National Wrestling Coaches Association dual rankings: Little change for state programs in NCAA Division I dual rankings

Two programs remained steady and another made a slight improvement.

Overall, the state’s NCAA Division I wrestling programs experienced little change in the latest dual poll.

The Cyclones were third, the Hawkeyes stayed in fourth and University of Northern Iowa bumped up one spot to No. 13 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association dual rankings released Tuesday.

Iowa State (6-1) didn’t have a dual last weekend and rested most of its starters, hosting the Harold Nichols Open on Sunday. The Cyclones hosts Northern Colorado Friday at Hilton Coliseum, starting at 7 p.m.

The Hawkeyes (8-3, 1-1 Big Ten Conference) is coming off their worst dual loss in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, suffering a 32-3 loss to top-ranked Penn State Friday. The Hawkeyes face No. 6 Nebraska (9-3, 2-0) on Friday in Lincoln, Neb., starting at 8 p.m.

Iowa Coach Tom Brands said the task is for the wrestlers to pick themselves up, analyze and improve, regardless of a win or loss.

“Probably, the biggest thing is the ‘Gable Principle’ (which) is it’s always easier to move forward with success,” Brands said during the program’s weekly media availability. “We didn’t have a lot of success, so it’s going to take a little more resolve and a little more courage or whatever word you want to use.”

Three losses is the highest since 2017-18 and the third most in the 20-year tenure of Brands. The Hawkeyes wrestle the Nos. 6, 9, 2, 10 and 5 in the next five weeks.

“You have to come back and they’re coming back,” Brands said. “So, you go back to work and keep moving forward. Like I would expect.”

Penn State (9-0, 3-0) extended its NCAA record dual win streak to 80 after a 51-0 win over Northwestern on Sunday. The Nittany Lions received 14 of 16 first-place votes. Ohio State (12-0, 1-0) was second with the other two first-place votes.

UNI (8-4) had a few reserves at the Harold Nichols Open but didn’t have a dual. The Panthers made a slight climb and hosts Arizona State on Thursday night at McLeod Center, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

No Ferrari in probably lineup

Freshman 184-pounder Angelo Ferrari was not included in the initial probable lineups released for the dual at Nebraska Friday. Ferrari, previously ranked No. 1, endured his first loss of the season last Friday against Penn State, falling to Rocco Welsh, 2-1, in the tiebreaker. Ferrari is 9-1 overall this season.

Brands did not discuss why Ferrari may not compete. Gabe Arnold was listed at 184.

“We have great depth with Gabe Arnold,” Brands said. “We have a guy that is all-in for what we need and that’s where we’re at.”

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