Second-ranked Iowa men’s wrestling takes on No. 1 Penn State

IOWA CITY – University of Iowa will head to Penn State for the biggest college men’s wrestling duals of the season.

A few Hawkeyes will be indoctrinated into what has become the sports top series. Iowa transfers Jacori Teemer, Stephen Buchanan and Kyle Parco are of the crew that will get their first taste of the rivalry.

“I'm excited for it, honestly,” Buchanan said. “Penn State-Iowa, probably one of the biggest rivalries, if not the biggest rivalry in wrestling, so I'm just looking forward to it, seeing what the energy is brought and just preparing for it the best I can.”

Second-ranked Iowa can expect a hostile environment when it takes on No. 1 Penn State in a Big Ten Conference dual Friday at Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pa., beginning at 6 p.m. (Iowa time). The Hawkeyes will also wrestle at Maryland Sunday afternoon.

It isn’t hard to imagine what awaits in an arena that drew 15,998 fans in both 2023 and 2018.

“I think it'll be a really good atmosphere,” Buchanan said. “Loud. They're great fans, but I think it's going be hard to match Carver(-Hawkeye) Arena and I think that's been a really good spot for me to prepare.

“I don't think that there's anything in that arena that will throw me off. So, I'm just going go in there and try to wrestle my match and I'll wrestle to the God-given ability that He's given me.”

Teemer has competed on big stages, wrestling in the NCAA finals a year ago. He is unfazed by pomp and circumstance that surrounds a marquee meeting.

“I've been in rivalry matches before,” Teemer said. “No biggie for me. Just another match at the end of the day, so go there, do my job to my hand raised. That's all I’ve got to do.”

Teemer added, “It's just another day at the office. We're just looking forward to the next match and that Penn State, so it's no big (deal). No pressure. Treat every day like the same”

Iowa (9-0, 3-0) and Penn State (9-0, 3-0) have split four No. 1 vs. No. 2 duals. The Nittany Lions have won the last two with Iowa winning, 19-17, in 2020, which was Penn State’s last loss before its current 65-dual win streak. The two programs have combined to win 14 of the last 15 national titles.

“Where we want to go, it's big,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. “As far as the event, you know, you keep it in perspective, but where we want to go, it's big. You're wrestling the best team in the country and it's a measuring stick. There's individual matchups that have postseason seeding implications, and so you got to be ready. It's really no different than any other weekend, but it's different. I mean, it's different.”

The key is maintaining the regular routine. Don’t make the moment more than it is and embrace the opportunity, facing a foe with all 10 wrestlers ranked ninth or better.

“I don't think that changes with us,” Brands said. “It's not like last week they were kind of getting ready for the (No.) 4 team and now it's a (No.) 1 team and they're really up. They're professionals and they know what's in front of them and what's at stake.”

Brands called him a “cool cat” and teammate Gabe Arnold referred Teemer as a “character.” The three-time All-American said he liked the descriptions and he is the epitome of that attitude when he takes his time walking to center mat.

“I like to take my time,” Teemer said. “I don’t like running out. I like taking all the energy in. I'm feeling every moment of it.

“I'm just thinking about the match, to be honest, worried about my breathwork at the time. Doing my breath work before I go out and just controlling myself, control my breathing. So, I'm out there fully.”

Once the whistle blows, Teemer is locked in. His win over Ohio State’s two-time national finalist Sammy Sasso on Saturday was his first match in more than two months, returning from a leg injury suffered against Iowa State on Nov. 23.

“No issues with my leg.,” said top-ranked Teemer, who is 3-1 and faces No. 3 Tyler Kasak at 157 pounds. “Yeah, just getting back on mat felt awesome. I trust my skills. I'm a gamer at the end of the day, so if I need a win, I can pull it out. I knew I was healthy going in, so just get on the mat again, getting that feel, felt good.”

Top-ranked Buchanan takes on No. 4 Josh Barr at 197. It’s one of 10 possible bouts between ranked wrestlers, including No. Parco and No. 3 Shayne Van Ness, who is 1-0 against Parco.

Similarly to Teemer, Buchanan has demonstrated poise and composure on the mat. Buchanan, a three-time All-American who was third the last two seasons, is a vital component to handling pressure. The support he has from teammates and staff.

“I have the best coaches,” said Buchanan said. “I have the best training partners, so that's also a confidence booster as well to walk out on the mat and knowing that not only are you training with the best people, but you're being trained by the best people.

“It would do them in disservice and not wrestling to your best ability, too. So, just showcasing that.”

The top-ranked dual overshadows meet against the much-improved Terrapins (8-6, 3-1). Iowa has won all six meetings with Maryland.

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