Kyle Parco’s college wrestling path leads to Iowa for final postseason

IOWA CITY – Kyle Parco’s career path has taken some turns with a few stops.

The California native started at a resurrected Fresno State program, becoming the Bulldogs 23 rd All-American, before it was cut again. Without a program, he was forced to move, landing at Arizona State where he added three more All-American finishes and Pac 12 Conference titles.

For his final campaign, Parco transferred to college wrestling blueblood Iowa.

“I always like to think of myself like a chameleon,” Parco said. “If you drop me anywhere, I'll fit in. Of course, it took a little bit, maybe a couple weeks, for me to get used to the place, but you could put me in Antarctica and I’d be just fine there.”

His ability on the mat and adjust to new surroundings has yielded success. Parco enters his last postseason as the second-seeded 149-pounder at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships this weekend at Northwestern’s Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill. Competition begins Saturday at 10 a.m. with the finals set for Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

“It's definitely a lot more of a tournament than I've been used to,” Parco said. “The Pac 12 is only one day, so Big Ten’s a lot bigger of a tournament. I'm really excited to get to wrestle better opponents a couple of weeks earlier.

“My first time at it, so I don't know what to expect, but it's going in with the same mindset, so it's good.”

Iowa wasn’t an expected destination for Parco during high school or even the start of college competition. The California state champion for De La Salle High School and Greco-Roman national champion probably envisioned staying within three hours of home but he’s handled change well. He appreciates the opportunity with the Hawkeyes.

“I think if I told my high school self that I'd be wrestling at the University of Iowa, I'd be really surprised,” Parco said. “I didn't really know what to expect going to college, but this definitely wasn't it, but I’ve been super blessed to be able to do this. To be able to be at a such a good program like this and then get to wrestle at Big Tens and a fifth year at NCAAs is really cool.

“It's a really good thing that I've been able to do, so I'm really thankful.”

Parco arrived on campus during the summer. He acclimated to the new environment in Iowa’s brand-new training center and around Iowa City. Parco noted that he would be a perfect NIL candidate for Pop’s BBQ – one of his favorite local eateries.

The biggest transition was moving to a region where wrestling is heralded. Parco said the Iowa community is a culture of excellence and high-level wrestling.

“You come here and everyone knows you,” Parco said. “Everyone loves wrestling. Wrestling is the sport. It's not a guy just plays football and that's just it. The kids are wrestling here, so it's really cool to see. That experience has been mind-blowing.

“I walk in an arena and I've never seen that many people show up for a wrestling team, like just for us. It's been super cool.”

Parco has wrestled for notable coaches at each program. He learned from former Hawkeye Troy Steiner at Fresno State. He competed for World champion and Olympic silver medalist Zeke Jones with the Sun Devils. Now, he’s wrestling for Tom and Terry Brands, who have multiple World titles and two Olympic medals.

“Wrestling for as long as I have, it's been a real experience, getting to know a lot of coaches and then getting used to a lot of coaching styles,” Parco said. “There's a lot of things that are just kind of fundamental, so I think I picked up on a lot of those. Then, just a little more finer details, I get to pick from each coach. It’s been a great learning experience. Not everyone gets to get with as many coaches as I have, so it's been really coo.”

“It’s been really interesting to learn from a lot of different styles.”

Parco has been a vital addition this season, posting an 18-1 record. He is 9-3 in his career against the field with two losses coming to Penn State’s Shayne Van Ness, who won 17-6 in the regular-season dual at State College, Pa. Parco has eight bonus-point victories, tying for second on the team with seven technical falls.

Tom Brands said Parco is quick to analyze his performances. He can also be tough on himself – in a healthy way – to try to reach his best.

“He always has a really good after-action report in his head,” Brands said of Parco. “So, when the event is over, he dissects it and then he moves on. It makes him better. And that is a conversation with himself, but also, he'll bring the coaches in or he's open-minded, so when the coaches bring him in, it's all positive.”

Parco developed that habit when he began high school and it evolved throughout college. He became a student of the sport, breaking down technique and situations. Parco has applied what he learned.

“I think you’re never really truly a master of the sport and every day I'm trying to learn something new,” Parco said. “I'll pick something from everyone.”

Brands said Parco’s biggest adjustment this season may have been sparked by his loss to Van Ness. Keep perspective. Don’t make the moment bigger than it is and treat it like any other competition. Usually, the moments aren’t as overwhelming as they seemed to be.

“I think he learned maybe a little baptism by fire when we were out east in State College,” Brands said. “Some of our guys let that environment get to them. And I think he realized it's not that big of a deal. Just go out and wrestle your match. And you know what? Talk to yourself the right way, keep things in perspective, take a deep breath, and have some fun and go out and kick some butt.”

Iowa has seven wrestlers seeded fourth or better, including top-seeded 133-pounder Drake Ayala, a returning NCAA finalist, and Stephen Buchanan at 197. Michael Caliendo (165) joins Parco as a No. 2 seed. Former Arizona State NCAA finalist Jacori Teemer (157), Patrick Kennedy at 174 and 184-pounder Gabe Arnold are seeded fourth.

Joey Cruz is the No. 5 seed at 125, heavyweight Ben Kueter is seventh and Cullan Schriever is 11th at 141.

Though the Big Ten tournament presents a different challenge than previous qualifiers for the transfers, the approach for each Hawkeye is to relax, have fun and dominate.

“At this level, everybody's done that to some degree, and now you have an opportunity to do it at a higher level in front of a bigger crowd on a bigger stage,” Brands said. “It's really that simple.”

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