Ramos benefits from aggressive style

IOWA CITY - The switch is always flipped on for Tony Ramos.

Sure, the University of Iowa sophomore  finds his time to dial it back, but his aggressive and relentless style on the mat has endeared him to Hawkeye fans. It also has helped him earn the starting spot at 133 pounds.

"I don't know if you can really turn it on and off," Ramos said. "At home, I can't always be going 24-7. I need some of my rest. I need to know when to take my breaks."

One place he never slows down is on the mat. Ramos will bring his energetic attack to one of the marquee matchups Friday night when the top-ranked Hawkeyes (3-0) face Illinois at 7 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Second-ranked Ramos will face the Illini's No. 3 B.J. Futrell.

For the second straight year, Ramos has been involved in some strong competition to be the starter at 133. He earned the nod last season, and then lost a wrestle-off to Tyler Clark to start this year. Ramos avenged that loss, winning the Lindenwood Open on Nov. 19. He wrestled all three matches at last Friday's Iowa City Duals, going unbeaten and tallying 28 takedowns in a major decision, technical fall and pin.

"I think Ramos' scoring ability and the fact he opens things up gives him the nod," Iowa Coach Tom Brands said after the Iowa City Duals. "They're 1-1 against each other. It doesn't eliminate Tyler Clark. We like Tyler Clark, but what gives Tony Ramos the nod is that he takes risk and he's a little bit more wide open. We're going to have to have that."

Ramos (8-0) and Futrell (9-0) have split two matches in college. Futrell won by three at the Midlands Championships, but Ramos avenged it with a four-point win at the Big Ten tournament. Ramos is aware of the task at hand, and welcomes stronger competition.

"I know he's a tough competitior," Ramos said. "I'm excited to go out there and show what I can do against top guys like that."

He certainly won't concede anything to anybody that takes the mat with him, including in practice. Ramos is determined to do one thing, and that is dominate who he wrestles. If it includes a friend or teammate, well, they can be friends again after competition or practice.

"You can't take a backseat to anyone," Ramos said. "I don't care who it is that's going to step on the mat in practice or competition. If they're going to be across from me I'm going to try and take their head off."

Brands recalled that attitude when he first announced he wanted to be a Hawkeye. Ramos extended challenges to some of the wrestlers, and coaches, with the team, while he was capturing three state titles for Glenbard North High School in Carol Stream, Ill. Brands said it was a demonstration of his confidence more than cockiness.

"He called out Montell Marion, (Matt) McDonough, he called out (assistant coach) Mike Zadick even," Brands said. "He called out out everybody."

Many fans may categorize Ramos in an "Iowa style" category. Brands didn't compare him to any former Hawkeyes.

"He's pretty unique," Brands said. "He's certainly not in a mold where you'd classify a lot of people like him."

He has a unique attitude as well. Brands said he accepts all challenges, even when the coaches may be harsh with him, but he was tough to read at first.

"He says the boom has been lowered on me my whole life it's not going to bother me," Brands said. "You're on him and he's smiling at you."

Ramos credited his family for his approach to life, including older brother, Frankie who wrestled for Eastern Illinois. He has always been pushed to higher levels, so he isn't fazed by the high expectations that come with wearing a Hawkeye singlet.

"It's something I was just brought up with," said Ramos, admitting his other brother, Vince, is more mellow. "Always looking to improve and do better in everything I do. It's something that has carried over in every aspect of life."

Ramos applied that philosophy to his mat wrestling as well. A dynamo in the neutral position, qualifying for the NCAA tournament and posting a 25-6 record with six major decisions and three technical falls, he struggled to escape or ride opponents. He has made strides in that area.

"I improved not letting guys get their legs in," said Ramos, the 132.25-pound FILA Junior National champion this year. "I can ride guys when I need to.

"I feel like I'm tougher in every position."

Brands said Ramos will be in a battle of wills against Futrell. The wrestler who can impose their style on the other will come out on top.

"Who stays where they're best and do what they're best at more often," Brands said. "I know one thing, we can't wait. We can't hang out. We have to go."

Illinois (6-0) enters the dual ranked seventh in the National Wrestling Coaches Association/USA Today Coaches Poll. They are coached by former Hawkeye Jim Heffernan. The Illini have five ranked wrestlers by InterMat, including third-ranked 174-pounder Jordan Blanton (10-0), who would likely face Iowa's No. 6 Ethen Lofthouse (7-1).

"They feel good about themselves and they're a good team," Brands said. "We've go to be ready. I know they're excited to come here."

Fans have additional reasons to be excited for Friday's event. Iowa will also host a demonstration from the United States women's wrestling team coached by former Hawkeye NCAA champion and three-time All-American Terry Steiner. It will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will last about 20 minutes. Steiner has had the women's national team training in the Dan Gable Wrestling Complex this week. The 2012 USA Wrestling Olympic Trials will be held at CHA on April 21-22, consisting of women and men's freestyle and men's Greco-Roman wrestlers vying for a spot on the Olympic team with hopes of wrestling at the 2012 Olympics in London, England.

For fans who have purchased season tickets for Hawkeye wrestling and the VIP package for the Olympic Trials can pick up the limited edition Dan Gable Olympic bobblehead beginning at 5:30 p.m. on the Carver-Hawkeye Arena concourse.  Pre-purchased USA Wrestling/Iowa Hawkeye t-shirts will also be distributed, according to Iowa's sports information department. In a news release Iowa SID stated, "T-shirts and bobbleheads will not be available for purchase on site. You must have ordered the commemorative t-shirt in advance."