I.C. West's Moore commits to University of Iowa

Iowa City West's three-time state champion Nick Moore orally committed Sunday night to wrestle for University of Iowa Coach Tom Brands and the Hawkeyes next year. Moore will be a senior for the Trojans and will be a favorite to become West's first four-time state champion."I really wanted to be a Hawkeye. Going in I just kept an open mind about everything just in case everything didn't go according to plan," Moore said. "That really wasn't the case."The decision isn't a surprise. Many wrestling fans expected Moore to sign, joining his brother, Nate, and formerWest teammates Grant Gambrall, Derek St. John and Dylan Carew. It was their decisions that actually opened his eyes to the future."It didn't really start to hit me until I (had) seen some of my friends going to Iowa," Moore said. "At first, it was just my wrestling career and that's it. I didn't think about the future. Now it's kicking in and it's going to the pinnacle of wrestling right now."Moore's accomplishments are among the best in state history. He is 131-1, winning titles at 130, 140 and 152 the last three seasons. According to West Coach Mark Reiland, Moore has a 99-match winning streak, dating back to his lone loss that occurred in the 2007 State Duals championship. Current Hawkeye Mark Ballweg gave him his only blemish. "I think he's obviously proven he's a very good competitor," Reiland said. "I think they're getting a good one."The list of choices was short. Only Old Dominion and Edinboro courted Moore. Likely, other schools, like many around the wrestling community, assumed he'd be a Hawkeye, continuing a recent flow of Iowa City west wrestlers to the Hawkeyes' wrestling room."It wasn't really too stressful at all," Moore said. "There wasn't too many people after me."That didn't bother Moore and he isn't losing sleep over it."I just have the most faith in Iowa wrestling and the coaching staff," Moore said. "I don't care what the other schools have going, because I'm so happy with the Iowa program and what it has to offer. I think they're just the best pick for me."Moore expects to wrestle at 157 pounds, possibly growing into a 165-pounder. The West senior said he could red-shirt, but a chance exists of making an immediate impact in the lineup."We talked about it a little bit," Moore said. "It depends on how I come in. If I'm ready for the spot, if I'm the best kid, then I'll take over, but if I'm not it's a year of growing and learning."