Kevin Dresser kept the funny flashcards and the usual pre-dual barbs to a minimum. Instead, Iowa State’s head wrestling coach went bout-by-bout to help highlight how competitive and fun — from a fan’s perspective, especially— his fourth-ranked team’s dual at 1 p.m. Sunday against No. 17 Northern Iowa should be at Hilton Coliseum.
Northern Iowa’s dual win against then-No. 17 West Virginia last Sunday was the type that can have a lasting effect. A last-second, match-winning takedown from Jared Simma at 174 pounds and sudden victory by Tyrell Gordon at heavyweight headlined a dramatic dual that the Panthers won, 26-12.
A nearly two-hour episode of the Pinning Combination podcast talks all things wrestling in Iowa with Hall of Fame coach Dick Briggs, including the Hawkeye men’s loss to Michigan ahead of this week’s Penn State dual, the upcoming UNI-Iowa State dual, Wartburg’s one-sided win over Coe and recaps of the girls’ state tournament and boys’ state duals.
Michigan handed Iowa its first loss, Iowa State and Northern Iowa were unkind hosts to West Virginia, Wartburg thumped Coe, plus final thoughts on the IGHSAU state tournament in the Wrestling Weekend That Was.
Two episodes of the Pinning Combination podcast are publishing this week with Hall of Fame coach Dick Briggs. First up, a look at the college wrestling scene in Iowa, including Hawkeyes you shouldn’t overlook, Iowa’s sweep of Illinois and Northwestern, 1-1 trips to Oklahoma for Iowa State and Northern Iowa and Augsburg’s win over Wartburg.
Iowa won 18 of 20 matches in duals at Illinois and Northwestern, UNI and ISU split duals on their Oklahoma tour, Augsburg got revenge in the Battle of the Burgs and Prairie won the MVC team title.
Weather wiped out much of the wrestling schedule in Iowa last week, but there still are plenty of topics to discuss on this week’s episode of the Pinning Combination, including Iowa’s impressive win over Nebraska and Ben Kueter’s debut.
The first weekend of wrestling tournaments in 2024 gave the Pinning Combination podcast plenty to discuss this week, from the NWCA National Duals in Cedar Falls to high school action returning around the state.
Wartburg captured its 13th title, while Coe and Upper Iowa rebounded after opening-round losses at the NWCA Multi-Divisional Dual Championships at the UNI-Dome. Life University got a title sweep. Iowa State swept out west, UNI got its 800th dual win and the Alburnett boys and Decorah girls impressed during the Wrestling Weekend That Was.
Patrick Kennedy returned from injury and filled in at 174 pounds in Iowa men’s wrestling duals before the holiday break. He looked strong at 165, reaching the semifinals at the Soldier Salute Friday at Xtream Arena in Coralville.
Union’s Jillian Worthen is one of the state’s top female wrestlers and is ranked No. 2 in the 125-pound weight class. But “Monster” has bigger goals, like seeing the sport grow in Iowa at the collegiate level
This week’s Pinning Combination ponders “duck or not to duck” competition as ISU goes 3-0 at Collegiate Duals. K.J. Pilcher and Dick Briggs also discuss UNI’s next meets, senior nationals, Upper Iowa’s big weekend at Indianapolis and area high school action. Our last podcast of 2023 includes our top Christmas movies and songs.
Iowa State and UNI return to the Collegiate Duals. This year they are held in Nashville, Tenn. The Cyclones will face No. 13 Pitt, Arkansas-Little Rock and No. 5 Cornell on Monday. The Panthers have No. 10 Ohio State, No. 2 NC State and Lock Haven on Tuesday.
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