Hawkeyes look to become more offensive at Oklahoma State

The University of Iowa wrestling team has plenty of firepower in its lineup.

Whether it is an opponent's strategy or the inability to open up, the Hawkeyes haven't consistently lit up the scoreboard.

Top-ranked Iowa will have its work cut out for itself facing the tradition and the style of rival No. 8 Oklahoma State on Sunday at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla. The dual begins at 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on KXIC 800 AM.

The change can be quick, according to Hawkeye Coach Tom Brands.

'You communicate it and talk about it and sometimes it's as simple as a flip of the switch, but more times than not it's just a matter of doing it,” Brands said. 'It really has to become a habit. The habits start in the practice room, but they start sooner than this week.”

All six wins in Iowa's 18-14 victory over Ohio State last Sunday were decided by four points or less. They did manage four bonus-point victories against Rutgers on Jan. 2. Senior 174-pounder Mike Evans said it can be tough, because opponents have game plans to slow down matches.

'Offense isn't just putting moves on the board,” Evans said. 'It's putting points on the board. It's going forward in an attack plan.

'You get aggressive. You put points on the board early in the match. You end up on top and you end the match on top.”

The Hawkeyes have strong examples in the room. Tom and Terry Brands combined for 53 points in the semifinals in the 1991 NCAA tournament. Tom Brands scored a 33-19 major over Michigan's Joey Gilbert at 134 and Terry Brands posted a 20-5 technical fall over Tony Purler, of Oklahoma State, at 126. Both Gilbert and Purler placed third, so it was against quality wrestlers.

'I think it's more imposing your will,” Brands said. 'We use those words, but you have to be very courageous to wrestle that way from a conditioning point of view. If you look at our matches, conditioning is a factor but it's not enough of a factor where you're putting bonus points on the board on a regular basis in big matches or blowing guys out in big matches on a regular basis.”

Heavyweight Bobby Telford, Sammy Brooks at 184, Cory Clark (133) and 149-pounder Brandon Sorensen have been more offensive than the rest of the lineup. Sorensen scored 18 points in a major decision against Rutgers and dropped Ohio State's No. 5 Hunter Stieber with three third-period takedowns for a 9-7 come-from-behind win.

Brands said that was as good of an example the team has had about aggressiveness coupled with conditioning. It comes natural to Sorensen, who could face the Cowboys' second-ranked Josh Kindig.

'It is how I've been wired and it's still developing,” Sorensen said. 'In the first period, I got in deep on some shots and I need to finish them. I got to have those first-period scores and keep going to my attack.”

Sorensen and Brody Grothus are listed as possible starters. Sorensen received the nod at 149 last week after Midlands Championships, partly due to Brody Grothus being sidelined by an unspecified injury. He was impressive in his first Big Ten dual experience. He could cement himself with continued success.

'I have to keep winning the matches,” Sorensen said. 'I have to keep moving forward, and that's what I plan on doing.

'I look forward to it. There should be some good matches. It will be fun.”

The Hawkeyes (7-0) are looking for their first win in Stillwater since 2009. Iowa is 3-0 against ranked teams this season. The Cowboys (3-1) have eight ranked individuals. The Hawkeyes will face another tough test to put points on the board.

'They're going to get up for us,” Evans said. 'We have to get up for them. We just have to put a little extra oomph behind it, because they're going to be doing the same thing. Every one of their guys is going to have a game plan on how to beat us so we have to come out swinging.”

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