Gabe Arnold’s flexibility, unselfish approach affords him opportunities to compete for No. 4 Iowa men’s wrestling

IOWA CITY — Gabe Arnold provides a good soundbite.

He’s fun, entertaining and interesting, but it’s his actions this season that is making the biggest impact for the Iowa men’s wrestling program.

Arnold has demonstrated a team-first approach, wrestling three weight classes for the Hawkeyes. He has accepted the challenges, earning another opportunity to compete at 184 pounds Friday when No. 4 Iowa hosts No. 9 Minnesota in a Big Ten Conference dual at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, beginning at 7 p.m.

“The focus is just on getting better,” Arnold said. “We talk about it a lot in the room. It’s just about whenever you get the opportunity to go out, compete hard, compete with integrity, compete with everything that you’re about and that’s what I strive to do every time I get to go out, because I’m only going to be wrestling for so long.

“It’s all about going out there, enjoying the moment. Enjoy getting the opportunity to put on that black singlet with Iowa on the left leg and taking it all in.”

Arnold, an NCAA qualifier at 184 as a freshman last season, has wrestled at 174, 184 and 197 this season. He is 5-0 at 184 after his 4-1 victory over Nebraska’s No. 7 and former Big Ten champion Silas Allred last Friday. He also beat 197-pound foes from Chattanooga and Utah Valley in December. Arnold finished second in the 174 bracket at the Soldier Salute and stepped in at 174 against Penn State’s top-ranked Levi Haines.

“It’s just wrestling,” said Arnold, who is 11-2 this season. “There are different weight classes. There’s this, there’s that. Oh, this guy is huge. He weighed in this. Who gives a (crap)? It’s just wrestling. It’s just competing. It’s just one guy getting better, another guy getting better. That’s all it is. It’s just wrestling. That’s my mindset to it.

“I don’t care who I wrestle. I’ll wrestle the No. 1 guy at 174. I’ll wrestle the No. 1 guy at 184. I’ll wrestle the No. 1 guy at 197. If it were really up to me, I’d probably wrestle the No. 1 guy at heavyweight. Thankfully, it’s not. They have to keep me safe from myself a little bit.”

Iowa Coach Tom Brands said Arnold’s willingness to be versatile is a great characteristic. Iowa’s Mitch Bowman did something similar one season for the Hawkeyes but it’s not always easy to get athletes to do it. Arnold has been reliable to do what is needed for the team. Even when he isn’t competing, Arnold can be seen engaged in duals, encouraging teammates from the bench.

“As unselfish as he has been, as flexible as he has been, the communication lines are open,” Brands said. “Not saying he agrees every time with the method but he’s stepped up every time. So, it’s invaluable.”

Arnold said he doesn’t fear anyone on the mat. The focus is to improve and battle each time he gets the chance to wrestle. He has come a long way from when there was talk about him no longer being with the program during the summer.

“I’m not taking shortcuts in matches,” Arnold said. “I’m not letting off easy, making sure I’m attacking a guy and I’m actually being what I preach and what we preach every day in this room and that’s scoring points. As long as I continue to do that, I think the trajectory is going to keep climbing upward and upward.

“I’m more disciplined this year. A lot of good things that have happened. My wrestling is just a small part of that. Just continuing to do the right things on and off the mat. That’s my approach. That’s why my name gets called so much to compete because they know what I’m about. They know how I’m going to compete and they know what I want to do that’s get my hand raised.”

Not only is Arnold punching the work clock but he is doing good work.

“I think if you’re wired the right way you’ll do what it takes when you’re called upon to execute in your role.” Brands said. “Sometimes your role on a team, or in an organization, isn’t what you want it to be but you’re called upon to do it, so you accept the task with gusto and you go do the job.”

“It’s more than a job. It’s not just doing a job. It’s doing thee job at thee highest level. Again, credit Gabe Arnold.”

Arnold, who finished his high school career with a state title at Iowa City High, is listed in the probable lineup at 184 for No. 2 Angelo Ferrari. He could face All-American and fourth-ranked Max McEnelly, who topped Arnold, 4-1, in sudden victory last season.

The duo sparked a friendship in the offseason, connecting over social media. The goodwill during the summer will pause for at least seven minutes when they collide in front of the CHA crowd.

“We’re close. We’re cool,” Arnold said. “We both know there is a job to be done Friday night. Best man’s going to get his hand raised. At the end of the day, we’ll see who it is. Obviously, I’m biased but it’s me.”

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