5 Things to watch during the 3rd Soldier Salute wrestling tournament

The third Soldier Salute will be held Sunday and Monday at Xtream Arena in Coralville. The event has grown and improved from the inaugural competition. The men’s and women’s tournament mesh college wrestling and support of Armed Services with 100 percent of the proceeds split between United Service Organizations and a fund to help grow girls’ wrestling. Here are five storylines to watch.

IOWA’S UPPER WEIGHT LINEUP

It’s hard not to be excited about the Hawkeyes’ situation at 174 and 184 pounds. -At least four All-American contenders with the chance to place on any step on the podium. Many eyes will be fixed on the 184 bracket with redshirt freshman Gabe Arnold and true freshman Angelo Ferrari in the field. Arnold is ranked fifth. Ferrari, who was the top recruit in the Class of 2024, has stepped in beat a ranked Evan Bockman from Iowa State.

“There’s a lot that has to happen there,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. “We have two options there that we love both of those options.”

Will they cross paths? If they do, what will be the outcome? What impact would it have on the starting lineup?

“Wherever those guys end up I know they are going to help us,” Brands said. “Whatever their role is and that’s something we talk about.

“We’re going to put the best guy on the mat and that means for the team, and more importantly, for the individual.”

Unfortunately, Nelson Brands isn’t in the field but Patrick Kennedy has been impressive with two technical falls. Will it be Brands-Arnold, Kennedy-Ferrari, a different combination or even Arnold-Ferrari filling those weights later in the season? We will see and this competition could be a factor.

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FENTON LONE HAWKEYE LISTED AT 157

Redshirt freshman Isaiah Fenton is the lone Hawkeye at 157. NCAA finalist Jacori Teemer suffered a leg injury during the Iowa State dual in November and wasn’t in the lineup for duals against Army and Princeton. Iowa has had Caleb Rathjen and freshmen Miguel Estrada and Kael Voinovich fill in for Teemer. All three are entered at 149. Fenton, a Class 2A state champion for Burlington-Notre Dame, posted a 5-1 official record last season, going 10-5 overall as a redshirt. He will make his season debut Sunday.

“I have to see him more on the mat,” Brands said. “We are ironing some things out always with our guys. We’re ironing things out with him. He has an opportunity here. Take advantage of your opportunity.”

WHO WILL TEAMS SEND?

Tournament organizers have attracted some notable teams, including Power-5 teams like University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Oregon State and Oklahoma State will have representatives in the field. Some might be regulars, while others send freshmen and reserves.

It has progressively become stronger for its first season as a consistent alternative for a holiday tournament at a time when college wrestling was still dealing with the lingering effects of the covid pandemic.

“Josh Schamberger put this together,” Brands said. “It’s awesome. He honors a great segment of this country – veterans of the military. Can’t say enough about it.

“Being in our hometown is great. It’s growing. It’s becoming more legit and that’s what you do when you start something. You stay with it. Keep it on the same date and you build it. It’s building.”

The Panthers will have some starters taking the mat. South Dakota State will also send starters at a couple weights that are still up in the air. The field should be entertaining.

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TOP-RANKED IOWA HIGHLIGHTS WOMEN’S FIELD

The Hawkeyes will have 22 wrestlers in the women’s field, which competes in freestyle. The Soldier Salute will be the first tournament for Sterling Dias (103), who was injured the first weekend of the season. It will also mark the season debut of Lilly Luft, who is one of four Hawkeyes, including Nanea Estrella, at 138. Estrella, Macey Kilty (145) and Kylie Welker (180) are coming off titles at the North Central Open and look to continue their roll. Reese Larramendy is expected to be in the 145 bracket. Keep an eye on Iowa’s Naomi Simon, who won four state titles at Decorah. She is 18-1 with two tournament titles and a runner-up finish already this season.

UNI COULD SETTLE THINGS ON THE MAT

The Panthers will also be sending 22 wrestlers to the Soldier Salute. They very well could use it to settle some spots in the lineup for the upcoming conference season. You won’t have standouts like NCAA champion Parker Keckeisen, ranked 157-pounder Ryder Downey, Wyatt Voelker (197) or heavyweight Lance Runyon.

UNI is sending Jared Simma and Nick Fox at 174. The two have been in the Panthers’ lineup this season. , Colin Realbuto, who took an Olympic redshirt last season and has returned from an offseason injury, joins part-time starter Adam Allard at 149. Trever Anderson (125) and 133-pounder Julian Farber are among the notable names competing for the Panthers.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com