Iowa Wrestling Weekend That Was: Hawkeye sophomore Gabe Arnold capitalizes on opportunity against Pittsburgh

Iowa’s Gabe Arnold made the most of his opportunity in Iowa’s win over Pittsburgh. University of Northern Iowa squashed North Dakota State in its home opener Sunday. Coe crowned five champions at its annual Turkey Invitational and more in the Wrestling Weekend That Was.

ARNOLD MAKES MOST OF HIS OPPORTUNITY AGAINST PITT

Gabe Arnold made his season debut Friday in Iowa’s 36-0 walloping of Pitt at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Arnold wrestled at 184 pounds, stepping in for top-ranked Angelo Ferrari. Arnold handled Chase Kranitz, 15-5, for a major decision.

“It’s emotional for me,” Arnold said. “I didn’t know if I would be back here. I didn’t know I’d be able to do that in front of you guys again. We still have a lot of work to do.”

Arnold described the last 12 months as an “eventful year,” including being hospitalized during the season last December, a lackluster posted season that didn’t end on the NCAA podium and summer where he was briefly dismissed but rejoined the team before the paperwork was even completed.

“In a sense, I feel I owe you guys something,” Arnold said. “I kind of left out on my team in the middle of summer last year. These guys do a lot for me. They keep me in check. They keep my t’s cross and my i’s dotted.”

Arnold is in a logjam of upper weight talent that includes NCAA runner-up and third-ranked Michael Caliendo at 165, All-American and No. 2 Patrick Kennedy at 174 and top-ranked freshman Ferrari at 184. Arnold was almost giddy afterward and his excitement was nearly palpable as he jogged up the tunnel from the arena floor to the media room.

“It’s awesome to be back home,” Arnold said about being in front of the CHA crowd. “It’s a feeling that is hard to put in words. It’s emotional. It’s a lot of things. Damn, it’s just good to be back home. There’s no other way to put it.

“I love the fans. I love the coaches. I love my team.”

Iowa Coach Tom Brands doesn’t subscribe to charity in wrestling. He doesn’t dish out handouts or warm, fuzzy opportunities to appease others. Make no mistake. Arnold received a chance to fill in for Ferrari because he earned it.

“Make the most of it,” Brands said. “Major decision there. I think he could have realized it was starting to roll like a pinball machine to get the tech fall there. The guy was falling down after a while.”

Arnold showed a lot of energy from the time he shook hands with Kranitz during introductions to his post-match celebration that caused the first really enthusiastic response from the crowd to the news conference. Arnold even spouted off the Latin he learned in high school with “Carpe Diem” associating his effort being connected to his appreciation of being in the lineup.

One aspect that may have been overlooked Friday. Arnold was right back mat side, encouraging Mo Endene during the 5-4 win over No. 4 Mac Stout in the following match.

“This is a fricking family and we love each other,” Arnold said. “We went crazy for Mo Endene. It’s not because we’re supposed to because we have a bunch of cameras on us. It’s because we’re family. It’s because we love this. We get to wrestle in front of thousands and thousands of people. Man, what an opportunity? What a freaking blessing?”

Arnold did drop a bit of a bomb during his interview. He hinted he would be at a different weight for the Soldier Salute on Jan. 3-4 – Iowa’s lone individual competition. The results of that event could impact the lineup heading into the Big Ten Conference dual schedule.

“You’ll probably see me at a different weight come Soldier Salute,” Arnold said. “I’m looking forward to that. I’m looking forward to the challenges that are up ahead.

“I love you guys. I can’t wait to get better at wrestling.”

UNI THROTTLES NDSU

UNI opened its home dual schedule with a dominant win over Big 12 Conference foe North Dakota State. The Panthers won seven of 10 matches for a 27-11 victory.

UNI recorded five bonus-point wins, receiving major decisions from 133-pounder Julian Farber, Cory Land at 141, Ryder Downey (165) and Jared Simma at 174. Heavyweight Wyatt Voelker capped the day with a 20-5 technical fall, tallying six takedowns with five in the final two periods. Voelker, a Big 12 champion and NCAA qualifier last season at 197, has been successful in his transition to heavyweight. He owns a 3-1 mark.

COE CROWNS 5 AT HOME TOURNAMENT

Coe hosted its annual Turkey Invitational on Saturday. The Kohawks placed eight in the finals and claimed five titles. Among the 22 Kohawks to place, Brayden Parke (125), Brody Neighbor (133), brother tandem of Ty and Bo Koedam at 149 and 165, and Wyatt Smith all won championships.

Neighbor and Bo Koedam each beat ranked wrestlers. Neighbor, a former Alburnett standout, defeated Cornell’s No. 12 Eli Sneed, 5-0, in the finals. Bo Koedam beat Cornell’s No. 7 Brian Petry, 6-1, for the title. Parke tore through opponents with three technical falls and a pin. Smith went 4-0 with a pin. He also defeated Millikin’s NCAA qualifier Leno Campbell, 14-5, in the semifinal.

HAWKEYES CLAIM 3 TITLES AT MISSOURI VALLEY

Iowa women’s wrestling team boasted three championships at the Missouri Valley Open on Saturday at Marshall, Mo. Third-ranked 131-pounder Karlee Brooks, Skye Realin at 138 and No. 2 Reese Larramendy all won gold for the Hawkeyes. Valarie Solorio (103), Nyla Valencia (110), Emily Frost (131) and Jaycee Foeller (207) reached the finals and placed second. Former Decorah standout Naomi Simon wrestled unattached and placed third at 180.

Larramendy dominated the competition, recording four technical falls and outscoring her first five opponents, 49-2. She won by default in the final. Realin went 6-0 with four technical falls and a pin.

PRAIRIE WINS CLIFF KEEN INVITE

Cedar Rapids Prairie’s girls’ wrestling team won the Cliff Keen Independence Invitational Saturday at Independence High School. The Hawks scored 327.5 points, topping runner-up Iowa City Liberty by 33.5. Linn-Mar finished fourth with 283.

Emelia Reyes paced Prairie, winning the 235-pound title. She pinned Mason City’s Aniyah Smith in 5:!4 for the title. Teammate Elizabeth Burns was second at 100.

Linn-Mar’s Kate Seery won the 115-pound crown, beating Liberty’s Kate Eggleston by fall in 3:24. The Lions’ Divine Akili (190) was second.

Alburnett’s Lyni Gusick (140) and Vinton-Shellsburg’s Chloe Sanders (145) also won titles.

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