‘Optimist’ Jacob Warner prepares for postseason peak ahead of Big Ten Wrestling Championships

Everything Jacob Warner has done this season has led to this moment.

The good and the bad. The ups and downs. He’s endured and embraced it all with resolve, avoiding getting too high or too low. The goal is to be his best when it matters most.

The University of Iowa sixth-year senior 197-pounder has a decent track record, becoming a four-time All-American and an NCAA runner-up a year ago.

“I know what kind of wrestler I am and I know how tough I am,” Warner said during the Hawkeyes’ weekly media availability Tuesday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. “When it comes to March, that’s what it’s really being about. Being tough and gritty, fighting for points and winning close matches. I think I do a pretty good job of that.

“I keep everything in perspective all throughout the year to know that everything is meant for a reason and builds up to March.”

Warner (13-4) is the No. 5 seed and faces Northwestern’s Andrew Davison in the first round of the Big Ten Championships wrestling tournament Saturday and Sunday at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. He is one of eight Hawkeyes seeded fifth or better, including top-seeded Spencer Lee and Real Woods at 125 and 141, respectively.

Warner placed third in his first three conference tournaments and finished fourth last season. He followed that up with a run to the national finals after taking fourth in 2021 and seventh in 2019. He was a National Wrestling Coaches Association All-American in 2020 when he was the fifth seed of the NCAA meet canceled by COVID-19.

The 24-year-old focused on staying healthy, staying ready and keeping his lungs in shape.

“Everything I do is to better my wrestling,” Warner said. “There’s nothing different that I’ve done this year to last year. I’m just trying to get better and win a national title.”

Iowa Coach Tom Brands said it isn’t unprecedented to coach a wrestler to put everything together for a strong postseason. Warner possesses a duality of demanding more with a positive outlook.

“The thing is he is really hard on himself but he also is accountable,” Brands said. “At the same time with that accountability and being hard on himself, he is optimistic. He’s an optimist. He’s a fun guy to be around. He’s not a downer guy. Even though he’s hard on himself and when things don’t go his way — he takes it really, really hard — he can move on from it.

“We’ve just got to be at our best going into Ann Arbor. Then, at our best going into Tulsa. That’s where we’re at.”

Brands also said Warner wrestles himself into mental, emotional and physical shape. Progress along with the season. Warner has a different view.

“I wrestle myself into getting better throughout the year,” Warner said. “I get better in January. I get better in February. I get better in March. It’s a progression thing.

“I think I like to go up toward a peak. Peaking is a mindset but that’s the way I look at it. I’m just getting better all year long and that’s my focus.”

As Warner enters his fifth Big Ten tournament, some wrestlers like fifth-seeded Cobe Siebrecht (157) and 165-pounder Patrick Kennedy are making their postseason debut. Kennedy attended previous Big Ten tournaments as a spectator. Now, he’ll be a performer.

“It’s a lot different,” Kennedy said. “Just excited.

“It’s going to be fun to go out there and wrestle this time.”

Kennedy joins heavyweight Tony Cassioppi as a No. 3 seed. Kennedy’s approach hasn’t changed, using the time leading up to the national qualifier to continue to improve in practice. The regular-season experience has prepared him.

“I’ve had difficult matches and I’ve been battle-tested or whatever,” Kennedy said. “I feel good. I feel strong and I’m just excited for the weekend and after that.

“I think the stuff we do inside the room definitely helped.”

Senior Max Murin (149) is seeded fourth, while Abe Assad is No. 5 at 184. Nelson Brands (174) and 133-pounder Brody Teske are seeded seventh and eighth, respectively. Iowa has sidestepped injury and illness all season and has progressively become healthier as the postseason neared.

“Our guys know they have to perform,” Brands said. “They’re about performing. Let’s go have a blast.”

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