Hawks ready for National Duals despite injuries

A few familiar names could be missing from the University of Iowa's lineup this weekend.

The top-ranked Hawkeyes could have big part of its projected starting lineup inactive when they attempt to win their third straight National Wrestling Coaches Association/Cliff Keen National Duals title today and Sunday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. Action begins today at 9 a.m.

Injuries are the main culprit as 197-pounder Chad Beatty suffered a broken foot last week in his final match at the Midlands Championships and will like miss the remainder of the regular season. Heavyweight All-American Dan Erekson has yet to return from a torn pectoral muscle suffered in November.

Daniel Dennis, a returning All-American at 133, has missed the last month due to ankle injury. Iowa Coach Tom Brands, however, said Dennis' return is a day-to-day decision.

Those are big shoes to fill, but no one will use it as a crutch this weekend when Iowa's resolve is challenged by the nation's top teams.

“I think it's always a test,” Brands said about his team's toughness. “We don't put a lot of stock into whether we're banged up.

“From our perspective it's business as usual.”

The program's philosophy extends beyond a “next man in” mentality. The Hawkeyes expect their second, third and even fourth strong to be competitive, and the wrestlers prepare to carry the load.

“If something does happen and the No. 1 guy goes down, it's no big deal (because) the next guy's in line,” Hawkeyes senior 174-pounder Jay Borschel said. “He's been training along the whole time with everyone else.”

Brands addresses the subject daily, questioning his wrestlers on whether they are up to the task.

“We talk about it everyday,” Brands said Friday. “The ones who buy in the most ... they're the most prepared.”

Include Nate Moore as one who bought in replacing Dennis in the lineup for the first time Dec. 10. Moore scored a fall his first match and placed sixth at the Midlands.

“He had no choice really,” Borschel said. “He's been training with the attitude that he is the guy going in so he was ready the second Dennis went down.”

Blake Rasing and Jordon Johnson will continue to fill in for Erekson, who has not wrestled in competition this season.

According to Brands, Luke Lofthouse and, possibly Brodie Ambrose, will be used to fill the hole left by Beatty's injury.

“He's the No. 1 guy right now,” Brands said of Lofthouse. “He's got work to do. he's got to up his level.”

So does the entire squad if they want to continue its championship run and record 47-dual win streak. Iowa opens with 15th-ranked Nebraska (8-3). The path for a title will be difficult, likely facing No. 8 seed Boise State (5-0), coached by former Hawkeye and Mount Vernon native Greg Randall, in the second round, and even include a possible rematch with second-ranked Iowa State (3-1) in the finals.

“We're ready,” said Brands, noting the individual success will power the team. “We're prepared. We know what's coming.”

As Iowa competes in the NCAA Division I tournament, third-seeded Coe will attempt to improve its program-best fourth-place finish last year in the Division III bracket.

“We're excited about the opportunity to compete up there,” Oostendorp said. “We're really relying on all 10 guys to go out there and do their part.”

The Kohawks (8-1) are one of five Iowa Conference schools in the event, including No. 4 Wartburg (7-0), No. 11 Cornell (6-6), No. 12 Luther (5-2) and No. 16 Dubuque (2-1).

Coe opens with Heidelberg (5-3) at 11 a.m., but two wins could set up a battle with national power Augsburg in the semifinal with a trip to the championship at stake. Oostendorp said his team has to be the aggressor on offense to be successful. He said Heidelberg's the focus but bigger opponents create excitement.

“We're excited for big matchups whether it's the first round, second round, semifinal round and finals,” Oostendorp said. “That's how we train. Not taking it for granted that you're going to be in those type of duals, but expecting that if we do what we've trained that we'll be in that type of situation.”

Upper Iowa will also be part of the NCAA Division II field.