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Kyle Parco passes top-10 test to claim 149-pound title at Soldier Salute
Iowa men crown 7 champions; Hawkeye women claim 5 titles, Kennedy Blades earns OW honor
Dec. 31, 2024 1:59 am, Updated: Dec. 31, 2024 11:15 am
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CORALVILLE – Iowa’s Kyle Parco likes constructive feedback.
He has two coaches like Tom and Terry Brands who shoot it straight, so it works well for the Hawkeyes’ fourth-ranked 149-pounder and four-time All-American.
“I love the criticism and that I have more to work on,” Parco said. “It gives me something to do when I come in the room on Monday.”
Work is a little easier with success and Parco capped the calendar year with a victory over a quality opponent. Parco used six early points to beat North Carolina’s No. 6 Lachlan McNeil, 8-5, in the finals of the Soldier Salute college wrestling tournament Monday night at Xtream Arena. The Hawkeyes crowned seven champions and won the team title with 248 points, 121.5 points ahead of runner-up University of Northern Iowa.
Iowa also won the women’s team race, scoring 215.5 points and topping NAIA power Life (Ga.) University by 16.5. The Hawkeyes had five champions, including Kennedy Blades, who earned Outstanding Wrestler honors.
Iowa men’s dominance was highlighted by Parco’s win over the Tar Heels’ two-time All-American. He passed a strong test.
“It was really good,” Parco said. “He’s a good opponent. I was looking forward to it the whole tournament. It was a good win but I think I need to wrestle a full match. There are a lot of things I need to work on.”
The approach has helped him develop in his first, and last, season with the Hawkeyes. Tom Brands said Parco has responded well to what the coaches’ advice.
“Very much so,” Tom Brands said. “I think he responds well to honesty. He has thick skin. That helps.”
Parco took an early advantage, finishing a single with a physical push and trip. He followed with a quick three-point nearfall for an early 6-0 lead.
“Being more physical with my hands and moving my feet more are always a key to some good wrestling in me. Good positions,” Parco said. “We bumped heads a little bit on that finish but keeping my hands up was a key part of getting those scores. Like I said, I didn’t do that the later part of the match, so I need to pick that up. Keep that same pace.”
Which brings us to the message he received as he came off the mat. Tom Brands said Parco controlled the match until the last 40 seconds. Parco mentioned his offense stalled and then mistimed a high-aptitude finish over basics that cost him a late takedown.
“It wasn’t the right move at that time,” Parco said. “There’s a time and place for every move.
“The openness to do that stuff is really good. I need to stay with that but in that position, specifically, I need to slow it down and finish hard as I always practice. I think I got away from myself a little bit.”
Iowa’s Michael Caliendo also faced a top-10 foe at 165. Caliendo used riding-time advantage for the decisive point to drop Minnesota’s No. 9 Andrew Sparks, 7-6, in the final.
The Hawkeyes boasted both finalists at 133 and 184. Many looked forward to a possible match between freshman Angelo Ferrari and redshirt freshman Gabe Arnold. The match didn’t occur with Ferrari winning by medical forfeit. Tom Brands was asked what factors went into the decision.
“Some things you keep private,” he said, repeating it when asked about Kale Petersen moving up from 125 to 133. NCAA finalist Drake Ayala posted a 20-5 technical fall over Petersen for the title.
Patrick Kennedy maintained his solid campaign, beating Navy’s No. 15 Danny Wask, 6-2, for the 174 crown. Tom Brands mentioned he has seen more consistency from Kennedy this season.
“But I hold my breath when I say that,” Tom Brands said. “Kennedy, you have to continue to do your job with consistency.”
Kennedy has moved to No. 7 in Flowrestling’s national rankings. Iowa also has All-American Nelson Brands, who was previously ranked at 174 but didn’t compete in the Soldier Salute. The Hawkeyes also have two talented wrestlers at 184.
“The thing is we don’t have to figure it out, right now, or sooner than later because we got two or three options (at 174) and it’s the same at 184,” Tom Brands said. “We don’t have to make a decision on Ferrari’s redshirt or who the guy is going to be there, right now, because we have some really good guys there.
“What’s the hurry (at 174)? Both guys do a good job. Kennedy’s wrestling really well, right now. We have to get some things taken care of and some of those things take time. We’re on the right track. I can tell you that.”
Stephen Buchanan (197) and heavyweight Ben Kueter capped the tournament with titles. Kueter used two minutes of riding time for the only point in a 1-0 decision over Minnesota’s Bennett Tabor in the final.
Buchanan’s semifinal and Kueter’s final were examples of doing whatever it takes to get a win.
“Kueter was not happy with himself,” Tom Brands said. “You want to represent yourself better than that but you win a tough match. He won a tough match, so that’s where you build from.”
Iowa’s Jacori Teemer was at the Soldier Salute, supporting teammates in street clothes. He has been sidelined since injury default in the Iowa State dual at the end of November. Tom Brands said he expects Teemer to return to the lineup during the Big Ten season, which begins Jan. 12 at Wisconsin.
“We love his progress,” Tom Brands said. “When? That’s a question mark but we love his progress.”
Iowa women received titles from Brianna Gonzalez (117), Cadence Diduch (138), 145-pounder Macey Kilty, Blades (160) and Kylie Welker at 180.
Blades defeated Life’s two-time NAIA national finalist Latifah McBryde, 13-3, in the final.
“I was ready,” Blades said. “Just wrestled my match. I was excited to be there.”
Blades earned silver at the Olympic Games in Paris last summer. She realizes that she has a huge target on her back and receives the best effort from opponents.
“It gives me more confidence,” Blades said. “No matter what just go out there and have fun, even if it gets hard. We want that because it’s fun for the crowd. It’s fun for me. Honestly, I kind of like it.”
Kilty and Welker each won all-Iowa finals. Kilty recorded an 8-1 decision over Reese Larramendy in the finals. Welker closed her title run with a 10-0 technical superiority over Naomi Simon.
Iowa State’s Kysen Terukina won the 125-pound title. He scored a takedown in the final seconds for a 5-4 decision over Missouri’s Matt Mauger in the championship.
UNI finished with 10 medalists, including a trio of bronzes. Trever Anderson (125), Colin Realbuto (149) and Jared Simma each placed third for the Panthers.
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