College wrestling notes: Iowa’s Jacori Teemer has enjoyed aura around the Hawkeye men’s program

IOWA CITY – So far, Jacori Teemer has been impressed with his experience at Iowa.

He debuted against Stanford at Carver-Hawkeye Arena and recorded his first pin in a Hawkeye singlet in a sweep at Bellarmine Friday. The short time already had him wondering if he should have been here earlier.

“Just the aura around the school, the brand name,” Teemer said. “There are a lot of fans that travel with the team. I’m not really used to that.”

Teemer is fitting just fine with his new program. The four-time national qualifier transfer from Arizona State has recorded bonus points in his first two victories this season and could face No. 10 Paniro Johnson when second-ranked Iowa hosts No. 12 Iowa State on Saturday, beginning at 6 p.m.

“I just love competing and our lineup this year is really good,” Teemer said. “When I see my guys winning and performing to the best of their abilities it just gets me excited. I feel a little unstoppable right now as a team.”

Teemer has seen the attention Iowa commands at home and on the road. The Hawkeyes usually draw the largest crowds for teams that host them, which was the case when 2,285 attended the 49-0 win at Bellarmine.

Teemer recalled Arizona State’s productions when Penn State came to town for duals but it was hard to get big programs to travel west. He thrives when the stage is its biggest and each of Iowa’s duals attract a lot of attention and big crowds.

“I love it,” Teemer said. “It’s like the best thing ever. Just hearing them. I can barely hear the coaches. All I hear is the crowd. I wrestle my best when it’s like that. It just gets me going, gets the blood going.”

Iowa Coach Tom Brands was asked what he saw in Teemer before he joined the program.

“He’s a pretty cool cat and I like cool cats,” Brands said about one of seven wrestlers to win four Pac-12 Conference titles and placed second, sixth and fourth at the last three NCAA Championships.

The Hawkeyes welcomed a polished title contender but Teemer said he has become a better wrestler in a short time here.

“You guys haven’t seen it, yet, but my top wrestling and then my pace,” Teemer said about additions to his skillset. “My first match against Stanford I walked off the mat and I wasn’t even breathing hard. I’m just like I need to pick it up even more. Just adding better conditioning and top wrestling to my bag.”

Teemer is a consensus No. 1 in the national rankings at 157 pounds. Fellow transfers Stephen Buchanan (197) is ranked No. 1 by Flowrestling, while Kyle Parco is fourth at 149. The trio are 8-0 this season, combining for a pin, four technical falls and a major decision.

“it’s important that the guys that are here want to be here,” Brands said. “Whether you’re a transfer or not, you want to be here, good things are going to happen and you’re going to continue to add to your wrestling because your mind is open, your eyes are open, your ears are open.

“That’s really the idea. You get better every day. Add to your wrestling. Get better every day.”

TEST DRIVE FOR FERRARI

Freshman Angelo Ferrari was the top recruit in the Class of 2024. He posted a successful debut at the Grand View Open on Saturday, winning the 184-pound open division title.

Ferrari topped 20 points in four technical falls and missed a major decision by just one point in the semifinal.

“We like how he can score a lot of points,” Brands said. “Pretty dangerous in a lot of different positions.

“He’s a sponge and we love that.”

The penchant for stockpiling points made a big impression on Brands and assistant Ryan Morningstar in his corner.

“He was high-powered,” Brands said. “Frustrated when he didn’t score a bazillion points. I kept saying to Morningstar, ‘I can get used to this’ and I kept saying it over and over again.”

Ferrari could still be a factor in Iowa’s lineup this year, depending on how things shake out at 174 and 184 in the next couple months.

UNI HOSTS SDSU IN UNI-DOME

Due to University of Northern Iowa hosting the Missouri Valley Conference Volleyball Championships in the McLeod Center, the 14th-ranked Panthers’ home-opening dual against No. 13 South Dakota State will be held at the UNI-Dome.

All seats will be general admission and restricted to the west side stands with some floor-level seats. Tickets are available online and can be purchased the day of the dual at the stadium’s northwest entrance.

The mat will be placed at the 50-yard line and near the west stands. Spectators will be asked to use the northwest entrance to enter the UNI-Dome. Doors will open 90 minutes before the 1 p.m. start time for season ticket holders and an hour before to the public.

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