Iowa men’s wrestling facing stiff challenge

The Iowa men’s wrestling team has run roughshod over Big Ten Conference opponents, so far.

The Hawkeyes (10-0, 5-0) have outscored four conference teams by an average of nearly 26 points per dual. The level of difficulty increases drastically with No. 12 Michigan (5-3, 3-2).

Here are five things to watch when the Hawkeyes head to Ann Arbor, Mich., on Friday (first bout at 7:30 p.m.):

HEAVYWEIGHT DECISION

Iowa has two viable options at heavyweight.

Bradley Hill and Ben Kueter have split matches recently. Hill has made strides throughout the season, improving to 15-4 overall and 3-0 in the conference. Kueter has won his first two matches.

Kueter debuted with a decision over Minnesota’s Bennet Tabor, who was ranked at the time, after just a couple weeks of full-time practice after finishing his first Hawkeyes football season. Sunday, he posted a 45-second pin over Northwestern’s Jack Jessen.

The question still remains whether Hill will man the spot or will Kueter have his redshirt pulled for the postseason. Kueter, a four-time state champ for Iowa City High and U20 freestyle world champion, has three more matches before a decision will have to be made. Either way Friday will be a good gauge for both.

Michigan’s Lucas Davison is ranked sixth and was a two-time All-American and four-time national qualifier for Northwestern. Davison is coming off a 4-3 loss to Ohio State’s No. 18 Nick Feldman that capped the Buckeyes’ 20-19 dual win.

Regardless of who goes for the Hawkeyes, it will be a good test in a dual that might be decided in the final two weights.

WILL ARNOLD RETURN?

Speaking of lineup questions, when will Gabe Arnold return to the lineup. The freshman phenom made a big contribution early in the season, posting wins over All-Americans Travis Wittlake (174) of Oregon State and Iowa State’s Will Feldkamp at 184.

Arnold hasn’t wrestled since the Cy-Hawk dual, which was his third competition. He has two more to use before redshirt status has to be declared. With duals against Penn State and Oklahoma State down the road, Arnold likely won’t wrestle against Michigan. To be clear, he wasn’t in the original release of probable lineups. That doesn’t mean it won’t change before Friday.

With Patrick Kennedy’s success at 174 and Aiden Riggins coming off a win with another winnable match against a midrange ranked foe, Arnold may not be needed. He could be better utilized next week and in the regular-season finale.

KENNEDY’S PROGRESS

Patrick Kennedy has been impressive recently.

The 2023 NCAA qualifier has adjusted to his move to 174, beating Illinois’ formerly third-ranked Edmond Ruth, 5-1, last Friday. Kennedy is 10-2 overall with one of his losses coming to teammate Michael Caliendo in the 165 finals of the Soldier Salute in December.

Kennedy has since gone 5-0 with two major decisions and a tech fall, in addition to the win over Ruth.

Kennedy is back to his physical and aggressive style of wrestling.

Kennedy, ranked as high as fifth nationally, will have another challenge with former NCAA champion and third-ranked Shane Griffith. Another chance to see how far he has progressed and his postseason potential.

CAN SCHRIEVER SOLIDIFY SPOT?

One of the weights that seem to still be up in the air is 133.

Iowa Coach Tom Brands doesn’t like making starter decisions. He wants wrestlers to emerge as a clear No. 1 with their performances, taking control of the situation.

Cullan Schriever, Brody Teske and Kale Petersen (to a lesser extent) are competing for the spot. Teske manned the weight to start and was ranked in the top 10. Schriever served a suspension, keeping him out until mid-December, but has wrestled well since his return. The former Mason City prep is expected to get the call Friday.

Schriever has wrestled in the last three duals and four of the last six. In those four appearances, Schriever has two major decisions, a technical fall and a win over Columbia’s then- No. 11 Angelino Rini. He has outscored those opponents by a combined 62-23, but fourth-ranked Dylan Ragusin awaits. A victory, and even a competitive loss, could be a huge boost to Schriever’s attempt to claim the spot.

MICHIGAN TRANSFERS

Michigan has benefited from the transfer portal as much as any NCAA Division I program.

Forty percent of the Wolverines’ probable lineup wrestled for other schools previously. All are ranked in the top-10 of their respective weights as well.

Michigan’s success will hinge on how they do Friday. Former Northwestern wrestlers Michael DeAugustino and Davison wrestle at 125 and heavyweight for the Wolverines. Griffith, who helped save Stanford wrestling from the chopping block by his efforts and winning an NCAA title, is the Wolverines’ 174-pounder.

Former Cyclone and Wisconsin Badger Austin Gomez has joined the Michigan lineup at 149.

DeAugustino is No. 10 and Gomez is ranked fifth. They will take on No. 3 Drake Ayala and Caleb Rathjen, who is trying to cement himself as the Hawkeyes’ 149 starter.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com