Preparation pays dividends for Cornell’s Hamm

DUBUQUE - One hundred takedowns.

Cornell's Brent Hamm finished each practice the past week, drilling 100 takedowns and pushing himself when he was exhausted. His preparation paid dividends.

Hamm used a first-period takedown to beat Wartburg's second-ranked Brandon Welter, 3-2, for the 184-pound title at the NCAA Division III Central Region wrestling tournament Saturday at the Five Flags Center.

'I knew I needed to be ready for (Saturday),” Hamm said. 'I knew down the road I have one goal and that is to be a national champ.”

Hamm scouted video of his 7-2 loss to Welter in December, realizing he wrestled Welter even after surrendering an early five-point move. He awaited a chance to avenge the setback.

'I knew I would most likely get a rematch,” Hamm said. 'I did my part. He did his part. Staying on my offense was a big key to winning that.”

Cornell Coach Mike Duroe said Hamm's repetition and technical work was a big difference, praising the efforts of Rams assistant coaches Alex Coolidge and Andrew Knaack.

'He's an unbelievably hard worker,” Duroe said. 'He's real consistent with his training.

'He stayed with the game plan. It paid off for him.”

By reaching the finals, he earned a second straight NCAA berth. He beat Luther's Justin Kreiter by major decision in the semifinal, taking a step closer to All-American honors.

'This is obviously a big step,” Hamm said. 'I knew I punched my ticket to get in the finals, but I wasn't necessarily satisfied with that. I was happy, obviously, but it let me take a deep breath and let me go into that last match real relaxed.”

Hamm has made major progress throughout his career. He did not qualify for the state tournament his senior season at Iowa City High and had a losing record his freshman season at Cornell. He surprised some with a national tournament berth last year, but this year it was an expectation.

'We talk about putting edges on our guys and doing things that will give them an advantage,” Duroe said. 'I think we've put a lot of good edges on him and put a couple more on him. Hopefully, we will get him to the top of the podium in two weeks.”

Cornell advanced three to the national tournament, including 133-pounder Nathan Shank and Trevor Engle at 149.

Coe is sending five wrestlers to the NCAA tournament, including 184-pound Ryan Sheldon.

Sheldon finished second, reaching the final with a pin over Luther's third-ranked Jayden DeVilbiss. Sheldon used two takedowns and three nearfall to build a 7-1 lead before the fall in 2:45.

'I was a little nervous about it, knowing I had a good bracket ahead of me,” said Sheldon, who lost a 4-0 final to Wartburg's Devin Peterson. 'I just wanted to wrestle well and get there. It worked out.”

Sheldon, a 2014 All-American who placed sixth, has struggled against DeVilbiss previously, including a past regional here. Revenge was a little sweeter.

'Coming into that match, I really wanted it,” Sheldon said. 'To do it the way I did, it felt really good.”

The Kohawks' top-ranked Farai Sewera placed second at 165. Wartburg's Andrew Steiert scored a takedown with eight seconds left in the second sudden-victory overtime to beat Sewera, 5-3.

Coe's Jan Rosenberg (125), Ryan Harrington (174) and 197-pounder Donnie Horner, a returning All-American, qualified for the national meet.

Luther boasts seven NCAA qualifiers, including three finalists. Drew Van Anrooy produced the Norse's lone title, beating Buena Vista's Nashid Barrow, 8-5, for the 141-pound title.

Van Anrooy overcame injury and even illness earlier this week. He was not happy with his performance, noting that his conditioning faded at the end of matches.

'I got the win,” Van Anrooy said. 'I'm happy with that. I wish I would have stayed more aggressive toward the end.”

Second-ranked Van Anrooy, a transfer from Oregon State who was third at the 2014 Pac-10 tournament, won his 17th straight match. He said he felt pressure of high expectations.

'It's a relief,” Van Anrooy said of advancing. 'Now I can lay it all on the table at nationals.”

Luther teammate Conner Herman will make a long-awaited return to nationals. Herman was a win away from All-American honors as a freshman in 2012, but knee injuries have sidetracked the heavyweight's last two seasons. He placed third to make the NCAA field.

'I lost in the all-American round and that still hurts,” Herman said. 'That is part of what's pushed me to come back all the time. I just want to be on that podium.”

Evan Obert (133) and Dakota Gray (149) finished second for the Norse. Reed Van Anrooy (157), Blake Letney at 165 and DeVilbiss also qualified.

Top-ranked Wartburg is attempting to win a fifth straight NCAA title. The Knights won the regional title with 167 ½ points, topping Luther by 40. Wartburg crowned seven champions and advanced nine to the national tournament March 13-14 at Hershey, Pa.

'To have a completely brand-new group and come in and do what these guys have done, buy in and just believe, and watch them develop throughout the course of the year ... because if you think about where we were at the beginning of the year, unranked, we weren't very good,” Wartburg Coach Eric Keller said. 'How good these guys have gotten the past five months and still what is possible for them in front of them is exciting.”

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