Burak back in Midlands semis, but this time as a Hawkeye

EVANSTON, Ill. — Nathan Burak has claimed gold on his own dime.

This time it's on the University of Iowa.

After fitting the bill for his last two trips as an unattached wrestler here, Burak is officially competing in a Hawkeye singlet at Northwestern's Ken Kraft Midlands Championships at Welsh-Ryan Arena. He was one of seven semifinalists Tuesday, helping Iowa take a commanding lead after the first day. The Hawkeyes have 96 points, leading second-place Nebraska by 18.

Iowa did not attend the tournament Burak's freshman year. Two years ago, he accompanied Brandon Sorensen, who competed unattached in his first year and they both placed third. He traveled alone last season and claimed the 197-pound title. Oh, he appreciates representing the program.

'It's just nicer,' said Burak, who had to pay travel expenses and registration fees to participate to protect his eligibility to red-shirt. 'They drive, take care of you, get food for you and pay for your hotel room. Everything like that so less things on your mind, so that's nice, and coaches can coach me. My trainers can help me. It makes it a little bit easier.'

With nothing but wrestling on his mind, Burak forged his way to the semifinals, beating North Carolina State's Michael Boykin, 8-2. He dominated his first two matches, totaling 35 points in an earlier technical fall and major decision. Burak wants more output than he delivered in the quarterfinals, despite three takedowns.

'I was never really in danger of him scoring on me in that match,' Burak said. 'There was no reason to pick up the pace and score more points.'

Burak is looking for his second straight Midlands crown. He faces Nebraska's No. 5-seed Aaron Studebaker. His concentration will be on that since he doesn't have to worry about the factors off the mat.

'You want to keep winning,' Burak said. 'Once you get that taste of victory you just want more of it.'

Burak followed 184-pounder Sammy Brooks into the semifinals. Brooks scored the only two takedowns of the match to beat North Dakota State's Hayden Zillmer, 5-2, securing the victory with two points in the last 15 seconds.

'I want to score more,' Brooks said. 'We've had close matches before. I felt it this time that my attacks are there. I had a couple good shots and if I follow those up with good shots and chain wrestle I think I can open it up more than I did.'

Brooks, seeded fourth, opened with a technical fall and a major and described the last two as 'hiccups' in his performances.

'There's always a lot of room to improve,' Brooks said. 'That was pretty ugly today but I'm looking to tomorrow now.'

Brooks is making his second semifinal appearance, placing third last year. He faces former Penn State two-time NCAA champion David Taylor, a post-grad competitor for the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. Brooks is ready for the tough task.

'That's awesome,' said Brooks, noting that Dan Gable and other Hawkeyes have competed after college. 'I think more people should do that. Look at all the hype he got by himself and I think if other older people did that just like how it used to be … it'd be good.'

Thomas Gilman ignited the Hawkeyes in the quarterfinals, scoring 12 points before pinning Oregon State's Keegan Calkins in 2:53.

'One thing that he has done this year, and he's done it every time out, he's tried to wrestle harder and he has wrestled harder,' Iowa Coach Tom Brands said of Gilman. 'That match was like an avalanche for that guy. That's what we have to have and that's his best chance.'

Iowa's Cory Clark (133), Sorensen (149), 174-pounder Alex Meyer and heavyweight Sam Stoll also moved into the semifinals. Iowa has two alive in the consolation, not including freshman Michael Kemerer, who is unattached at 149.

'It's up and it's down,' Brands said. 'There's a lot more up than down.'

Iowa State's Tanner Weatherman handed Iowa one of its two quarterfinal losses. Weatherman cinched up a cradle and decked Patrick Rhoads in just 46 seconds to reach the 165 semifinals.

'I like to ride on that right side and I was on the opposite side,' Weatherman said. 'In that situation, I saw a tripod and I like to drop to that single anyway. It just presented itself.'

Weatherman wrestled offensively and aggressively all day, scoring 28 points in two major decisions. He has made more of an effort to dictate the action in his matches.

'I'm best when I get guys reacting to me instead of the other way around,' Weatherman said. 'Just getting my hands where I want to be, faking, moving and that kind of thing.'

Weatherman faces Cal-State Bakersfield's ninth-seeded Adam Fierro, who knocked off Rutgers' top-seeded Anthony Perrotti, 6-4. He entered the tournament with title hopes. The fourth-seeded senior is the second highest seed left at 165.

'It's more just one match at a time,' Weatherman said. 'Ideally, the goal is Midlands champ (and Outstanding Wrestler), but you can't look ahead that far.'

'Everyone here is good. You see Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 guys go down. It's just a process and taking it one match at a time.'

The Cyclones were eighth, heading into the second day with five wrestlers alive. Second-seeded Earl Hall (133), Gabe Moreno (149), Lelund Weatherspoon at 174 and heavyweight Quean Smith are still competing in the consolation bracket.

Northern Iowa ended the first day in ninth place with 38 points. The Panthers went 1-4 in the quarterfinals. Red-shirt freshman Josh Alber secured a top-six finish with a 10-5 victory over Ohio's Cameron Kelly, advancing to the 133-pound semifinals.

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