Hawkeye seniors have grown into leaders

IOWA CITY - The road had a few bumps early on, but it sure has been a good ride.

University of Iowa Coach Tom Brands has seen how far the Hawkeye seniors have come the last five years.

'We had to corral some of the extracurricular without putting the fire out of their spirit,” Brands said. 'I think we've done a good job of that, especially when you see how these guys have emerged as leaders.”

Top-ranked Iowa will send its seniors out for one last regular-season home dual Friday against No. 16 University of Michigan at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, beginning at 7 p.m. The program will recognize seniors Josh Dziewa, Mike Evans, Jeremy Fahler, Matt Gurule, Mike Kelly, Nick Moore and Bobby Telford in a ceremony after the dual.

Brands said their competitive natures produced a wild and rambunctious demeanor when they first arrived on campus. They have grown and matured, following the leadership of those in the program.

'There definitely were some growing pains there when we all first came in together,” Moore said. 'We kind of had a wild hair about us as a group when we got together, but we definitely have come a long way. That is a tribute to the coaches and the teammates ahead of us that got us focused and on the same page as the rest of the program. I think we leveled out a little bit.”

Each moment has helped define this class. They have undergone a learning experience and have enjoyed the journey and developing alongside his classmates.

'You wouldn't want to trade that process for anything,” Moore said. 'It's awesome.”

Even though they don't have the Big Ten Championships title or a national title to hang their hat on, the Hawkeyes won the dual crown in 2013 and shared it last season.

Iowa owns a 62-9 overall dual record since the seniors joined the lineup, going 23-1 in the conference the last three seasons and 29-3 during the seniors' careers.

Moore (165) is a two-time national qualifier. Dziewa (141) reached the national tournament last season, and Kelly has become a solid competitor at 157. Dziewa and Kelly have both contributed to the team by moving weights, attempting to fill a void at 149 in past seasons.

Evans and Telford have had the biggest impact. Evans is a three-time conference finalist and two-time All-American. Telford is a two-time All-American as well. Evans (97-23) and Telford (96-23) have a shot to become Iowa's 41st and 42nd wrestlers with 100 career wins.

'Some of Telford's quotes this year are memorable,” Brands said. 'The mustache with Evans is memorable. Those are good things. The reason why fans gravitate to them is because of their wrestling. Let's be remembered for our wrestling. That is what I would say, so let's put a stamp on these last five weeks that are left.”

Iowa (13-0, 8-0 Big Ten) has clinched a share of the conference dual title, but can win it outright against the Wolverines (6-5, 4-4). The Hawkeyes have been conference regular-season co-champions seven of the last eight years. They aren't interested in sharing anything.

'We still have work to do,” said Brands, who is a win shy of tying Dave McCuskey for second all-time in Iowa history. 'We are in a position where we don't have to share.”

Interestingly, senior night won't be the final farewell from CHA. Iowa hosts the National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals, which starts Sunday with a regional dual against Virginia.

'I think I'm going to have to approach it like any other dual, just like always,” Moore said. 'Maybe after the dual I'll sit in my room and think about it for 30 seconds or a minute, and then be over and move on to Sunday.”

The quarterfinal and semifinal round of the National Duals will be held Saturday, Feb. 21. The championship will be held Sunday, Feb. 22.

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