Hawkeye wrestlers look for 11th straight win over Cyclones

IOWA CITY — University of Iowa Coach Tom Brands has plenty of memories of the state's top wrestling rivalry.

Brands recalled watching the dual on television in his basement as a kid. The first major dual he attended was this series at Hilton Coliseum in Ames. He was a true freshman when Brooks Simpson pinned Eric Voelker and even helped Royce Alger warm up for a big match that year. Brands also noted memorable matchups, like Iowa's Lincoln McIlravy against the Cyclones' Chris Bono.

Even though the Hawkeyes are 9-0 under Brands and have never relinquished the Dan Gable Traveling Trophy since its debut in 2010, the competitive expectations remain the same.

'I know it's important for both programs,' Brands said. 'We want to keep moving forward the way we want and that means we have to be ready to go.

'This is our arena and there is nothing better than competing in front of these fans when you do your job. There's nothing worse than competing in front of them when you don't do your job, so let's do our job. Let's have a big party, a big celebration.'

Top-ranked Iowa will attempt to continue its recent dominance, looking for its 11th straight dual in the series when it hosts No. 15 Iowa State on Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, beginning at 7 p.m.

'It doesn't really matter how relevant it is from a ranking point-of-view,' Brands said. 'I think we were (ranked Nos.) 1 and 2 a couple times the last eight or nine years. Both programs stride to get there, so it's important.

'How big is the rivalry? We'll see when the fans show up, I guess.'

The next installment promises to be more competitive than last year's 23-9 Iowa win. Individual rematches will highlight the dual.

Iowa State's third-ranked Michael Moreno and Iowa's No. 5 Nick Moore face off for the fourth time. The battle between unbeaten seniors could be one of five bouts between ranked wrestlers.

'You don't want to put too much pressure on yourself,' Moore said. 'You have to get up for a match and you know who your opponent is and he knows who you are, so you have to put a little extra on.'

Moore (7-0) has earned decisions in the last two duals. Moreno (8-0) topped Moore in the 2013 NCAA Championships, earning All-American honors twice, while Moore has yet to place nationally.

'Two guys who are after the same thing,' Brands said. 'Neither guy has won a national title, yet. I know they feel good about their guy and we feel good about our guy as well, so let the fur fly. Let the fur fly in all of them.'

Iowa's fourth-ranked Cory Clark and Iowa State's No. 14 Earl Hall could repeat the fireworks they created in last year's meet. Clark came away with an 8-7 win, using riding time for the final advantage. Hall hit a pair of flashy moves for takedowns, including one that tied it, 7-7, late.

Clark said he knows to avoid those big-move situations.

'That stuff doesn't typically happen to me,' said Clark, who battled through effects of weight cutting last season. 'It happened and I just fought out of it. I did a pretty good job of not getting put away like some guys would have. Besides the fact that you don't want to let it happen, you learn from it and move forward.'

Both are up to 133 after All-American finishes last season at 125. Clark beat Hall, 10-4, en route to fifth place. Hall was seventh.

'It adds a little bit because the last few matches I have wrestled with him, even though I win he is pushed me and proved a point at the end of the match,' Clark said. 'It's kind of one of those guys that I really want to separate myself from.'

At 174, fourth-ranked Mike Evans (7-0) could make his fourth appearance in the Iowa-Iowa State dual. He will try to improve his individual record to 3-1, facing No. 6 Tanner Weatherman (8-0). Evans has beaten Weatherman by major decision the last two years in this dual.

The Hawkeyes' ninth-ranked Sammy Brooks (7-0) will face No. 18 Lelund Weatherspoon (8-0). Last year, Brooks bumped up to 197 and lost to two-time All-American Kyven Gadson, who enters the dual ranked third.

Gadson's opponent is uncertain. Iowa All-American Nathan Burak has been injured and missed last week's action. Brands said junior Kris Klapprodt (5-2) could see the mat against Gadson (8-0).

The key is for each wrestler to win individual battles to win the war.

'To me, we want to show them who is boss,' Clark said. 'I want to show my opponent who is boss, as well as our whole team from all 10 weights.

'We're No. 1 in Iowa and not them kind of deal,' Clark said. 'There is a little bit of a grudge there. It's Iowa State. There's the old rivalry. There's still a rivalry.'

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