Lineup move pays dividends in Iowa’s 18-14 wrestling dual win over Iowa State

AMES – Iowa Coach Tom Brands made a move that was just as important as any executed by his wrestlers before their dual with Iowa State.

Brands decided to insert Patrick Kennedy in at 174 pounds for his season debut, which allowed freshman Gabe Arnold bump to 184. The move doesn’t work unless the wrestlers come through and they did.

Both claimed one-point decisions that set up 197-pounder Zach Glazier’s decision to seal the fourth-ranked Hawkeyes’ 18-14 victory over the No. 8 Cyclones in front of 14,267 fans Sunday at Hilton Coliseum.

Iowa (3-0) won six bouts for its 19th straight victory in the Cy-Hawk Series.

“It’s good,” Brands said. “Credit our guys and onward.”

The three-match stretch became the fulcrum of the dual. Iowa State took its first lead when No. 2 David Carr majored No. 5 Michael Caliendo at 165, making it 10-9 with four matches left.

Kennedy, an NCAA qualifier at 165 last season but has been out of the lineup thus far, stepped to the mat and reclaimed the lead for Iowa, fending off a late surge for a 14-13 win over M.J. Gaitan.

Kennedy built a 12-4 lead after two periods, but Gaitan stormed back with three takedowns in the final frame. Some confusion over riding time in the Iowa State corner prevented at least a chance for another takedown in the waning seconds may have helped the Hawkeyes.

“It was tough to make that mistake when things were going that fast, but here we are,” Cyclones Coach Kevin Dresser said. “M.J. Gaitan wrestled a good match at the end but not a very good match at the beginning. We put ourselves in a big hole. We dug ourselves out. We, as a coaching staff, sure as heck didn’t help him win that match, so that’s on us.”

Gabe Arnold, a true freshman who was a state champion at Iowa City High last season, came off his first ranked win last week at 174. He was one of three Hawkeyes that weighed in at 184. Arnold proved to be up to the task again, topping No. 6 Will Feldkamp, 3-2.

Arnold hit a high-crotch and exploded to return Feldkamp to the mat for the lone takedown of the match.

“It was incredibly exciting,” Iowa 141-pound senior Real Woods said of Arnold’s win. “You know what your teammates have within them and you know what they’re capable of, so to see that shine through more and more with guys like Gabe Arnold, because he’s young, it’s a wonderful thing.”

Glazier was workmanlike, securing the 69th Iowa victory in 87 Cy-Hawk duals. He tallied takedowns in the first two periods for a 7-3 triumph over Julien Broderson.

Many thought Iowa was vulnerable with its current lineup but Brands doesn’t ever view it that way.

“Competitors focus on things they can control and we’ve got guys that have tremendous scoring ability. I’m not sure that showed up out there.

“We were beat up in the stall call department, so we have a lot of work to do. That’s where I’m at. We’re moving forward.”

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Many considered the opening bout a crucial outcome. Ayala, coming off a loss, delivered with a key decision over Kysen Terukina, who beat Wisconsin’s then-No. 6 Eric Barnett in his last match.

Ayala scored a takedown in the last two periods for a 7-2 decision to kick things off.

After Iowa State’s Evan Frost’s upset of No. 8 Brody Teske tied the dual, top-ranked Woods put Iowa back in front in dramatic fashion. He scored a takedown 27 seconds into sudden victory-1 for a 4-1 decision over Anthony Echemendia at 141, overcoming a late stall call that tied it and scrambled to keep it 1-1 at the end of regulation.

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“I found an opening and it was an opening that I could see during the match but I was a little hesitant to capitalize on,” Woods said. “I did and that’s what mattered. Moving forward capitalize on it more often.”

Brands said, “I appreciate this guy,” referring to Woods after the dual.

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Iowa’s Jared Franek won by decision over Cody Chittum at 157 in one of six weights that were still up for grabs in the final minute. The dual was a roller coaster of energy and emotion that teetered back-and-forth.

“The intensity was high but not as high as I would like it to be,” Woods said. “I wrestle a much higher pace and there’s adjustments to be made.

“The energy, the atmosphere, (of the dual) was wonderful. I love the high energy, regardless of whether it’s at home or away. I feed off of it, no matter what.”

The dual was televised on ESPN, which is the first regular season live dual. Iowa and Iowa State provided a good show that could benefit all of college wrestling.

“I really feel an honor and feel this is something we need as a sport,” Woods said. “To be able to have that platform, right now, on ESPN for this dual that was awesome. I would like to be a part of that as much as possible.”

AT AMES

Iowa 18, Iowa State 14

(Takedowns in parentheses)

125 pounds – Drake Ayala (I) dec. Kysen Terukina, 7-2 (2,0); 133 – Evan Frost (ISU) dec. Brody Teske, 8-1 (1,0); 141 – Real Woods (I) dec. Anthony Echemendia, 4-1, SV-1 (1,0); 149 – Casey Swiderski (ISU) dec. Victor Voinovich III, 6-3 (2,0); 157 – Jared Franek (I) dec. Cody Chittum, 4-2 (1,0); 165 – David Carr (ISU) major dec. Michael Caliendo, 16-4 (4,0); 174 – Patrick Kennedy (I) dec. M.J. Gaitan, 14-13 (4,3); 184 – Gabe Arnold (I) dec. Will Feldkamp, 3-2 (1,0); 197 – Zach Glazier (I) dec. Julien Broderson, 7-3 (2,0); Hwt. – Younger Bastida (ISU) major dec. Bradley Hill, 17-6 (5,0).

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns – Iowa 11, Iowa State 15. Reversals – Iowa 0, Iowa State 0. Escapes – Iowa 20, Iowa State 16. Nearfall points – Iowa 0, Iowa State 4. Penalty points (awarded) – Iowa 0, Iowa State 4. Riding time points – Iowa 0, Iowa State 1. Attendance – 14,267.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com