Iowa’s Dziewa looks to reignite fire

IOWA CITY - It was a side of Josh Dziewa not often seen in competition.

There have been glimpses, but the reaction to his recent pin at Oklahoma State is rare for Iowa's 141-pound senior.

The result and fiery response could serve as the spark that helps Dziewa close his college career with his best finish. The 10th-ranked Hawkeye will try to avenge a loss to No. 8 Steve Rodriguez when top-ranked Iowa hosts No. 11 Illinois Friday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, beginning at 7 p.m. (Mediacom Connections, KXIC-AM).

Time will tell if it will have a permanent effect on Dziewa, who went 2-2 at the 2014 NCAA Championships.

'I guess we'll see on Friday,” Dziewa said. 'I have to go out there with some energy, and wrestle my match.”

Dziewa (15-4) overcame a slow start and a 5-1 deficit, scoring a third-period escape and whipping the Cowboys' 11th-ranked Dean Heil for the only fall in the Hawkeyes' lopsided, 30-7, win in Stillwater, Okla.

'The emotion really was from the bench,” Dziewa said. 'I got up and saw 15-16 people just going crazy on the bench and it fired me up even more than the pin did itself. That's where all that emotion came from.”

Brands said Dziewa stayed in the match despite two early takedowns, riding Heil the entire second period and applying pressure on top that eventually took its toll. He wore Heil out and benefitted from it in the final minute.

'That's what you have to do,” Brands said. 'You have to find ways to finish periods strong and then put that into the total seven minute package. You come out on top.”

Brands recalled the enthusiasm that surrounded Dziewa's arrival at Iowa, especially his major decision win in a dual with Northern Iowa in his debut.

He came to Iowa as a slick Pennsylvania state champion accompanied by high expectations. He suffered an early shoulder injury, but has been healthy since his first year. He has been inconsistent at times in the lineup, but Sunday could be the boost needed to correct it.

'I think it's always a key when you can come out on top like that,” Brands said. 'I think it's good when you're building momentum from the point of view that, ‘Hey, I finally maybe did something I know I'm capable of doing.'

'You build that momentum and build that confidence or whatever it is and then you come to work more ready. It's like there is more to live for, so to speak.”

Most of his post-match displays have been more reserved, but that also was a product of his performance. He has fought his own frustration of not transferring his talents from the practice room to seven minutes of competition.

He has a chance to turn some things around, including a loss to Rodriguez (9-4) at the Midlands Championships for the second straight year. Rodriguez owns a 3-1 record in college against Dziewa, who will attempt the recapture the fire from his last win.

Dziewa knows what to expect and what it will take to win.

'They plan,” Dziewa said. 'I can't let it affect me. I can't let their game plan overtake me.”

One of the more intriguing matchups is in question. Illinois NCAA champion Jesse Delgado is listed as a possibility at 125, despite wrestling only two matches this season. Iowa's fourth-ranked Thomas Gilman beat him en route to a 2014 Midlands title, but Delgado did not compete this year when Gilman earned a runner-up finish.

This could be Gilman's first chance to wrestle him this season. Brands said he wasn't aware of Delgado's status.

'We're ready for him just like we're ready for the other guy there,” Brands said. 'We have to be ready that they are going to have him run out on the mat when it is go time.”

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