of postseason production from 149-pound starters.

Kelly made a strong case to be the leader at that weight class, capturing the title at the Luther Open last weekend to begin the season. He will be the main competitor for the Hawkeyes at 149 Friday during the Iowa City Duals at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Fourth-ranked Iowa will face Baker (Kan.) University, Iowa Central and Cornell College, beginning at 10 a.m.

Kelly and sophomore Brody Grothus split time last year before Josh Dziewa competed at the Big Ten Championships. Red-shirt freshman moved into contention at the start of the season as Dziewa returned to 141. Grothus and Ryan finished third and fourth, respectively, at Luther.

Outsiders might be concerned with competition for the starting spot, but Kelly's approach is different. He wants to be the best, and not just the best Hawkeye.

"I'm probably thinking a little bit the other way, separating myself from the pack of the rest of the nation and start putting myself in that mindset," Kelly said. "Just keep building at practice every day. Just keep building every match."

The Hawkeyes haven't been represented in the weight class at the NCAA Championships since Brent Metcalf won his second title in 2010. Any pressure to end that stretch for the team is less than the individual expectations Kelly has for himself.

"To be honest, I'm probably thinking about it in a little bit selfish terms," Kelly said. "I want to go out and get a national championship for myself and the team,, and all the other stuff is going to take care of itself."

Things are far from settled, but Iowa Coach Tom Brands saw some positives last weekend. He had some big wins, but had better mat sense, being more controlled and not surrendering points carelessly, which had been problematic at times last year.

"There's a difference when you're smart," Brands said. "His energy's always good. He wrestles hard, but let's wrestle smart and let's do the things that put points on the board and leave them off the board for your opponent."

One of the opponents he defeated was Upper Iowa's Edwin Cooper. In an interesting coincidence, Cooper, a former NJCAA national champ for Iowa Central, was an Iowa recruit. Many outsiders anticipated Cooper to have a strong shot at being the new 149-pounder. He joined the Peacocks instead, and beat Grothus in the semifinals. Kelly said both had something to prove.

"It was a big match," Kelly said. "The kid was almost coming here and I think a lot of people almost wanted to give him the spot because of my, or other people's, struggles, but I'll tell you what, I certainly wasn't giving him the spot."

Kelly, who has wrestled as high as 165 in the past and made the cut to help solidify the Iowa lineup, said he has improved weight control, eliminating it as a factor in his performance. He said he feels better physically now than in the previous two seasons. It has helped with the product on the mat.

"My weight has been good. I feel good and I think it shows in my matches," Kelly said. "Maybe last year I wanted to push the pace and wrestle at a high pace, but I couldn't maybe because my body wasn't letting me. I probably wasn't toeing the line weight-wise like I should have been."

Not only has Kelly been affected physically, but he is stronger mentally. He has more confidence in competition, knowing he can wrestle a high tempo and have the stamina to sustain it.

"It feels good because I'm able to do what I want to do," Kelly said. "I'm not out there wanting to hit holds and wrestle hard, but kind of fading. I feel good when I can wrestle six minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes or whatever it may be."

Brands said Kelly produced some good things in his first tournament this season. He has emerged with a win over an opponent with Division I potential, but plenty of work remains.

"It clarifies things a little bit but that's not done," Brands said. "Go out and continue to show us you want to be the guy with the way you wrestle and score points."

The Hawkeyes dominated the field as expected at Luther. They had wrestlers place in the top four spots at 184 and the top three at both 141 and 157. Back-up wrestlers Walt Gilmor (165) and Kris Klapprodt (197) also won titles for Iowa. Iowa will have 13-15 guys in Iowa City fir the duals with the rest of the team heading to the Lindenwood Open in Missouri.

Kelly, 125-pound freshman Cory Clark and Klapprodt are expected to get most of the action at their weights.

"We're deep and we like being deep," Brands said. "We want to be deeper."

Iowa opens against Baker and then closes against Cornell.