Hawkeyes attempt to claim third straight NCAA title

OMAHA, Neb. - Many reasons exist for University of Iowa fans to be excited for college wrestling's biggest event.

The top-ranked Hawkeyes have a chance to win a third-straight national team title, run the table by winning every competition for a second straight year and the potential to crown its first individual champion since 2008.

The first step for each of those will be made today at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb. The entire season has led to this point.

“It's zero hour,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said in a pretournament news conference. “It's time to go.”

The Hawkeyes are one of four teams with their entire lineup in the field, joining Central Michigan, Iowa State and Oklahoma. Of the Hawkeyes 10 qualifiers, six are former All-Americans and another with national tournament experience. Seven are seniors making their final push for individual and team titles, but that experience may not be a benefit if they don't perform.

“It doesn't matter,” Brands said. “We need our guys to wrestle the way they're capable of wrestling. In order to do that, you have to go out ready to wrestle, meaning you take care of the things you take care of to get yourself in position to win big matches over and over again.”

Seniors Dan Dennis (18-3), Brent Metcalf (31-1) and Jay Borschel (32-0) earned the team's highest seeds, claiming the No. 2 spot at 133, 149 and 174, respectively. The latter two are trying to recapturing their accomplishments in 2008 when Metcalf won the NCAA and Borschel placed third. Last year, Metcalf lost in the finals to North Carolina State's Darrion Caldwell, who red-shirted this season, and Borschel did not place.

Metcalf was upset by top-seeded Lance Palmer of Ohio State in the finals of the Big Ten Championships on March 7. Brands was asked if there was a difference in training.

“No, it's not business as usual, there is an urgency there,” Brands said. “The applecart was upset; he's about overcoming a lot. He has overcome a lot more than a loss of a wrestling match and he's overcome big losses in wrestling matches before.”

All but one Iowa wrestler is seeded in the top nine, including third-seeded red-shirt freshman Matt McDonough (32-1) at 125, No. 6 Montell Marion (23-5) at 141 and No. 5-seed Dan Erekson (12-0) at heavyweight. Senior 165-pounder Ryan Morningstar is seeded seventh, but suffered a knee injury during the third-place match against Penn State's Dan Vallimont at the Big Ten tournament. There hasn't been any official word as to the severity of the injury.

“We like where he is at in the most important place and I've said it over and over again, that's his head,” Brands said. “That is where we feel good about him.”

For the second straight season, Iowa has entered the national tournament unblemished. They'll attempt to win the school's 24th team championship. Preparing like they have all season will be key.

“We've done what we set out to do at the beginning of this year and we have to continue that,” Brands said. “If we're ready to go, what I mean by that is if individuals are ready to go when they step on the mat, then I'll feel good. If I see some funny things going on there then I don't feel so good.”

Second-ranked Iowa State and its 10 wrestlers will try to end that streak. The Cyclones are led by defending national champion and three-time NCAA finalist Jake Varner (26-0) and David Zabriskie (21-2), who are top-seeded at 197 and heavyweight. Jon Reader (22-4) is fourth at 165 and Andrew Long (23-6) is fifth at 125, which features former national champion Angel Escobedo of Indiana and defending champ Troy Nickerson of Cornell.

The Cyclones are excited and hope to peak in the postseason.

“We've pointed at this event all year to have our best performance,” Iowa State Coach Kevin Jackson said. “If our guys come to go to war and come to scrap and take care of business the first round, that is what we're here for.”

The Cyclones are still title contenders after a runner-up finish to Oklahoma State at the Big 12 tournament in Jackson's first year after taking over for Cael Sanderson, who left to coach Penn State.

“It seems like just yesterday I landed in Ames,” Jackson said. “The year has flown by. We've had some challenges. I think our guys are capable, I think they're ready; I think their potential is great, but it is an individual sport.”

The University of Northern Iowa qualified four wrestler. Washington, 157-pounder Tyson Reiner (17-12), former Cedar Rapids Kennedy prep Jarion Beets at 174 (19-9) and heavyweight Christian Brantley (23-9) will compete for the Panthers. Washington and Brantley are making their second straight appearance, while Reiner is making his second, reaching the national meet in 2008.

Competition begins today at 11 a.m. with the first of six sessions.